Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized digital art and image generation, making it easier than ever to create high-quality visuals with just a few prompts. Whether you’re a designer, marketer, or hobbyist, AI-powered image generators can save time and boost creativity. I’ve generated hundreds of AI images in programs like Midjourney, Canva, Dall-E and more. best ai for image generation.
Generative AI has made it quicker than ever to create digital images. With a simple text description called a prompt, you can bring almost any artistic vision to life without needing to know how to use advanced editing tools. My fellow CNET reviewers and I have spent a lot of time trying out different AI image generators. We created hundreds of images, everything from photo-realistic stock images to dramatic sci-fi scenes and fun, cartoonish animals. But every program has its own eccentricities, and good prompt writing skills only get you so far. So we put together this list to help you find the right program for your project, skill level and wallet.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best AI image generators of 2025, comparing features, pricing, and unique capabilities to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
What’s the best AI image generator?
Dall-E 3 by OpenAI is our best AI image generator pick. It can handle long, complex queries, giving you many editing and customization options. Its unique conversational flow also makes it easy to bring your artistic visions to life. If you don’t want to sign up for the $20 per month ChatGPT Plus subscription, Leonardo AI offers great AI imagery in its free plan. Beginners will find Canva’s user-friendly design easy and accessible to use, and professional creatives looking to experiment with AI art ought to try Adobe Firefly and its family of AI tools.
Top 10 Best AI Image Generators in 2025
Here are the leading AI image-generation tools this year, ranked based on quality, speed, customization, and affordability:
1. MidJourney V6 🏆 (Best for Hyper-Realistic AI Art)
- Key Features:
- Unmatched photorealism
- Advanced prompt understanding
- High-resolution upscaling
- Best For: Digital artists, concept designers
- Pricing: $10–$120/month
2. DALL·E 4 (by OpenAI) (Best for Creative & Commercial Use)
Pros
- Understands long, complex queries
- Engaging, dynamic images
- Conversational style allows for easy modifications
Cons
- Photorealistic images can look fake
- Slow to generate images
Dall-E 3 by OpenAI is CNET’s 2024 Editor’s choice for the best AI image generator. Dall-E 3 is great for amateurs and professionals, with many editing tools like different styles and customizations to take advantage of. Dall-E is unique among its competitors for its conversational flow, making it easy to send follow-up requests, and its ability to handle complex queries. OpenAI may use your content to improve its models, but the company says it won’t share your data with advertisers and offers a way to request to opt out of model training. With the $20 per month ChatGPT Plus subscription, Dall-E 3 creates vivid, engaging images with limited AI quirks.
- Key Features:
- Improved context awareness
- Better text-to-image coherence
- API for developers
- Best For: Businesses, content creators
- Pricing: Pay-per-use (credits system)
3. Stable Diffusion 3 (Best for Open-Source & Custom Models)
- Key Features:
- Free & open-source
- Local GPU rendering
- Highly customizable
- Best For: Developers, AI researchers
- Pricing: Free (self-hosted)
4. Adobe Firefly 2 (Best for Designers & Photoshop Integration)
Pros
- Excellent artistic styles
- Good fine-tuning options
- Competitive generation speed
Cons
- Struggles with photorealistic images
- Difficulty when elements contact or interact
- Doesn’t accept complex queries
Adobe Firefly’s family of generative AI image tools is built directly into Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop, which makes it a great option for professional creatives looking to experiment. Firefly offers a lot of stylistic and artistic options, and its refinement tools feel similar to editing software that creatives will be familiar with. Firefly is trained on Adobe’s own Stock catalog, which includes high-quality licensed and public domain content. Firefly does not train on your content. If you’re already paying for an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, Firefly can be an easy way to mock up ideas or spark inspiration.
- Key Features:
- Seamless Adobe Creative Cloud workflow
- Ethical AI training (licensed datasets)
- Vector & 3D image generation
- Best For: Graphic designers, marketers
- Pricing: Included in Adobe Creative Cloud ($59.99/month)
5. Leonardo.AI (Best for Game Assets & 3D Art)
- Key Features:
- Specialized in game textures & 3D models
- Real-time rendering
- Asset marketplace
- Best For: Game developers, 3D artists
- Pricing: Free tier + premium plans
6. Runway ML (Best for Video & AI Animation)
- Key Features:
- AI-powered video generation
- Green screen & motion tracking
- Frame-by-frame editing
- Best For: Video editors, filmmakers
- Pricing: $15–$95/month
7. NightCafe Studio (Best for Beginners & Social Sharing)
- Key Features:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Daily free credits
- Community challenges
- Best For: Hobbyists, social media creators
- Pricing: Free + paid credits
8. DeepFloyd IF (Best for Text-Based AI Art)
- Key Features:
- High-quality text rendering
- Multi-stage diffusion process
- Open-source alternative
- Best For: Typography artists, meme creators
- Pricing: Free (self-hosted)
9. Canva AI (Magic Media) (Best for Quick Social Media Graphics)
Pros
- Excels at creating fun, whimsy and cartoon images
- Easy to use on desktop and on the mobile app
- Doesn’t share your content to train its AI
Cons
- Free plan has a hard limit on how many images you can create
- Hard to generate non-square images
Canva is an extremely user-friendly graphic design service, and its AI image generator Magic Media is a great option for amateur AI creators. Magic Media is a minimalist service, which isn’t great if you need extensive editing tools, but it’s great for folks on a budget and time crunch. Canva’s privacy policy is notably secure, as Canva does not train its AI on your content, and the images you generate are always private, unlike many competitors. Canva also makes it easy to integrate your AI images into your other projects, on desktop and on the mobile app. It’s a no-frills, easy-to-navigate AI image generator perfect for beginners and Canva lovers.
- Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop simplicity
- Brand kit integration
- Instant AI-powered designs
- Best For: Small businesses, influencers
- Pricing: Free + Canva Pro ($12.99/month)
10. Artbreeder (Best for AI-Powered Photo Mixing)
- Key Features:
- Gene-mixing for unique portraits
- Collaborative remixing
- High-res downloads
- Best For: Portrait artists, NFT creators
- Pricing: Free + paid upgrades
How to Choose the Best AI Image Generator?
When selecting an AI image generator, consider:
✅ Purpose (art, marketing, gaming, etc.)
✅ Output Quality (realism vs. stylized)
✅ Customization (control over details)
✅ Pricing (free vs. subscription)
✅ Integration (Photoshop, Canva, API access)
Future of AI Image Generation (2025 & Beyond)
🔮 Emerging Trends:
- 3D & Holographic AI Art
- Real-time AI video generation
- AI copyright protection tools
- Personalized AI avatars
FAQ: Best AI Image Generators
Q: Which AI is best for free image generation?
A: Stable Diffusion 3 (self-hosted) or NightCafe (free credits).
Q: Can AI-generated images be copyrighted?
A: Yes, but rules vary—check local laws and platform policies.
Q: Will AI replace graphic designers?
A: No, but it’s a powerful tool to enhance creativity and speed.
Conclusion
The best AI image generators of 2025 offer stunning realism, customization, and ease of use. Whether you need photorealistic art, marketing visuals, or game assets, there’s an AI tool for you.
Which AI generator do you prefer? Let us know in the comments!
🔗 Try them out: