In just 1.5 years, there have been created more than 15 billion AI-generated images, which is similar to the number of photographs taken in 150 years.
This mind-blowing data highlights the sheer scale of computational capabilities but also reflects the relentless progression of artificial intelligence and image generation technologies.
There are so many AI image-generation tools out there that we can truly say that creativity has no limits.
Whether you’re a marketing professional or just an AI enthusiast looking to experiment with AI-image generation, this list of the best AI image creators will help you pick the right tool.
The Best AI Image Generators
1. Creatopy
As Creatopy aims to be a one-stop shop that meets every need to create a digital marketing campaign from start to finish, it’s only natural that it offers AI capabilities that will speed up your ad creation process.
It’s worth mentioning that in addition to Generative AI for images, Creatopy also offers AI text capabilities. These capabilities are designed to act as an Ad copywriter and are guaranteed to help you create catchy headlines in seconds.
But we digress. Let’s explore the benefits of using Creatopy’s Generative AI for images.
Key features
- Text-to-image and image-to-image AI generator;
- Broad range of styles to choose from: Realistic, Digital art, 3D Model, Isometric, Pixel art, Anime, and Vaporwave;
- Generate images from text prompts or enhance existing images;
- Able to generate between 1-4 variants per prompt.
Pros
- You can generate image variants base on image lineart or image content;
- You can generate new backgrounds for existing images or remove unwanted objects from an image;
- Increase the resolution for low quality images to ensure a crisper outcome;
- All generated assets are safe to use commercially. For more information, you can check Creatopy’s AI user policy.
Cons
- AI credits are included in your subscription plan. The more users you have within your team, the more credits you will have.
Best for
- Designers and marketers that need to develop creatives in their social media and display ad campaigns.
2. DALL·E 2
DALL·E was the first AI image generator released (in January 2021), and it was created by OpenAI, the team that also brought ChatGPT to the world. A year later, DALL·E 2 was born, which is the newest system.
By simply typing in a text description, DALL·E 2 can create a unique AI-generated image or art illustration.
Key features
- Text-to-image AI generator based on deep learning technology;
- High-resolution;
- High accuracy of details;
- Editing features: inpainting (allows users to erase parts of the image and fill it with something else) and outpainting (allows users to expand an existing image with AI-generated elements).
Pros
- Allows users to create custom images based on their descriptions;
- For each prompt, DALL·E 2 will generate four images to choose from;
- If you’re out of ideas, you can use the Surprise Me button, and DALL·E 2 will generate something for you;
- Generated images can further be edited or remixed to create even more customized visuals;
- High-quality visuals and accuracy of details.
Cons
- For the best results, users must provide a well-defined description, details, and context;
- DALL·E 2 is no longer an open-source AI image generator because of its heavy use. No free plan is available anymore;
- For high-resolution images, plans can be expensive.
Best for
- Social media teams that want to create social media images;
- Content teams that want to create images for blog articles;
- Creative teams that want to illustrate storyboards.
3. Adobe Firefly
With Adobe Firefly’s fantastic set of AI features, users can create photorealistic portraits, fantasy creatures, text effects, and fine-tune images to perfection.
Unlike the most popular AI image generators out there that use the internet’s visual resources to train their models, Firefly is an AI image creator trained on Adobe Stock images (licensed content) and public domain content. For brands, this means it’s a safe AI tool for commercial design work.
Moreover, Adobe’s commitment to AI ethics goes even further by tagging all images generated by Firefly with the Content Authenticity Initiative metadata, which informs people that the image was generated by AI and also provides attribution for the content used.
Key features
- Generates AI image from text, text-to-vector generator, 3D-to-image generator, text-to-template;
- Generative fill allows you to erase certain elements and fill in the gaps with something new based on your input requests;
- The possibility to combine two or more images to result in a new visual;
- With text effects, you can apply sensational styles or textures to a text by simply using a prompt;
- You can extend images with AI-generated backgrounds or elements.
Pros
- Adobe Firefly was trained on Adobe Stock images (meaning licensed content), which makes it safe for commercial use;
- Some Firefly features are available in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Express.
