Midjourney
The gold standard of AI art — cinematic, painterly images from a single prompt
AI Image Generation
Leonardo AI: The Creator Suite We Keep Coming Back To
The all-round creator suite — images, video, 3D and model training in one place
Quick answer: Leonardo is the Swiss Army knife of AI image tools, and the daily free tokens make it the easiest one to actually start with.
Our Verdict
Leonardo is the Swiss Army knife of AI image tools, and the daily free tokens make it the easiest one to actually start with. It won't out-paint Midjourney on a fantasy landscape, but for game devs, indie makers and anyone who wants to train a model on their own character, there's no contest. The $12 Essential plan is honestly cheap for private generations — just read the token costs before you buy, because 'unlimited relaxed' only applies to select models.
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Pricing shown below is approximate and may have changed — always confirm on the official site.
🚀 Key Features
- Text-to-image with multiple built-in and third-party models
- Canvas editor for inpainting, outpainting and extending images
- Train your own custom models on your own style or subjects
- Character Reference for keeping a character consistent across images
- AI video generation and 3D model generation
- Blueprints — one-click guided workflows for common jobs
- Developer API with pay-as-you-go billing separate from subscriptions
💰 Pricing
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | $0: 150 fast tokens per day, public generations, commercial use included |
| Essential | ~$12/mo: 8,500 tokens/mo, private generations, 10 personal AI models |
| Premium | ~$30/mo: 25,000 tokens/mo + unlimited relaxed image generation on select models |
| Ultimate | ~$60/mo: 60,000 tokens/mo + unlimited relaxed image and video generation |
free plan + from ~$12/mo (approximate) A free tier is available if you want to try before you pay.
👍👎 Pros & Cons
✅ What we like
- Genuine free tier (150 tokens daily) that refreshes every day — rare in 2026
- Commercial use allowed even on the free plan
- Custom model training and game-ready assets, including textures and 3D
- One credit pot covers images, video and audio — flexible multi-model platform
🤔 What could be better
- Token math is confusing — a 'token' isn't an image and costs vary by model
- Raw art direction still trails Midjourney for pure aesthetics
- Free generations are public; privacy costs money
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leonardo AI really free?
Yes — the free plan gives you 150 fast tokens per day (roughly 30–75 images depending on settings), no credit card required. The catch: free generations are public, advanced settings are limited, and there's no private generation on the free tier.
What are Leonardo tokens and how many images do they buy?
Tokens are Leonardo's usage currency. One image typically costs 2–5 tokens depending on the model and quality settings, so Essential's 8,500 monthly tokens buys roughly 1,700–4,000 images. Unused paid tokens roll into a token bank capped at 3 months' worth; free tokens reset daily.
Can I use Leonardo AI images commercially?
Yes — even on the free plan, Leonardo allows commercial use of what you create. Paid plans add private generation, which matters for unreleased brand work.
What is the difference between Leonardo and Midjourney?
Leonardo is a feature-rich platform: free tier, custom model training, game assets, 3D, video, and an API. Midjourney is a purer art tool with better default aesthetics but no free tier, no training, and no API. Pick Leonardo for versatility and value, Midjourney for maximum art quality.
🔄 Alternatives to Leonardo AI
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