Midjourney vs DALL-E 3 Pricing: Best AI Image Generator Value 2026
TL;DR: We compare Midjourney vs DALL-E 3 pricing across every plan tier. Skip to our verdict for the quick answer.
Pricing Plans Compared
| Midjourney | DALL-E 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | Price | Includes | Plan | Price | Includes |
| Basic | $10/mo | 3.3 hrs GPU time, ~200 images | Free (via ChatGPT) | $0/mo | 3 images/day with ChatGPT free |
| Standard | $30/mo | 15 hrs GPU time, unlimited relaxed mode | ChatGPT Plus | $20/mo | Included with Plus, higher limits |
| Pro | $60/mo | 30 hrs GPU time, stealth mode | API | $0.04-0.08/image | Pay per image, multiple sizes |
| Mega | $120/mo | 60 hrs GPU time, priority queue | |||
API Pricing
Midjourney: No public API yet
DALL-E 3: $0.040/image (1024×1024), $0.080/image (1024×1792)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Midjourney
Strengths
- Highest aesthetic quality
- Best for artistic and creative imagery
- V6 produces stunning results
- Active community and prompting culture
Weaknesses
- Discord-only interface (web beta)
- No API for developers
- Requires prompt engineering skill
- No free trial
DALL-E 3
Strengths
- Free tier available via ChatGPT
- Best text rendering in images
- Natural language prompting
- API access for developers
Weaknesses
- Less artistic than Midjourney
- Style can feel generic
- Rate limits on free tier
- Less control over aesthetics
Our Verdict
DALL-E 3 is the best value if you already pay for ChatGPT Plus or need API access. Midjourney Standard at $30/mo is worth it for creators who need the highest quality artistic output.
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