13 Best AI Art Generators 2024 (Personally Tested)
If you haven’t been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard of the incredible progress made in the field of AI art generation. AI art generators have revolutionized how we create and experience art, unveiling a new realm of creativity and possibilities.
But with so many art generators to choose one, which ones are truly the best? As someone with a background in fine arts and graphic design, I couldn’t help but get my hands on some AI art generators and compile them into a list of the best ones. Playing around with these tools was some of the most fun I’ve had on the Internet in a long time.
In this article, I’ll take you on a journey through the best AI art generators, all personally tested to ensure only the highest quality.
If you want to see how to take your digital artwork to the next level, read on!
What is an AI Art Generator? How Does It Work?
An AI art generator uses generative AI (Artificial Intelligence), particularly machine learning and deep learning techniques, to generate artistic content such as images and paintings. In more technical terms, an AI art generator uses Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or Variational Autoencoders (VAEs).
GANs consist of two main components: a generator and a discriminator. The generator creates new images based on fake data, while the discriminator evaluates the generated images for authenticity. You can think of the generator as a “thief” and the discriminator as the “police” to ensure everything is authentic.
The generator learns to produce increasingly convincing images through a feedback loop, while the discriminator improves its ability to distinguish real from fake. This iterative process generates new and visually appealing artwork based on the patterns and styles learned from a dataset.
AI art generators are trained on large existing artwork or visual data datasets, enabling them to learn patterns, styles, and aesthetics. By analyzing this information, an AI art generator can create new, unique pieces of art that imitate or innovate upon established artistic styles or create entirely new creative expressions.
As the user, you don’t have to worry about all of this technical stuff the generator does. You only have to give it an AI art text prompt and hit generate. Like magic, the AI art generator will spit out art as closely aligned to your natural language text prompt as possible.
What Makes AI Art Generators Great?
Several factors can contribute to making an AI art generator great, which I considered when determining which AI art generator was superior:
- Creativity and Originality: A great AI art generator should go beyond simply replicating existing styles or imitating human artists and instead offer new and innovative artistic expressions.
- Quality and Realism: The generated artwork should produce high-quality images comparable to human-created art with the option to “Upscale” (enhance the quality) if possible.
- Adaptability and Customizability: The AI art generator should adapt to different styles and preferably specify what the user does not want to see with “Negative Words.”
- Suggestions: The AI art generator should have a guidebook if necessary or, at the very least, provide recommendations to enhance user prompts for better results.
- Multiple Versions: The AI generator should create multiple versions of a single prompt for the user to choose from for the most accurate results.
- Variations: The user should be able to create variations from the images generated for the most accurate results.
- Speed: The images should be generated in seconds or at least have a paid option to enhance the image generation speed.
The Best AI Art Generators I’ve Tried
Here are the best AI art generators that I have personally tested myself:
- Canva
- Dall-E 2
- Bing Image Creator
- Dream Studio by Stability AI
- Fotor
- Craiyon
- NightCafe
- Midjourney
- Jasper Art
- Creative Fabrica
- Adobe Firefly
- Deep Dream Generator
- Dream by WOMBO
1. Canva
Pros
- Easy to use.
- 50 free generations replenished at the end of every month.
- Generate four images at a time.
- Different aspect ratios and styles to choose from.
- Edit images directly in Canva or add them to existing projects.
- Let Canva create a text prompt for you.
- No watermark.
Cons
- Cannot enhance or upscale individual images.
Canva is the best free, user-friendly, all-in-one AI art generator.
As a Canva user, I was excited when they came out with an AI art generator. Not only does Canva offer unlimited free image generations with excellent results, but you can edit the generated images directly in Canva or add them to existing projects. All of these things make Canva the best AI art generator overall!
The Canva AI art generator is also flexible, with a range of aspect ratios and styles to choose from. If you’re out of inspiration, Canva can automatically generate text prompts by selecting “Try an Example.”
The generated images are free from watermarks, but one big con is that it does not support enhancing or upscaling individual images.
2. Dall-E 2
Pros
- Generates high-quality images in a variety of styles.
- Four generations per credit.
- Edit images (inpainting and outpainting).
Cons
- Must purchase credits.
- It only generates square images.
Dall-E 2 initiated the current trend in AI art generation, even though it sadly no longer offers a free trial. You used to get 50 credits for free and an additional 15 each month. Since then, other companies have released their own models.
