Updated:
7 mins read
Creating visuals once required artistic skills and complex softwares. But now, AI image generation tools make it easy for anyone, be it a marketer or a student, to turn a simple text prompt into a visually stunning image.
Whether you're designing ads, prototyping ideas or just having fun, this guide helps you understand what various AI image generation tools offer, where to use them and how to pick the right one for your needs.
AI image tools are becoming a powerful part of how we create visual content. These tools offer real value in multiple ways:
Save time and money by reducing the need to buy stock photos, use complex software, or hire a designer for basic visuals. AI tools let you create images quickly and affordably.
Empower non-designers to create high-quality visuals with just a few prompts.
Generate content for social media posts, email campaigns, product mockups and more.
Prototype ideas quickly by visualizing concepts before investing in full-scale design or production.
Here’s a closer look at some of the top AI image generation tools, including what they’re best for, key features, how to access them and pricing.
Ideal for filmmakers, animators, and creators focused on visual storytelling, Sora is OpenAI’s experimental generative AI tool that creates short, realistic video clips from text prompts.
Unlike static image generators, Sora simulates dynamic scenes with camera movement, object interactions, and lifelike environments, making it perfect for narrative concepting and early-stage visual development.
Key features:
Generates image sequences from detailed natural language prompts
Simulates realistic physics, lighting, and cinematic camera angles
Captures object behavior, interaction, and continuity
Platform/Access: Web-based
Pricing: Sora may be included in these ChatGPT plans:
| Package | Price (billed monthly) |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT Plus | $20/month |
| ChatGPT Pro | $200/month |
Adobe Firefly is built for creative professionals, including designers and brand teams, who want powerful AI features within a familiar Adobe workflow. It helps generate text effects, vector art, and photorealistic edits with simple prompts.
Its outputs are safe for commercial use, and it works smoothly with tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, ideal for marketing campaigns, product mockups, ad creatives, and branded content.
Key Features:
AI-powered Generative Fill to add, replace, or erase image elements
Text-to-image and text effects tailored for branded content
Style transfer and vector creation for flexible output formats
Commercially licensed outputs perfect for marketing use
Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud apps for smoother workflows
Platform/Access: Web-based, included in Creative Cloud
Pricing:
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Firefly Standard | $9.99/month |
| Firefly Pro | $29.99/month |
| Firefly Premium | $199.99/month |
| Creative Cloud Pro | $69.99/month (annual billing) |
Great for concept designers, illustrators, and writers, Midjourney produces high-quality, artistic images with a stylized flair.
It runs entirely through Discord, allowing users to generate and refine visuals using prompt commands. Its strong community support and frequent model updates make it a go-to platform for staying inspired and pushing creative boundaries.
Key Features:
Stylized outputs with painterly and surreal qualities
Prompt-based control over mood, lighting, and composition
Ability to remix, upscale, and vary generated images
Active Discord community for collaboration and feedback
Regular version updates with visual improvements
Platform/Access: Discord-based (via slash commands)
Pricing:
| Package | Price (billed monthly) |
|---|---|
| Basic | $10/month |
| Standard | $30/month |
| Pro | $60/month |
| Mega | $120/month |
Perfect for social media managers, students, and small business owners, Canva’s AI tools let you generate images directly within its easy drag-and-drop editor, no need to switch between tools or apps.
With features like Text-to-Image (via Magic Media) and Magic Media video, users can quickly generate visuals without any design background.
Key Features:
Text-to-mage tool for creating custom visuals from short prompts
Magic Media that automatically suggests visuals, layouts, and styles that match your content to speed up the design process
Easy integration with templates, brand kits, and social formats
Auto-resize, color palette suggestions, and instant repurposing
Platform/Access: Web and mobile apps
Pricing: Canva AI is available with a Free account, but you only get a limited number of uses. To unlock more, you can upgrade to Canva Pro.
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0/year (one person) |
| Pro | $55/year (one person) |
| Teams | $50/year (per person) |
Best suited for developers, researchers, and privacy-conscious users, Stable Diffusion is an open-source model that gives you full control over the image generation process, including how and where it runs.
Users can host it locally, customize outputs, or integrate it into workflows via APIs, making it perfect for advanced experimentation and custom projects.
