If you've ever searched Google high and low tofind an image you needed to no avail, AI is coming to the rescue. 

With AI image 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, invitations, flyers and more.

Also: What is generative AI and why is it so popular? Here's everything you need to know

Even if you have no professional use for AI at the moment, don't worry -- the process is so fun that anyone can (and should) try it out.

DALL-E 2 has made a huge splash because of its advanced capabilities and the first mainstream AI art generator of its kind. However, there are plenty of other AI image generators on the market that can suit all different needs through their unique services. 

To put the generators to a test, I put a version of the same prompt -- "a baby Yorkie sitting on a comfy couch in front of the NYC skyline" -- into each one, and included a screenshot for your viewing pleasure (yes, I am a Yorkie mom). 

Also: I've tested a lot of AI tools for work. These are my 5 favorite so far

While I found the best overall AI image generator to be theBing Image Creator , due to free of charge high quality result images, other AI image generators perform better for specific needs. Using these observations, I put together a list of the best AI art generators and detailed everything you need to know before starting your next masterpiece. 

Bing Image Creator

Best AI image generator overall

Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Powered by DALL-E
• Quick
• Convenient to access

Cons

• Need a Microsoft account
• In preview stage

More Details

Bing Image Creator features: Powered by:DALL-E  Access via:Bing Chat and browser  Output:4 images per promptPrice:Free 

Bing's Image Creator is powered by a more advanced version of the DALL-E, and produces the same (if not higher) quality results just as quickly. Like DALL-E, it is free to use. All you need to do to access the image generator is visit the Image Creator website and sign in with a Microsoft account. 

Also: 7 ways you didn't know you can use Bing Chat and other AI chatbots

The biggest perk about this AI generator is that you can access it in the same place where you can access Bing's AI chatbot, Bing Chat. 

Although Bing does have a site you can visit to access the Image Generator individually, if you have access to Bing Chat you can just ask it to produce an image there. To get your image, all you have to do is ask Bing Chat to draw you any prompt you'd like. 

Also: How to use Bing Image Creator (and why it's better than DALL-E 2)

This feature is so convenient because you can get all of your image-generating and AI chatting needs met in the same place. This facilitates activities such as party planning since you can ask the chatbot to generate themes for your party, and then ask it to create images that follow the theme.

View now at Bing

DALL-E 2 by OpenAI

Best AI image generator if you want to experience the original

Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Fast
• Not copyrighted
• Accurate depictions

Cons

• Confusing credits
• No app

More Details

DALL-E 2 features: Powered by:DALL-E by OpenAI (specifically GPT-3)Access via:OpenAI websiteOutput:4 images per creditPrice:Freeif you registered before Apr. 6,$15 minimum if you register afterCredits:Free credit allowance replenishes every month for pre-April 6 users

OpenAI, the AI research company behind ChatGPT, launched DALL-E 2 last November, and it quickly became the most popular AI art generator on the market. Although it has been lapped by Bing Image Creator, it is still a very capable image generator and the blueprint for all the models that followed. 

The site is very intuitive and can 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. 

Also: How to use DALL-E 2 to turn your wildest imaginations into AI-generated art 

The credits situation can be a bit tricky because users who registered before April 6, 2023, get to keep the original terms, which included 15 free credits that replenish at the end of every month. Any new users have to buy a minimum of 115 credits for$15, which is a big con of using this AI image generator instead of Bing Image Generator.

Since there are other free alternatives on the list that work just as well, I would encourage users to only pay for DALLE-2 if they really want to experience the original. 

View now at Openai

DreamStudio by Stability AI

Best AI Image Generator for specific prompts

Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Accepts specific instruction
• Open-source
• More entries for customization

Cons

• Paid credits
• Need to create an account

More Details

DreamStudio features: Powered by: SDXL 1.0 by Stability AI  Access via: website  Output: 1 images per 1.8 credits  Price:$1 per 100 credits  Credits: 25 free credits when you open account, by purchase once you run out

Stability AI created the massively popular, open-sourced, text-to-image generator, Stable Diffusion. Because Stable Diffusionis open-sourced since its release, users have been able to download it and use it at no cost; however, this typically requires some technical skill. 

Also: How to use Stable Diffusion AI to create amazing images

To make the technology readily accessible to everyone (regardless of skill level) Stability AI created DreamStudio which incorporates Stable Diffusion, its latest version, in a UI that is easy to understand and use. 

One of the standouts of the platform is that it includes many different entries for customization including a "negative prompt" where you can delineate the specifics of what you'd like to avoid in the final image. You can also easily change the image ratio which is major since most AI image generators automatically deliver 1:1. 