- Premium-quality images;
- After you select a generated image, you can tweak the prompt until you get the desired visual result.
Cons
- Premium features are only available through the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.
Best for
- Because it’s one of the best AI art generators, Adobe Firefly is suited for professional designers working in advertising or in media (newspapers, magazines, TV, etc.)
4. DreamStudio
DreamStudio is Stability AI’s prompt-to-image AI generator and uses the Stable Diffusion model.
Primarily a text-to-image AI creator, DreamStudio can now generate images starting from another image.
The tool doesn’t offer many editing features, so all the creation power lies in the prompts. To get the desired result, you need to experiment with the prompts and be specific about what you want without being overly explicit.
Key features
- Text-to-image and image-to-image AI generator;
- Broad range of styles to choose from: Anime, Photographic, Digital Art, Comic Book, Fantasy Art, Analog Film, Neon Punk, Isometric, Low Poly, Origami, Line Art, Craft Clay, Cinematic, 3D Model, and Pixel Art;
- Editing options: inpainting and outpainting.
Pros
- When you sign up for a free trial, you get 25 credits, which you can spend on three prompts. Each prompt will generate four image versions, which is enough to test DreamStudio’s generative capabilities;
- In the more advanced plans, for each prompt, you can generate between one to ten images;
- Multiple aspect ratio options are available;
- Negative prompts allow you to tell the app what elements you don’t want in your image.
Cons
- There aren’t many editing options. You need to rely on the prompt.
Best for
- Creative designers and illustrators, advertising agencies, storytellers, and filmmakers looking to create storyboards.
5. MidJourney
MidJourney is an AI image generator powered by Discord. The tool gained popularity thanks to its unique hand-drawn-like style, which looks more like artwork than photorealistic images.
MidJourney serves four generated images per prompt. After choosing your image, you can further generate four more variations of it, edit it as you wish, or enhance it.
Key features
- Text-to-image generator;
- Four images per prompt;
- The zoom-out feature allows image expansion beyond its original size.
Pros
- After you’ve chosen your generated image, you can edit it by making changes to the description;
- The zoom-out allows you to expand the original generated image, and you can also customize the zooming out by adding a value you choose between one and two.
Cons
- No free plan is available. But the good news is that their plans start at $10/month;
- You can only set up an account through Discord.
Best for:
- Illustrators, educators, storytellers, and filmmakers.
6. Runway
Runway is an AI creator using the Stable Difussion and GEN-1 AI systems to generate images and videos.
You can use this tool for enhanced creativity and control over your images.
The platform currently prides itself on its new video generation capabilities. But image generation remains one of their top services, offering features no one else is offering right now.
Key features
- Text-to-image, image-to-image generator;
- Remix the style and composition of an image;
- Create custom AI models by training the system;
- Create slow-moving videos by stringing together sequences of images.
Pros
- High-resolution generated images;
- The remix feature allows you to play and experiment with a picture by changing the style and composition;
- A free trial is available, though limited.
Cons
- Runway has a complex user interface and allows coding as well as other creation methods, which makes it more suited for advanced/skilled users.
Best for
- Designers and illustrators, freelancers, artists, and content creators.
7. Jasper Art
Like many AI tools, Jasper Art’s power lies in its ability to create an image based on a prompt. The more detailed the description you provide, the better the result. You can either type in your description or talk to Jasper Chat and write your request.
Key features
- Text-to-image generator;
- Many customization features are available. You can select your preferred medium (like canvas or oil painting), style/artist style, or mood;
- Each prompt generates four images.
Pros
- High-resolution images;
- All generated images are royalty-free and suited for commercial use;
- Jasper Art complements Jasper Copy to help marketing people deliver consistent content for multiple purposes and platforms;
- It has a simple, user-friendly interface that can be easily grasped and mastered;
- A 7-day free trial is available.
Cons
- To generate high-resolution images, you need a premium plan;
- Jasper Art takes more time to generate an image from a prompt as compared to other platforms.
Best for
- Designers, social media managers, marketers, and entrepreneurs.