Key Features:
Supports inpainting, outpainting, and upscaling
Custom model training for unique art styles
Works with third-party UIs like AUTOMATIC1111 or DreamStudio
Platform/Access: Local setup or cloud access via DreamStudio
Pricing:
| Package | Price (billed monthly) |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Pro | $10/month |
| Max | $20/month |
Designed for game developers, digital artists, and storytellers, Leonardo AI offers powerful tools to generate characters, environments, and assets with consistency. It features fine-tuned models and a built-in prompt library, making it a go-to for creating cohesive visual projects from scratch.
Key Features:
Prompt history, version control, and asset management tools
Consistent quality across multiple generations
Project-based dashboard for tracking design progress
High-quality images that work well for both planning ideas and final production
Platform/Access: Web-based
Pricing:
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Apprentice | $12/month |
| Artisan | $30/month |
| Maestro | $60/month |
| Teams | From $24 per seat |
Ideal for educators, meme creators, and poster designers, Ideogram specializes in image generation that includes styled typography. Beyond just visuals, it gives users precise control over how text appears within images, allowing for more expressive and design-forward creations.
Key Features:
Generates stylized text integrated into visuals
Great for marketing messages, memes, and educational content
Simple edit workflow to fine-tune text art
Platform/Access: Web-based
Pricing:
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Basic | $7/month |
| Plus | $16/month |
| Pro | $48/month |
Made for branding teams, logo designers, and marketers, Recraft focuses on vector-based AI generation. It creates clean, editable illustrations and icons that are easy to customize. With brand-safe outputs and scalable designs, it’s well-suited for professional, commercial use.
Key Features:
Generates vector illustrations compatible with brand guidelines
Outputs editable content (SVGs, PNGs) for easy tweaking
Commercial use allowed under licensing terms
UI designed for product design, ads, and visual identity work
Quick style customization and export options
Platform/Access: Web-based
Pricing:
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Basic | $10/month |
| Advanced | $27/month |
| Pro | $48/month |
| Teams | Custom |
Built for experimental designers, futurists, and 3D artists, Flux AI offers a multi-modal space where text, images, and interactivity come together. Currently in early access, it helps users prototype bold, immersive experiences beyond static visuals.
Key Features:
Supports multi-modal prompts (text, image, 3D inputs)
Designed for real-time and interactive visual generation
Emphasizes innovation in interface and storytelling methods
Encourages experimental workflows and creative outputs
Platform/Access: Early access only (invite or waitlist)
Pricing:
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Monthly Standard | $9.99/month |
| Monthly Popular | $19.99/month |
| Monthly Professional | $29.99/month |
Choosing the right AI image generation tool depends on your goals, budget and skill level. Here are the key things to keep in mind:
Purpose: Are you creating visuals for business, casual content, or personal projects?
Quality: Do you need high-resolution images or quick drafts for online use?
Budget: Some tools are free; others require monthly subscriptions.
Ease of use: Canva is beginner-friendly, while tools like Midjourney or Stable Diffusion need some learning.
Customization: Open-source tools offer more control but require technical skills.
Licensing: Make sure the tool allows commercial use if needed.
AI image generation tools have made visual creation easier and more accessible, whether you're building a brand, designing a game, or just experimenting creatively. The best tool for you depends on your goals—whether you prioritize ease of use, customization, speed, or advanced features.
Keep your purpose clear, explore different options, and use these tools responsibly. With the right approach, AI can be a powerful part of your creative process.
Not always. It depends on the platform's licensing policy. Some offer content safe for commercial use, while others have restrictions. Always check the terms of use.
Yes. Many platforms allow post-generation edits, either within the tool (like Adobe Firefly) or externally using design software.
Yes, but only with tools that offer commercial licensing. Platforms like Adobe Firefly and Recraft provide commercially safe outputs.
Not entirely. While the results are based on your prompt, similar prompts can yield similar results. Some tools allow for deeper customization to produce more distinctive outputs.
You made it till the end! Here's what you can do next to grow your business:
Free guides, ebooks, and other resources to master email marketing.
Send forms, carts, calendars, games and more within your emails to boost ROI.
30-min free email consultation with an expert to fix your email marketing.
Table of contents
Fresh Marketing Ideas, Every Week.
Get the latest marketing roundup & news
Trusted by 10000+ brands
