Midjourney vs Stable Diffusion
A detailed comparison of Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Midjourney
AI image generation tool known for artistic, high-quality outputs.
Stable Diffusion
Open-source AI image generation model you can run locally.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Midjourney | Stable Diffusion |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✗ No | ✓ Free (local/open source) |
| Lowest Paid | $10/mo | Free (local) |
| Enterprise | $60/mo | API pricing varies |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Midjourney | Stable Diffusion |
|---|---|---|
| Text to image | ✓ | ✓ |
| Image variations | ✓ | — |
| Upscaling | ✓ | — |
| Style control | ✓ | — |
| Aspect ratios | ✓ | — |
| Remix mode | ✓ | — |
| Pan & zoom | ✓ | — |
| Describe | ✓ | — |
| Blend | ✓ | — |
| Web interface | ✓ | — |
| Image to image | — | ✓ |
| Inpainting | — | ✓ |
| ControlNet | — | ✓ |
| LoRA training | — | ✓ |
| SDXL | — | ✓ |
| ComfyUI | — | ✓ |
| Automatic1111 | — | ✓ |
| Local generation | — | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.6 | ⭐ 4.3 |
Pros & Cons
Midjourney
Pros
- ✓ Highest quality outputs
- ✓ Artistic style
- ✓ Active community
- ✓ Constant improvements
Cons
- ✗ No free tier now
- ✗ Discord interface
- ✗ Limited control
- ✗ No API
Stable Diffusion
Pros
- ✓ Free and open source
- ✓ Run locally
- ✓ Highly customizable
- ✓ Active community
Cons
- ✗ Requires GPU
- ✗ Technical setup
- ✗ Quality varies
- ✗ Legal uncertainty
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Midjourney if: You need artists and creators wanting high-quality ai images. Midjourney excels with its highest quality outputs and artistic style.
Choose Stable Diffusion if: You need technical users wanting customizable ai image generation. Stable Diffusion stands out with its free and open source and run locally.
Best free option: Stable Diffusion offers a free tier (Free (local/open source)).
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midjourney better than Stable Diffusion?
It depends on your needs. Midjourney is better for artists and creators wanting high-quality ai images, while Stable Diffusion is better for technical users wanting customizable ai image generation. Both are excellent tools rated 4.6 and 4.3 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Midjourney or Stable Diffusion?
Midjourney starts at $10/mo while Stable Diffusion starts at Free (local). Stable Diffusion also has a free tier.
Can I switch from Midjourney to Stable Diffusion?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Stable Diffusion's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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