Despite being the first mainstream AI art generators, it remains one of the most remarkable AI art generators. It’s got a user-friendly interface and can generate outstanding results. I’ve used it to generate various images like paintings, realistic photos, and digital art (feel free to check out my Dall-E examples).
Beyond having fun and experimenting, Dall-E 2 is also excellent for business owners and marketers for project ideation and images for marketing campaigns. Plus, you can edit your images directly in Dall-E with inpainting and outpainting for ultimate customization on a simple interface!
Read more on using Dall-E 2 to create beautiful art from text!
3. Bing Image Creator
Pros
- Free to use.
- Generates 4 images per prompt.
- Quick generations.
- User-friendly.
- Higher quality results (powered by the latest Dall-E 3).
- AI chatbot (Copilot) and art generator in one place!
Cons
- You must have a Microsoft account.
With the Bing Image Creator from Microsoft Designer, streamlining your creative process is no problem. It’s user-friendly and entirely free to use so that anyone can use it!
With this AI image generator, you can generate 4 images per prompt to choose which generation you like most. The results are nothing short of excellent, as the Bing Image Creator is powered by the latest DALL-E 3 technology.
The biggest perk: Bing chat (Copilot) seamlessly combines conversational assistance with image generation in one platform.
Its biggest con is that you must have a Microsoft account to access the platform. But despite this requirement, Bing Image Creator remains a versatile and indispensable tool for artists, designers, and social media posts!
4. Dream Studio by Stability AI
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Negative prompts for what to avoid in the final image.
- Different aspect ratios.
- Up to 10 variations for each text prompt.
- Different styles to choose from.
- No watermark.
- Download images for free.
- No monthly pricing (generate around 100 images for free!).
Cons
- You must create an account before generating images, which can be annoying.
Dream Studio by Stability AI is a user-friendly tool that allows users to create stunning artwork easily. It offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, making it accessible even to those with limited technical expertise. It’s also the main application for Stable Diffusion, a deep learning text-to-image model.
The platform incorporates negative prompts, enabling you to specify what you want to avoid in your generated images for more accurate results.
Another notable feature of Dream Studio is its flexibility in generating images. You can select the desired aspect ratio and generate up to 10 variations for each text prompt for a wide range of options to choose from.
Dream Studio also offers diverse styles (Comic Book, Neon Punk, Isometric, and Pixel Art, to name a few), allowing you to experiment with different artistic aesthetics.
If that’s not enough, images generated with Dream Studio don’t have watermarks. And the best part? You can download around ~100 images for free!
5. Fotor
Pros
- The “Surprise Me” button gives you example prompts.
- Generate five images completely free.
- No watermarks.
- Free downloads.
- Excellent results.
- Edit images for free within Fotor.
Cons
- Limited features unless you are on a paid plan.
The Fotor AI art generator offers a user-friendly experience for creating stunning artwork. It has a “Surprise Me” button that provides example prompts, making it easy to start generating art quickly.
You can generate up to five images for free you can download, with no watermark. You can even edit your images for free within the platform! However, you’ll need a subscription to create variations of your images.
This combination of AI-generated art and editing capabilities makes Fotor one of the best AI art generators.
6. Craiyon
Pros
- Generate unlimited images for free.
- No sign-up is required!
- Generates nine images per text prompt.
- Straightforward: no extra bells and whistles.
- High-quality results.
- Use generations for commercial use, so long as they follow the Terms of Use.
Cons
- No text prompt suggestions when you start.
- Not many art styles to choose from.
- Generation time is slower than other art generators.
- Fixed 1:1 aspect ratio.
- Generations lack a bit of quality.
- Watermarks.
Craiyon, formerly DALL-E Mini, is a powerful tool for generating artistic images. It generates nine images at a time, which is more than other AI art generators. This means you’ll have more options to choose from.
Additionally, Craiyon offers an “Upscale” feature to enhance the quality of the generated images. Craiyon also suggests prompts for better outputs, which is always appreciated.
However, it’s worth noting that the images generated by Craiyon will have a watermark. If you want to download images from Craiyon without the watermark, you’ll have to pay at least $5/month on their Supporter plan.
The Craiyon AI art generator lets you quickly generate many images per prompt and effortlessly upscale the quality.