View now at Beta.dreamstudio

Dream by WOMBO

Best AI image generator for your phone

Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Mobile app
• Remix your own images
• Multiple templates

Cons

• One image per prompt
• Subscription cost for full access

More Details

Dream by WOMBO features: Powered by:WOMBO AI's machine learning algorithm  Access via:Mobile and desktop versionsOutput:one image with a free version, four with a paid plan 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 can 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. 

Also: How to use Dream by WOMBO to generate artwork in any style

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 per year,$10 per month, or a lifetime subscription of$170. 

View now at Dream

Craiyon

Best completely free AI image generator

Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Free
• Unlimited access
• Simple to use

Cons

• Longer wait
• Distorted images

More Details

Craiyon features: Powered by:Open-source AI designed by developer Boris DaymaAccess via: Craiyon website Output: Six images per promptPrice:Free, unlimited prompts 

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 precise renditions. 

Also: How to use Craiyon AI (formerly known as DALL-E mini)

Unlike DALL-E 2, the outputs from Craiyon lack a bit of quality. The good thing? Because you have unlimited prompts, you can continue to tweak the prompt until you get exactly what you're envisioning. The site is also so simple to use and considering DALLE-2's new price tag, this AI generator is a strong contender. 

View now at Craiyon

Midjourney

Best AI generator for highest-quality photos

Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Very high-quality outputs
• No duds
• Discord community

Cons

• Monthly cost
• Confusing to set up

More Details

Midjourney features: Powered by:Midjourney; utilizes Discord Access via:DiscordOutput:four images per promptPrice: 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, check out our step-by-step how-to here: How to use Midjourney to generate amazing images and art.

A 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. 

View now at Midjourney Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/

MyHeritage's AI Time Machine

Best AI image generator for self-portraits

Sabrina Ortiz/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Lots of options
• Great quality renditions
• Make great profile pictures

Cons

• Limited access
• Long wait

More Details

MyHeritage's AI Time Machine features: Powered by:Stable Diffusion  Access via:MyHeritage website  Output:Can produce up to 160 images with 20 different themesPrice: $12, but 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.

View now at Myheritage

What is the best AI image generator?

Bing Image Creator is the best overall AI image generator due to it being powered by OpenAI's latest DALL-E technology. Like DALL-E 2, Bing Image Creator combines accuracy, speed, and cost-effectiveness and can generate high-quality images in just a matter of seconds. Because it is powered by a more advanced model, in many instances, the images are actually higher quality than DALL-E 2's. 

Whether you want to generate images of animals, objects, or even abstract concepts, Bing Image Creator is capable of producing accurate depictions that meet your expectations. It is highly efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective.

AI image generator	Price	Output speed	Accessibility	Main pros
Bing Image Creator	Free	Fast	Web	Powered by DALL-E, accessible via Bing Chat and browser, quick and easy to use
DALL-E 2 by OpenAI	Free + Credits (depends on sign up date)	Fast	Web	Accurate depictions, detailed input, generates four images per credit
DreamStudio by Stability AI	Free + Credits	Fast	Web	Renditions that are easily fully customizable and great quality
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 table

Note: Prices and features are subject to change.

Which is the right AI image generator for you?

Although I crowned Bing Image Generator the best AI image generator overall, other AI image generators perform better for specific needs. For example, if you are a professional using AI image 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 it's free and unlimited. 

Choose this AI image generator...	If you want...
Bing Image Creator	The best AI art generator overall. If you have access to Bing Chat, you can get all of your art-generating needs met while chatting with the bot and getting all of your questions answered. The art generator is reliable, quick, and easy.
DALL-E 2	The original best AI art generator 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.
DreamStudio by Stability AI	The best customizable AI art generator that includes tools in its UI that make it easy to get the exact rendition you want. The fields include size, style, negative prompts, image prompts and more.
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 renderings and 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. It creates accurate images of what you'd look like throughout the ages. Although it has longer wait times, the results are great for profile pictures.

How did I choose these AI image generators?

To find the best AI art generators, I 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 my picks. 

What is an AI image 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 image generators work?

Like any other AI model, AI art generators work on 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 image generators?

AI image generators are trained on billions of images found throughout the internet. These images are often artwork that belongs to a specific artist, which is then reimagined and repurposed by AI art to generate your image. Although it's not the same image, the new image has elements of 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 AI art generators other 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 options below. 

ALTERNATIVE

Nightcafe - Best multi-purpose AI art generator

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.

View at Creator.nightcafe

ALTERNATIVE

Canva - Best AI image generator for marketing professionals

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.

View at Canva

ALTERNATIVE

Imagen - Best AI art generator coming soon

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.

View at Imagen.research

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