FRENES

AI image generators

Midjourney: review, pricing, data and alternatives

Midjourney lets people creating visuals generate images from descriptions and produce variations. It also supports replacing selected image areas, composing images with multiple layers, and generating short videos. There is no free tier; the first paid plan costs $10 per month. Access and transparency score: 46/100, #29 of 38 in its category.

Score
46/100
Access 10/30
Openness 10/30
Trust 26/40
Paid onlyHosting not disclosed

What is Midjourney?

Midjourney lets people creating visuals generate images from descriptions and produce variations. It also supports replacing selected image areas, composing images with multiple layers, and generating short videos.

According to its documentation, Midjourney lets you:

  • create images from a description
  • produce variations of an image
  • replace a selected part of an image
  • compose an image using multiple layers
  • generate short videos

We file it under AI image generators, the category of tools to create images from text, and it also overlaps with aI photo editing and aI video generators. The category lists 38 verified tools on this site.

The publisher is Midjourney, Inc., based in United States. The service launched in 2022, which gives it some track record.

Who is it for?

It is mostly useful to these profiles: graphic designers, architects and interior designers, marketers, and video creators. The need it covers is simple to state: create images from text.

The best test is a concrete case from your daily work: if the tool does not beat your current method within a week, move on to an alternative.

How much does Midjourney cost?

Pricing model: paid. No permanent free plan is offered.

The first paid plan costs $10 per month (Basic, monthly billing; annual option at USD 96), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.

Per month, that is close to the category median ($10 per month, based on tools with a published price).

KreaKrea : $5$5APOB AIAPOB AI : $6$6iColoringiColoring : $7.99$7.99RunDiffusionRunDiffusion : $8.79$8.79CraiyonCraiyon : $10$10MidjourneyMidjourney : $10$10Magnific AIMagnific AI : $14.5$14.5ScenarioScenario : $15$15Human GeneratorHuman Generator : $16.58$16.58AffogatoAffogato : $24$24
First paid plan, per month (dollars or euros, annual plans divided by 12). Sample of 12 tools out of 18.

To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.

Data and privacy

The publisher does not clearly state where data is hosted. Assume your content may leave your region.

For professional use, check that a data processing agreement (DPA) is offered, and do not send customers' personal data or confidential documents without one.

Exporting your content: yes (details on the official site). Being able to get your data back makes switching tools easier later.

Three habits apply to every AI tool:

  • turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
  • use a work account separate from your personal account
  • review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it

Platforms, languages and API

Midjourney runs on: web browser.

Interface languages are not specified.

There is no public API: the tool is used only through its interface.

How we scored it

Our 46/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.

Midjourney score breakdown
CriterionPointsWhat counts
Access10/30free tier, published price, French interface
Openness10/30API, data export, open code
Trust26/40identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists
RunDiffusionRunDiffusion : 8181KreaKrea : 7878IdeogramIdeogram : 7575Stable DiffusionStable Diffusion : 7575Adobe FireflyAdobe Firefly : 7373FLUXFLUX : 7373Leonardo.AiLeonardo.Ai : 7171ScenarioScenario : 7171BetterPicBetterPic : 6868HotpotHotpot : 6868MidjourneyMidjourney : 4646
Midjourney ranks #29 of 38. The category's top ten are shown.

The full calculation is explained on our method page.

Comparison with alternatives

Midjourney against other tools in the aI image generators category:

Comparison within the category
ToolFreeEntry priceAPIScore
MidjourneyNo$10 per monthNo46
RunDiffusionYes$8.79 per monthYes81
KreaYes$5 per monthYes78
IdeogramYes$15 per monthYes75
Stable DiffusionYes$0.01 pay as you goYes75
Adobe FireflyYes$9.99 per monthYes73
FLUXYes$0.01 pay as you goYes73
Leonardo.AiYes$12 per monthYes71

Verdict

Midjourney publishes little verifiable information: look at the better-scored alternatives first.

Strengths

  • Established since 2022

Limitations

  • No free tier
  • Data hosting not disclosed
  • No API

Avoid if…

  • You handle sensitive personal data without a processing agreement
  • You plan to automate it or connect it to an agent

Frequently asked questions

Is Midjourney free?

No, there is no permanent free plan. The first paid plan costs $10 per month.

Where is Midjourney data stored?

The publisher does not clearly say so in its public documentation.

Does Midjourney have an API?

No, no public API so far.

What are the alternatives to Midjourney?

In the same category: RunDiffusion, Krea, Ideogram, and Stable Diffusion.

Midjourney or RunDiffusion: which one to choose?

RunDiffusion has a free tier, Midjourney does not, Midjourney starts at $10 per month, RunDiffusion at $8.79 per month, only RunDiffusion offers an API, and our score is 46/100 for Midjourney and 81/100 for RunDiffusion. Try both on the same task before paying.

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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score