Read my honest Craiyon Review for more!
7. NightCafe
Pros
- High-quality results.
- It takes seconds to generate.
- No watermark.
- Different Stable Diffusion models.
- Different design styles to choose from.
- Great community with daily challenges.
Cons
- You are not granted many credits for free.
- You must pay to enhance images.
- No variations.
- No suggested prompts.
The NightCafe AI art generator generates high-quality images in a short amount of time. It distinguishes itself from other generators by offering faster generation speeds, allowing you to obtain your desired images quickly.
Another notable feature is that you can choose from different Stable Diffusion models to tailor your artistic output. The generator also offers 42 styles to explore diverse aesthetics.
NightCafe has a vibrant community with an Explore page and daily challenges that foster engagement and inspiration within the community. However, the generator has limited credits, meaning you’ll likely have to purchase additional credits to enhance your images.
NightCafe generates high-quality images with quick generation times, style customization, and a vibrant community. However, consider the limited availability of free credits and the inability to create variations.
Read my honest NightCafe Review for more!
8. Midjourney
Pros
- Great community for Discord fans, plus a Community Showcase.
- Highest-quality image generations.
- Generates four images at a time.
- The upscale feature generates a larger, more detailed version.
- Create variations.
- Handy Quick Start Guide.
Cons
- Beginners may have a hard time writing effective prompts.
- May be faced with error messages if there’s high demand.
- No free plan or trial.
The Midjourney AI art generator is a popular tool for creating high-quality images. Midjourney images are arguably the most realistic among AI art generators! It also has a very active Discord group and Community Showcase for inspiration.
With Midjourney, you can generate four images simultaneously and generate variations for more creative possibilities. The upscale feature enhances the selected photo by generating a more detailed version.
However, the fact that you must have a Discord account may be confusing for some people. Writing prompts are also not as straightforward as other AI art generators. It’s also worth noting that you must pay to generate any images with Midjourney.
The Midjourney AI art generator offers a vibrant community and the most photo-realistic images. However, be prepared for a steeper learning curve than other AI art generators. Check out free alternatives if you’re on a budget!
9. Jasper Art
Pros
- 7-day free trial.
- “Enhance” prompt for better results.
- Create AI-generated art based on an image you upload.
- Fine-tune your generations by selecting mood, medium, inspiration, style, etc.
- Four images are generated simultaneously.
- Guide to get started.
- The results are highly detailed.
- Templates make it easier to get quality results faster.
Cons
- No variations.
- You must create an account before using it.
The Jasper AI art generator is a powerful tool that creates stunning AI-generated art based on your preferences, with the option to create art based on uploaded images. With its “Enhance” prompt feature, Jasper will instantly optimize your prompt with the click of a button, creating more accurate results.
Jasper offers a range of customization options, allowing you to fine-tune your art. You can select the desired mood, medium, inspiration, style, keywords, and language. Jasper also generates four images simultaneously for multiple options to choose from. To help you get started, Jasper provides a comprehensive “Getting Started” guide for those new to AI art.
Jasper further simplifies the art creation process through templates (e.g., food photography, travel photography, stock photography, and more) for the best results possible. You can’t select an image and create variations of it, but you can tell Jasper whether or not you like what it created to enhance results in the future.
Overall, Jasper AI art generator offers a range of customization options, impressive results, and templates to streamline the art creation process. However, it does not provide variations and only offers a 7-day free trial. But because it’s user-friendly and offers a guide, I’d highly recommend Jasper to those new to AI art generation!
Read my honest Jasper Art Review for extra direction!
10. Creative Fabrica
Pros
- Different aspect ratios.
- Prompt builder for the best results.
- Image generation is quick.
- No watermarks.
Cons
- No free plan.
- You must create an account before using it.
- Forced to publish to the community to download ten images for free.
The Creative Fabrica AI art generator (CF Spark) creates excellent artwork. It’s flexible, so you can select different aspect ratios to customize the dimensions of their generated images according to your specific needs.
The prompt builder helps generate accurate results by allowing you to “build your prompt” to guide the art generation process. Plus, the image generation speed of Creative Fabrica’s AI art generator only takes a few seconds for fast production.
Images created using Creative Fabrica also don’t have watermarks, which is always appreciated. The quality of the generated images is generally good for great-looking outputs.
