Cost of AI Image Generation Apps
AI image generation has changed what’s possible in visual content creation. The ability to direct your creative outputs with precision and take your images in different artistic directions has driven a huge uptick in experimentation, mastery and application of AI generated images. The technology is making it possible to produce high-quality images in a matter of hours, rather than traditional processes which could take weeks.
A lot of features and functionality are free to experiment with, but there are a host of premium features which have a cost attached. It’s good to understand the pricing structure of the most popular AI tools to help you figure out which plan and platform is best for you, your business and your budget.
Detailed Cost Analysis of Top 3 AI Image Generation Apps
To better illustrate the cost differences and features available, let’s compare the top 3 AI image generation apps—Craiyon, Leonardo, and DeepAI—in the following table.
| Feature | Craiyon | Leonardo.Ai | DeepAI |
| Free Plan | Limited access to basic tools, suitable for casual users | Limited access to image-generation and realt-time canvas tools | Free forever, limited daily access to AI Generator, AI Video Generator, AI Chat, Genius Mode messages, and images |
| Starter Plan | Known as the ‘Supporter Plan’, this option is $5/month (£4/month, ~AUD 8/month), billed yearly, 45s for 9 images, unlimited images, no ads, no watermarks | Known as the ‘Apprentice Plan’, this option is $10 / month, billed yearly, and offers 5,500 fast tokens, up to 25,500 banked tokens (if unused in a given month), no watermarks and premium image guidance features. | Starts from $5 for PAYG, 100 AI generator calls, 30 video calls, 350 AI Chat messages. |
| Professional Plan | $20/month (£16/month, ~AUD 31/month), billed yearly, 15s for 9 images, highest priority, private images | The ‘Artisan Plan’ is $24 / month, billed yearly, for 25,500 fast tokens, up to 75,000 banked tokens (if unused), unlimited images, collections and premium image guidance. | Starts from $4.99/month (£4/month, ~AUD 8/month), includes 500 AI Generator calls, 30 AI Video Generator calls, 1750 AI Chat messages, 60 Genius Mode messages, and 60 Genius Mode images, overage charges apply* |
| Scale Plan | The ‘Maestro’ Plan is $48 / month, billed yearly, for 60,000 fast tokens per month, 180,000 banked tokens (if unused), unlmiited collections and premium image guidance. | N/A | |
| Enterprise Plan | Custom pricing, includes custom models, custom integrations, dedicated support, and private servers | Priced on request, supports team and API-based usage with extensive features, token allowance, private servers, team collaboration, and API capabilities | N/A |
Factors Influencing the Cost of AI Image Generation Apps
Subscription Plans
Most AI image generation apps offer a range of plans. Free plans typically provide limited access to tools and restrictions on the number of generations. Paid plans, on the other hand, unlock advanced functionalities and higher usage limits. The price difference typically aligns to the difference in image generation capacity
Businesses and professionals often find that investing in paid plans yields better results due to the feature set and increased image generation allowance, which allows for iteration and creation of a large volume of outputs.
Features and Tools
Advanced features such as high-resolution image outputs, AI-powered editing tools, private mode and extensive design libraries are available only on premium plans.
For example, image upscaling, background removal, fast and batch processing are key features that may only be accessible through higher-tier subscriptions, or require a higher plan for more token allocation, which is needed to run some of these features. The more sophisticated the toolset, the higher the cost, making it important to understand the different features on offer and assess which are essential for your use cases.
Usage Limits
AI image generation apps often have usage caps on the number of images you can create within a given timeframe. Free plans may have a limited number of generations per day, while paid plans increase these limits considerably.
For heavy users or businesses, it’s worth noting that some platforms have overage charges, so it’s important to understand the usage limits and choose the right plan for your expected image generation requirements. To avoid unexpected overage costs, it’s a good idea to monitor your typical usage on a project and choose a plan that aligns with your needs.
Integration with Other Tools
Many AI image generation apps offer integrations with design software, content management systems, and other digital tools. These integrations can enhance workflow efficiency but may come with additional costs.
For instance, connecting your AI tool to CRM platforms like WordPress or Webflow may require a higher subscription tier or additional plugins. If you’re in a businesses that relies on seamless integration with an existing tech stack, you should weigh these costs against the benefits of streamlined operations. It’s also worth looking at the API option for these platforms, which can help you customize the integration to your specific business.
Support and Customer Service
Access to customer support can vary depending on provider, and your subscription level.
It’s worthwhile checking the type of support offered, particularly if you’re opting for a free plans, which can mean limited or no support, leaving you to troubleshoot issues on your own. Paid plans typically include access to customer service, with higher-tier plans offering more personalised or priority support. For businesses, especially those with mission-critical operations, having reliable and responsive support can be worth the additional expense.
It’s also worth looking into the community support which each platform offers, as AI image generation is an iterative, learning experience and the community can add huge value.
Other inclusions
It’s worthwhile looking through all the other inclusions before you decide on a plan. Depending on what you’re using AI image generation for, some of the other features might be key – like the quality of images, the ability to train models with your own datasets, video motion capabilities, and access to different models, like Phoenix, Flux and Stable Diffusion models. Every platform varies in its feature set, so check out the wider range of options while you’re choosing the best plan for you.
The bottom line
AI image-generation apps vary widely in cost, depending on the features, usage, and support required. Whether you’re a hobbyist, a creative professional, or a business, there are are a range of plans which are all designed to closely align with your typical usage and feature requirements.
Choosing the right plan can set you up for highly efficient, creative workflows which, compared with traditional ways of working, can be hugely cost and time effective overall.
Take the next step with Leonardo AI. Check out our platform today to see how it can fit into your creative process and support your growth.