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The best AI art generators: DALL-E 2 and other fun alternatives to try
If you've ever searched Google high and low to find an image you needed to no avail, AI is coming to the rescue.
With AI art generators, you can type in a prompt as detailed or vague as you'd like and have the image you were thinking of pop up on your screen instantly. These tools can help with branding, social media content creation, vision boards, and more.
Even if you have no professional use for it, no worries, the process is so fun that anyone can participate.
DALL-E 2 has made a huge splash because of its advanced capabilities and easy access; however, there are plenty of other AI art generators on the market that can all suit different needs.
To put the generators to a test, I put the same prompt, "a baby Yorkie sitting on a comfy couch in front of the NYC skyline" in each one and included a screenshot for your viewing pleasure (yes, I am a Yorkie mom).
Also: I tested out an AI art generator and here's what I learned
Using these observations, we put together a list of the best AI generators and detailed everything you need to know before starting your next masterpiece.
- Fast
- Not copyrighted
- Accurate depictions
- Limited Credits
- No app
Features:
- Generates four images per credit
- Input can be as detailed as you'd like
- Price: Free (unless you opt for more credits)
- Free credit allowance replenishes every month
OpenAI, the AI research company behind ChatGPT, launched DALL-E 2 last November, and since it has become the most popular AI art generator on the market. We are here to tell you that its popularity is well-deserved. The site is very intuitive and will produce results in seconds. All you have to do is type in whatever prompt you'd like, specifying as much detail as necessary to bring your vision to life, and then, DALL-E 2 will generate four images from your prompt. Not happy with the results? You can tweak it a little and try again. Best part is you get 50 free credits your first month and 15 credits every month after. If you need more, you can always buy credits too.
Also: How to use DALL-E 2 to turn your wildest imaginations into AI-generated art
- Mobile app
- Remix your own images
- Multiple templates
- One image per prompt
- Subscription cost for full access
Features:
- Mobile and desktop versions
- Different templates to choose from
- Realistic renditions
- Price: Free limited access
This app's major success landed it a first-place spot for the best overall app in Google Play's 2022 awards. With the app, you are able to create art with the simple input of a quick prompt. An added plus about this AI art generator is that it allows you to pick different design styles such as realistic, expressionism, comic, abstract, fanatical, ink, and more. In addition to the app, it has a free desktop mobile version that is simple to use. If you want to take your use of the app to the next level, you can pay $90 a year, $10 a month, or a lifetime subscription of $170.
- Free
- Unlimited access
- Simple to use
- Longer wait
- Distorted images
Features:
- Completely free to use
- Straightforward interface
- Unlimited prompts
- Price: Free
Despite originally having the name DALL-E mini, this AI art generator is NOT affiliated with OpenAI or DALL-E 2, rather, it is an open-source alternative. However, the name DALL-E 2 mini is somewhat fitting, as it does everything that DALL-E 2 does, just with less accurate renditions. Unlike DALL-E 2, the outputs from Craiyon lack quality. The good thing is that because you have unlimited prompts, you can continue to tweak the prompt until you get exactly what you were envisioning. The site is also so simple to use, adding to the overall appeal and making this AI generator a strong contender.
- Very high quality outputs
- No duds
- Discord community
- Cost
- Confusing to set up
Features:
- Utilizes Discord
- Highest quality photos
- Creates art for a variety of uses
- Price: Starts at $8/month
I often play around with AI art generators because of how fun and easy creating digital artwork is. Despite all my experiences with different AI generators, nothing could have prepared me for Midjourney. The output of this image was so crystal clear that I had a hard time believing it wasn't an actual image someone took of the prompt I put in. This software is so good that it has produced award-winning art. To create your images, all you have to do is go to the site and join the beta by signing up through Discord. Then you get access to 25 free renderings and can upgrade to a plan after starting at $8/per month. A really fun perk of Midjourney's platform is that you get to see everyone else's inputs and outputs in the Discord chat.
To show you just how good these renditions are, I included a close-up below.
- Lots of options
- Great quality renditions
- Make great profile pictures
- Limited access
- Long wait
Features:
- Creates portraits of you through the ages
- Accurate outputs make great profile pictures
- Inexpensive premium version
- Price: Free during certain windows
Last fall, in a mega-viral TikTok trend, people were sharing AI-generated portraits of themselves on the app. The photos were powered by MyHeritage's "AI Time Machine" which uses 10 to 25 user-inputted photos to create realistic portraits of what you'd look like throughout the ages.
