The realm of AI art generators has expanded significantly, offering alternatives to Midjourney for both free and paid services. Despite Midjourney's excellent capabilities, its transition to a premium-only model at $10 per month prompts many to explore other options. Below, we highlight some of the best AI tools available to make text-to-image conversions — many of which are either free or less expensive than Midjourney.

1. DALL-E 3

OpenAI's DALL-E 3 stands out as a remarkable choice for creating lifelike images based on text prompts. Its evolution since DALL-E's initial 2021 release highlights its precision in rendering intricate details, although it requires a ChatGPT Plus subscription for access through ChatGPT.

2. Stable Diffusion XL and SDXL Turbo

As a formidable open-source rival to Midjourney, Stable Diffusion offers robust image generation capabilities without cost barriers. From simplicity to speed, especially with the recent SDXL Turbo, this model remains a go-to option for quick and effective visual creations.

3. Adobe Firefly

Adobe's Firefly brings AI innovation into the hands of digital creators. While still rolling out its complete features, the Text to Image tool is available for free. Firefly caters to diverse styles with ease, producing varied artistic outputs, although realistic human depictions still lag behind Midjourney.

4. Bing Image Creator

While integrated with Bing AI Chat, this tool leverages OpenAI's models, offering a streamlined and cost-free platform for image creation post a certain daily limit. For abstract concepts, it's a handy, creative asset.

5. Leonardo.Ai

Targeted towards creating game assets and more, Leonardo.Ai provides an avenue to craft personalized visuals with ease. Its new Alchemy feature enriches image customization, ensuring high-quality output, especially in human depictions.

6. Blue Willow by LimeWire

Riding on its Discord community success, Blue Willow now offers stand-alone AI art generation without the need for server access. It excels in digital artwork and rapid production, although its realism doesn't quite match Midjourney's prowess.

7. Fotor AI Image Generator

Combining image editing and AI generation, Fotor presents flexible output options, from animated to oil paintings. Though free users will find limitations, Fotor offers a competitive option at an affordable rate for more significant image creation needs.

8. NightCafe

NightCafe functions as a hub for various text-to-image models, providing users with a rich selection palette. While not completely cost-free, its extensive gallery and credits system offers a broad experimentation range for varying artistic styles.

9. Lexica

Powering creativity through its stable diffusion-based model, Lexica Aperture v3.5, enables free creation of quality images. With affordable plans for extended usage, it's an attractive choice for portrait-centric project needs.

10. picLumen

For creators seeking versatility, picLumen combines simplicity with powerful AI algorithms, translating text prompts into vivid and realistic images. It offers tiers suited to both amateur and professional demands, elevating it to a valuable resource for imaginative ventures.

In essence, the landscape of AI art generators continues to grow and evolve, offering diverse tools for all creative needs, from cost-free platforms to premium solutions, ensuring there's a perfect fit for every user.

Conclusion

With numerous AI art generators available today, creators have a wide array of choices beyond Midjourney, tailored to different artistic preferences and budgets. Whether seeking detailed realism, whimsical abstraction, or rapid design capabilities, these tools empower users to bring their imaginative concepts to life. As AI image technology continues to progress, the flexibility and accessibility of these platforms ensure artists are well-equipped to explore new creative horizons.