Stock photos are overused and custom photography is expensive. AI image generators fill the gap.
Use carefully — quality varies and you need to verify licensing for commercial use.
Midjourney
Best overall quality. Works through Discord. Great for hero images and illustrations.
- Pricing
- Paid
- Website
- midjourney.com
DALL-E 3
OpenAI's image generator. Available in ChatGPT Plus. Good at following detailed prompts.
- Pricing
- Paid
- Website
- openai.com
Adobe Firefly
Trained on licensed content. Safe for commercial use. Integrated into Creative Cloud.
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Website
- adobe.com
Ideogram
Excellent at text in images. Good free tier. Useful for social graphics with text.
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Website
- ideogram.ai
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use AI images for commercial purposes?
It depends on the tool. Midjourney and DALL-E allow commercial use with paid plans. Adobe Firefly is trained on licensed content and is safest for commercial use. Always check the terms of service for your specific use case.
Why do AI images sometimes look wrong?
AI struggles with hands, text, specific brand elements, and complex spatial relationships. Always review generated images carefully. Multiple generations and prompt refinement usually produce better results.
Are AI images good enough for professional websites?
For hero images, illustrations, and decorative graphics, yes. For product photos or anything requiring accuracy, no—use real photography. AI works best as a complement to professional assets, not a replacement.
How do I write better AI image prompts?
Be specific about style (photorealistic, illustration, 3D render), lighting, composition, and mood. Include details like "professional photography, soft lighting, shallow depth of field" for realistic results. Iteration is key—refine prompts based on what you get.
Cookie Preferences