AI image and design tools
AI image and design tools generate images from a text description, edit photos and produce graphics such as social posts, presentations and logos. Design suites add AI inside templates; image generators focus on producing new pictures.
Canva
Online design tool with templates, stock media and AI features
Midjourney
AI image and video generator sold as a monthly or yearly subscription
Adobe Firefly
Adobe's generative AI app for images, video and audio, with credit-based plans
Ideogram
AI image generator with credit-based plans and a developer API
Leonardo.Ai
AI image and video generation platform, part of Canva since 2024
Recraft
AI image and vector graphics generator for designers and marketers
Krea
AI suite for generating, editing and upscaling images, video and 3D
Side by side
| Tool | Free plan | Starting price | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canva | $12/mo | No | Web, iOS, Android, macOS | |
| Midjourney | $8/mo (annual) | No | Web | |
| Adobe Firefly | $9.99/mo | No | Web | |
| Ideogram | $15/mo (annual) | No | Web, API | |
| Leonardo.Ai | $10/mo (annual) | No | Web, API | |
| Recraft | $10/mo (annual) | No | Web, API | |
| Krea | $5/mo (annual) | No | Web, iOS, API |
How to choose
- 1
Do you need finished designs with text and layouts, or standalone images?
- 2
What do the terms say about commercial use of what you generate?
- 3
How many generations or credits does each plan include?
- 4
Do you need consistent brand colours, fonts or characters across images?
Also worth a look
Tools listed elsewhere that do this job too.
Questions
What are AI image and design tools?
AI image and design tools generate images from a text description, edit photos and produce graphics such as social posts, presentations and logos. Design suites add AI inside templates; image generators focus on producing new pictures.
Which AI image and design tools have a free plan?
Of the 7 listed here, 6 have a free plan: Canva, Adobe Firefly, Ideogram, Leonardo.Ai, Recraft and Krea. Free plans are limited; each tool's page lists the limits.
Which of these AI image and design tools costs least to start?
Of the tools here with a published price, the lowest entry price is Krea's Basic plan at $5/mo billed annually, as published on its pricing page on 23 September 2026. The cheapest plan is not always the best value: check what each plan includes.