8. NightCafe
NightCafe is an AI art generator that uses multiple AI methods (like Stable Diffusion, DALL-E, Neural Style Transfer, or Modern Diffusion Technology) to generate art.
The platform also allows users to connect with their community of digital art enthusiasts.
This tool is great for generating amazing illustrations and also collaborating with other artists to create unique artworks.
Key features
- Text-to-image, image-to-image generator;
- Offers a wide range of image styles to choose from: artistic portrait, striking, anime, anime v2, hyperreal, portrait, and more;
- Access to a huge community of art creators.
Pros
- A free plan is available;
- You can continually make changes to your generated image by modifying your description;
- Amazing 3D capabilities;
- Includes features no other AI tool has: multiple style images, multiple prompts, bulk creation, bulk download, and custom seeds.
Cons
- Customer support is hard to reach;
- Censorship can be an issue.
Best for
- AI art enthusiasts, digital artists, creative designers, illustrators, storytellers.
9. Craiyon
Craiyon is an open-source AI art generator that you can use to experiment and create non-commercial images. It allows users to generate unlimited images.
Craiyon will deliver six images for each prompt, making it easy to choose the best one.
But, because it’s a free tool, it doesn’t have all the advanced AI features other paid tools have. So, if you’re a professional looking for an AI image generation solution, you may want to look at other alternatives.
The image above was generated for the prompt “a cat dressed up like Robocop.”
Key features
- Text-to-image generator;
- You can add further prompts to the initial input;
- Image mock-up simulation helps people understand how an image would look on clothes.
Pros
- The platform offers unlimited access free of charge;
- Extremely easy-to-use.
Cons:
- Poor quality of generated images.
Best for
- People looking to test and experiment with AI.
10. DeepAI
DeepAI is a free AI art generator that you can use to create unlimited images. It has a basic text-to-image generator and plenty of styles to choose from.
I’d say it’s not the best AI tool for professionals to create AI images, but it’s perfect for anyone who wants to experiment with AI and test its abilities.
Above is a test I’ve made with DeepAI. I asked the platform to create an image of a flying koala bear, in the style of Leonardo da Vinci.
Key features
- Text-to-image generator;
- Image editor;
- Image colorization;
- Fantasy world generator;
- Easy-to-use interface.
Pros
- The platform offers a generous free plan, and if you want to try out all their features, the paid plan costs only $4.99/month;
- A wide range of styles to choose from.
Cons
- The prompt-to-image generator is quite basic, it might take several prompts and tweaks to create the desired image;
- The generator is a bit slow as compared to other AI image creators.
Best for
- AI enthusiasts and freelancers looking to experiment with AI.
The Legal Implications of AI-Generated Images
One crucial aspect you must ensure when using AI-generated images for advertising or marketing purposes is copyright.
Currently, there are no copyright laws regarding AI images or protecting artists from getting their artworks used for AI image generation.
Most free AI image generators use the internet’s open resources to train their models, so they employ graphic elements, features, and styles from various artists across the world, without permission or attribution.
Naturally, some of them have been sued for copyright infringement. A group of artists filed a lawsuit against Stability AI (the makers of DreamStudio) and MidJourney for having “created products that infringe the rights of artists and other creative individuals under the guise of alleged “artificial intelligence.”
For brands, using images made from pieces of copyrighted artwork could mean jeopardizing their reputation.
That’s why, before subscribing to any of these AI tools for image creation, check to see if their generated images are safe for commercial use.
For example, Adobe Firefox is a tool that trains its machine learning algorithm on Adobe Stock Images, Adobe’s giant depository of licensed visual content. This makes it a safe option for advertisers and marketers.
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve found some interesting options among these AI image generators.
One key aspect when working with AI generators is to learn to train them through repeated prompts and tweaks. Some tools even allow users to include negative prompts. This way, you avoid spending too much time on unwanted results.
And lastly, if you’re generating images for commercial purposes, like advertising or social media, make sure the tool you work with allows commercial use. Otherwise, you might be putting your brand at risk.
Now I want to hear from you: what AI image generators are you using, and which one we should try out?
