Comparison10 min read

AI Image Generators Compared: Midjourney vs DALL-E vs Stable Diffusion vs Leonardo

We tested 4 leading AI image generators with identical prompts. See real results, pricing, features, and which one is best for different creative needs.

Best AI Tools 2026

January 18, 2026

We tested the four most popular AI image generators with identical prompts across multiple categories to give you a definitive comparison for 2026.

The Contenders

Midjourney V6 — The artistic powerhouse ($10-60/month)
DALL-E 3 — OpenAI's generator, built into ChatGPT ($20/month via ChatGPT Plus)
Stable Diffusion XL — Open-source champion (Free)
Leonardo.ai — Rising star with great free tier (Free-$24/month)

Test Results by Category

Photorealistic Portraits

Winner: Midjourney

Midjourney produces the most convincing photorealistic portraits with natural skin textures, accurate lighting, and lifelike expressions. DALL-E is close behind, while Stable Diffusion requires more prompt engineering to achieve similar results.

Fantasy & Concept Art

Winner: Midjourney

Midjourney's artistic DNA shines here with rich, painterly quality. Leonardo.ai is surprisingly competitive in this category, especially with its DreamShaper model.

Following Precise Instructions

Winner: DALL-E 3

When you need the AI to follow exact descriptions (specific objects in specific positions), DALL-E 3 is the most obedient. Its tight integration with ChatGPT means you can refine instructions conversationally.

Text in Images

Winner: DALL-E 3

DALL-E 3 is the only generator that reliably renders text correctly in images. Others often produce garbled or misspelled text.

Consistency & Brand Assets

Winner: Leonardo.ai

Leonardo's model training feature lets you create consistent characters and styles. Great for brands that need a cohesive visual identity across multiple images.

Speed

Winner: Stable Diffusion (local)

Running Stable Diffusion on a local GPU produces images in seconds. Among cloud services, Leonardo.ai is typically fastest.

Customization & Control

Winner: Stable Diffusion

As an open-source tool, Stable Diffusion offers unlimited customization: ControlNet for pose matching, LoRA models for specific styles, inpainting, outpainting, and more. No other tool comes close in terms of control.

Pricing Comparison

|------|----------|---------|-----|

| Midjourney | None | $10/mo | $30/mo |

| Leonardo.ai | 150 tokens/day | $12/mo | $24/mo |

Best For Each Use Case

Marketing materials: DALL-E 3 (precise, text-capable)
Art and wallpapers: Midjourney (highest aesthetic quality)
High volume generation: Stable Diffusion (no limits, free)
Consistent brand imagery: Leonardo.ai (model training)
Product mockups: DALL-E 3 or Midjourney
Social media content: Leonardo.ai (fast, good free tier)
Game/concept art: Midjourney or Leonardo.ai

Our Overall Rankings

Midjourney — Best overall quality, worth the price for serious creators
DALL-E 3 — Best for precision and text, easiest to use via ChatGPT
Leonardo.ai — Best value with generous free tier, great for brands
Stable Diffusion — Best for technical users who want maximum control

The "best" generator depends on your specific needs. Many creators use multiple tools for different tasks.

#image generation#midjourney#dall-e#stable diffusion#leonardo

Frequently Asked Questions

Stable Diffusion is completely free and open-source — you can run it locally with no limits. Leonardo.ai offers the most generous free cloud tier with 150 tokens per day. Microsoft Designer (Bing) offers free DALL-E generation.

Yes, with caveats. Midjourney (paid plans), DALL-E 3, and Leonardo.ai all grant commercial usage rights. Stable Diffusion-generated images have no restrictions. Always check the specific terms of the tool and model you use.

Midjourney V6 consistently produces the highest quality, most aesthetically pleasing images. DALL-E 3 is best for following precise instructions and rendering text. Quality has become very competitive across all four platforms.

Comparison