However, to download ten images for free, you’re forced to publish the generated images to the Creative Fabrica community. If you want to download additional images, you’ll need to subscribe to a monthly payment plan.
The Creative Fabrica AI art generator is a convenient and feature-rich platform for generating high-quality artwork. It offers many customization options and produces accurate results!
11. Adobe Firefly
Pros
- 25 free credit allowance per month.
- Highly detailed outputs.
- Trained on Adobe Stock photos, meaning generations can be used commercially.
- Part of the Adobe Creative Cloud for seamless integration with existing Adobe products.
- High ethical standards.
Cons
- You must be an Adobe user.
Adobe Firefly is suitable for amateur and professional designers alike. With its free plan, you’ll get 25 monthly credits to produce highly detailed outputs.
What sets Adobe Firefly apart is its unique training on Adobe Stock photos. This allows you to generate content for commercial purposes without legal issues. As part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, Firefly seamlessly integrates with other Adobe products, making this the perfect AI art generator for designers already using Adobe products!
Adobe Firefly also upholds high ethical standards, prioritizing user privacy and content integrity. However, to use Adobe Firefly, you must have an Adobe account, which is slightly annoying. Regardless, Adobe Firefly is a powerful tool for boundless creativity.
12. Deep Dream Generator
Pros
- The results look stunning.
- Lots of styles to choose from.
- Create art from your own images or text.
- Prompt suggestions and modifiers.
- Add negative prompts.
Cons
- It may be expensive for some users.
Deep Dream Generator uses AI to generate captivating visual art. Due to its extensive collection of styles, it’s an excellent choice for exploring your creativity with mesmerizing results.
Deep Dream Generator is also very versatile. For example, you can transform your images or text into captivating art pieces. To help you write your prompt, Deep Dream also comes with suggestions and modifiers. If you want to fine-tune even further, you can also add negative prompts to specify what you don’t want in the output!
However, amidst its numerous advantages, Deep Dream Generator may pose a hurdle for some users due to its potentially high cost. The expense involved may deter individuals with budget constraints from fully accessing its features and realizing their creative visions. Despite this potentially not being the most budget-friendly, Deep Dream Generator is a useful tool for producing stunning AI art!
13. Dream By WOMBO
Pros
- The best AI art generator for mobile.
- Available on Google Play and Apple App Store.
- Free desktop mobile version.
- Remix images on your phone.
- 15+ art styles.
- Beautiful results.
Cons
- It only generates one image per prompt unless you pay for a premium.
Dream by WOMBO is the ultimate AI art generator for mobile devices. Available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, it’s accessible on any platform. Plus, there’s a free desktop version as well.
With so many people taking pictures on their phones nowadays, you can effortlessly remix images directly from your device. It features fifteen distinct art styles for diverse and captivating results.
However, Dream by WOMBO’s free version only generates one image per prompt. To generate four images per prompt, you’ll have to subscribe to the premium plan.
Dream by WOMBO is a versatile and user-friendly platform that combines convenience and creativity for those who want to generate art on their phones.
What is the Best AI Art Generator?
After trying different AI generators on the market, Canva stands out as the ultimate choice. With Canva, you get quality results with unlimited image generations, plus all the other templates and tools that come for free. Plus, you can easily integrate your image generations into your projects if you’re already a Canva user!
Regardless, the AI art generators mentioned in this article are all great solutions for easily generating high-quality art and images. Combine this article with customer reviews, and you’ll be sure to find an AI art generator that suits your needs!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free text to AI art generator?
The best free text to AI art generator is Canva. New users can create a maximum of 50 images with a Free subscription, or opt for Canva Pro to get 500 uses per user per month!
What is the AI art generator app everyone is using?
DALL·E 2 initiated the entire AI art generator trend. Although it no longer offers a free trial, it remains one of the best AI art generators. It’s user-friendly and delivers excellent results!
Is there a free online AI art generator?
Among the AI art generators I’ve used, Dream Studio is the closest AI art generator that is completely free. You can generate roughly 100 free images, and it has a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
Which AI art generator is best and free?
The best free AI art generator is Canva. On the free plan, you can generate up to 50 images per month and integrate these images directly into your projects!
Can I make AI art for free?
You can make AI art for free with AI art generators like Canva and Dream Studio.
