Free AI Image Generators and APIs
Which AI image generators and image APIs a startup can use for free today, how many images or credits the free plan gives, whether the images may be used commercially, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs, read from each provider's own page.
Free allowances read on each provider's own pages, all checked on or after . Image generators change their free credits often: confirm the terms on the provider's page before you publish images made with it.
AI image generators a startup can use for free today include Leonardo (150 Fast tokens a day), Runware ($2 in free credits), NightCafe (5 free credits a day), Stability AI (25 free credits to start), and Playground (10 images every 3 hours). Each of the 9 free plans below links to the provider's page that states it, with its main limit, whether images may be used commercially, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs.
AI image generators turn a prompt into a hero image, an ad visual or a product mockup in seconds, and image APIs put the same ability inside a product. Most have a free plan with daily credits, and the APIs give free credits to start.
The headline rarely tells you how far it goes. Free images can be public by default, carry no commercial license, or come from a smaller set of models, and daily credits differ widely. Each generator below shows what is free, its main limit, whether images may be used commercially, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs, quoted from the provider's own page with the date we read it.
Which generators we picked and the order they appear in are our editorial choices; the terms are the providers'. Some of these providers pay us a referral commission when someone signs up through our link: those links are labeled, and they play no part in which generators are listed or where.
AI image generators with a free plan
Apps that make images from a prompt, with free credits every day or month.
- 1
Leonardo
Trying AI art on a standing daily token allowance
Leonardo's Free plan gives 150 Fast tokens a day with Auto models only, and its creations are public. Essential, the first paid plan, is $12 a month ex. tax.
- What's free
- 150 Fast tokens a day (source: leonardo.ai)
- First paid plan
- Essential: $12 a month ex. tax (source: leonardo.ai)
- 2
NightCafe
Daily credits plus unlimited base Stable Diffusion
NightCafe gives every user 5 free credits each day. Other models and settings cost credits. The AI Hobbyist plan is $7.49 to $12.5 a month.
Start free at NightCafeTerms read on creator.nightcafe.studio on NightCafe: the free allowance and how to start - 3
Playground
Small trials across several models, with commercial use
Playground's Free plan makes up to 10 images every 3 hours, with 3 monthly generations across its models and a worldwide royalty free license. Pro is $144 a year.
- First paid plan
- Pro: $144 a year, billed annually (source: playground.com)
Start free at PlaygroundTerms read on playground.com on Playground: the free allowance and how to start - 4
Ideogram
Occasional image ideas on the weekly credit grant
Eligible Ideogram free accounts receive weekly credits when they sign in with Google, Apple or Microsoft, and the amount may vary. The Plus plan is $20 a month, or $180 billed annually.
- First paid plan
- Plus: $20 a month, or $180 a year (source: ideogram.ai)
- 5
Krea
Trying Krea's image tools on a daily unit allowance
Krea's Free plan gives 100 units a day. Its FAQ places the commercial license in the Basic plan and above, and Basic is $5.25 a month.
- What's free
- 100 units a day (source: krea.ai)
- Commercial use
- Commercial license from Basic up (source: krea.ai)
- First paid plan
- Basic: $5.25 a month (source: krea.ai)
- 6
Recraft
Personal style experiments, not commercial work
Recraft's Free plan gives 3 generations per style per day, but its images are public and there is no commercial use. Basic is $10 per month billed annually.
- Commercial use
- No commercial use (source: recraft.ai)
- First paid plan
- Basic: $10 a month, billed yearly (source: recraft.ai)
- 7
Adobe Firefly
Daily image, video and audio tries on Adobe's models
Firefly gives free daily generations across image, video and audio without a plan, and the limits refresh every day. Firefly Standard is US$9.99 a month.
- First paid plan
- Standard: US$9.99 a month (source: adobe.com)
Image generation APIs with free credits
APIs for generating images in your product, with free credits to start.
- 1
Runware
Testing many image models through one API
New Runware users who sign up with a business email get $2 in free credits to test models. After that you pay per generation or per token.
- What's free
- $2 in free credits (source: runware.ai)
- First paid plan
- Pay per generation or per token (source: runware.ai)
- 2
Stability AI
Testing Stable Image models before paying per call
Stability AI's API starts you with 25 free credits, and 1 credit equals $0.01. Stable Image Core costs 3 credits an image.
- First paid plan
- Core: 3 credits per image (source: platform.stability.ai)
Start free at Stability AITerms read on platform.stability.ai on Stability AI: the free allowance and how to start
Also useful for design and creative work
Referral links, picked for fit and ordered by fit (70%) and what a signup earns us (30%), at no cost to you. They never change this page's ranking.
How this comparison is built
The list covers AI image generators and image generation APIs a founder can use for free today without applying to a program. The order and the "best for" notes are our editorial reading of each generator's terms. Every term comes from the generator's own pricing or help page on the date shown, never from a third-party list; follow each link for the full conditions. A cap on credits, a watermark, or commercial use kept for paid plans can matter more than the headline, so the comparison quotes them wherever the provider states them. Some of these generators pay StartupPerks a referral commission, and their links are labeled as referral links; that decides neither whether nor where a generator appears, and no generator pays for a placement on this page.
Read the full methodologyCommon questions
What is the best free AI image generator?
It depends on volume and use. By the terms each tool states, Leonardo's free plan gives 150 Fast tokens a day, Krea 100 units a day, NightCafe 5 free credits a day and Playground 10 images every 3 hours, while Adobe Firefly gives free daily generations without a plan.
Can I use images from a free AI image generator commercially?
It depends on the tool. Playground grants a worldwide royalty-free license, while Recraft's free plan allows no commercial use and Krea's commercial license starts on its Basic plan. Check the terms before you publish.
Is Leonardo AI free?
Yes. Leonardo's free plan gives 150 Fast tokens a day on its Auto models, and free creations are public. Essential costs $12 a month before tax.
Which image generation APIs give free credits?
Stability AI gives 25 free credits to start, where 1 credit is $0.01 and a Core image costs 3 credits, and Runware gives $2 in free credits to sign-ups with a business email.
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