Midjourney vs DALL-E 3 Pricing: AI Image Generation Costs

Byaitoolvs

TL;DR Verdict

DALL-E 3 is included free with ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) alongside all other ChatGPT features. Midjourney ($10/mo basic) produces more artistic, higher-quality images but only does image generation. If you already pay for ChatGPT Plus, DALL-E 3 is a free bonus. If image quality is paramount, Midjourney is the industry standard.

Midjourney Pricing Plans

Plan Price Key Features
Basic $10/mo ~200 images/mo (3.3 hr fast GPU), commercial license
Standard $30/mo ~900 images/mo (15 hr fast GPU), unlimited relaxed mode
Pro $60/mo ~1,800 images/mo (30 hr fast GPU), stealth mode
Mega $120/mo ~3,600 images/mo (60 hr fast GPU), stealth, max concurrent jobs

DALL-E 3 Pricing Plans

Plan Price Key Features
ChatGPT Free $0 Limited DALL-E 3 generations via GPT-4o
ChatGPT Plus $20/mo DALL-E 3 included with all ChatGPT Plus features
API ~$0.04-0.12/image Pay per image: $0.04 (256px) to $0.12 (1024px HD)

Quick Price Comparison

Tier Midjourney DALL-E 3
Basic $10/mo $0
Standard $30/mo $20/mo
Pro $60/mo ~$0.04-0.12/image
Mega $120/mo

Which Should You Choose?

If You… Choose
You want the best image quality Midjourney Standard ($30/mo)
You already use ChatGPT DALL-E 3 is included in your ChatGPT Plus subscription
You need images for commercial projects Both include commercial licenses on paid plans
You generate images via API DALL-E 3 API ($0.04-0.12/image) for programmatic generation
You want artistic, stylized outputs Midjourney – consistently more aesthetic results

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DALL-E 3 really free with ChatGPT Plus?

Yes. DALL-E 3 image generation is included in ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) at no extra cost. You get it alongside GPT-4o, browsing, Code Interpreter, and custom GPTs.

Which produces more realistic images?

Midjourney v6 produces more photorealistic and artistically cohesive images. DALL-E 3 is better at following complex text prompts accurately and text rendering in images.

Can I use these images commercially?

Yes. Midjourney (all paid plans) and DALL-E 3 (ChatGPT Plus) both grant commercial usage rights. Always check the latest terms for your specific use case.

How many images can I generate per day?

Midjourney Basic: ~6-7/day. Standard: ~30/day. DALL-E 3 via ChatGPT: varies by usage but typically allows dozens per session without hitting limits.

Key Takeaways

  • Both Midjourney and DALL-E 3 offer competitive pricing in 2026
  • Free tiers let you test before committing
  • Annual billing saves 15-20% on most plans
  • Choose based on your specific use case, not just price

Ready to get started?

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