Also: You can use an AI Time Machine to see what you'd look like in different eras throughout history
Although you have to wait 30 to 90 minutes to get the results, the beautiful artwork makes it worth the wait. The trick to getting them for free is refreshing the site and waiting until the free trial window opens up, designated by a "Try it now for free" button. If you can't wait, there is only a $12 fee to have your photo.
What is the best AI art generator?
DALL-E 2 by OpenAI is considered the best overall AI art generator due to its combination of accuracy, speed, and cost-effectiveness. It has become incredibly popular among users due to its intuitive interface and ability to generate high-quality images in just a matter of seconds.
Whether you want to generate images of animals, objects, or even abstract concepts, DALL-E 2 is capable of producing accurate depictions that meet your expectations. It is highly efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective. While it may have limited credits, its free credits replenish every month.
| Best AI chatbot | Price | Speed | Platform Availability | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DALL-E 2 by OpenAI | Free + Credits | Fast | Web | Accurate depictions, detailed input, generates four images per credit |
| Dream by WOMBO | Free + Subscription | Fast | Mobile and Desktop | Realistic renditions, multiple templates, remix your own images |
| Craiyon | Free | Slower | Web | Unlimited prompts, straightforward interface |
| Midjourney | Starts at $8/month | Fast | Web | Highest quality photos, Discord community, creates art for a variety of uses |
| MyHeritage's AI Time Machine | Free + Fee | Slower (wait time) | Web | Creates portraits of you through the ages, accurate outputs, great for profile pictures |
Note: Prices and features are subject to change.
Which is the right AI art generator for you?
Although we crowned DALL-E 2 the best AI art generator overall, there are other AI art generators that perform better for specific needs. For example, if you are a professional using AI art generation for your business, you may need a tool like Midjourney which delivers consistent, reliable, quality output. On the other hand, if you just want to play with AI art generating for entertainment purposes, Craiyon might be the best option because its free and unlimited.
| Choose this AI art generator... | If you want... |
|---|---|
| DALL-E 2 | The best AI art generator overall that combines accuracy, speed, and cost-effectiveness. It allows users to generate high-quality images quickly and easily, making it an ideal tool for artists, designers, and anyone looking to create unique and original content. |
| Dream by WOMBO | The best AI art generator for your phone with multiple templates, realistic renditions, and a mobile app. It also has a free limited access version, making it a great option for those who don't want to spend too much money. |
| Craiyon | The best completely free AI art generator with unlimited prompts and a straightforward interface. |
| Midjourney | The best AI art generator for high-quality renders that produces crystal clear images with a Discord community, allowing you to share and view other users' outputs. |
| MyHeritage's AI Time Machine | The best AI art generator for self-portraits that creates accurate outputs of what you'd look like throughout the ages. Although it has longer wait times, the results are great for profile pictures. |
How did we choose these AI art generators?
In order to find the best AI art generators, we tested each generator listed and compared their performance. The factors that went into testing performance included UI/UX, image results, cost, speed and availability. Each AI art generator had different strengths and weaknesses, making each one the ideal fit for different individuals as listed next to our picks.
What is an AI art generator?
An AI art generator refers to software that uses AI to create images from user text inputs, usually within seconds. The images vary in style depending on the capabilities of the software but can typically render an image in any style you want including 3D, 2D, cinematic, modern, Renaissance and more.
How do AI art generators work?
Like any other AI model, AI art generators work on a learned data they are trained with. Typically, these models are trained on billions of images which it analyzes for characteristics. These insights are then used by the model to create new images.
Are there ethical implications with AI art generators?
AI art generators are trained on billions of images found throughout the internet. These images are often artwork that belongs to a specific artist, which are then reimagined and repurposed by AI art to generate your image. Although it's not the same image, the new image has elements of an artists original work which is not credited to them.
Are there DALL-E 2 alternatives worth considering?
Contrary to what you might think, there are so many more AI art generators than DALL-E 2 out there. Some produce even better results than OpenAI's software. If you want to try something different, check out one of our alternatives listed above or the three additional ones below.
Nightcafe is a multi-purpose AI art generator that is worth trying becaus it allows users to create unique and original artwork by using different inputs and styles, including abstract, impressionism, expressionism, and more.
Canva is a versatile and powerful AI art generator that offers a wide range of options. It allows users to create professional-looking designs for different marketing channels, including social media posts, ads, flyers, brochures, and more.
Imagen uses advanced AI techniques such as deep learning and neural networks to create images that are both realistic and imaginative, resulting in a high level of detail and complexity.