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Most buyers should pick Leonardo AI.
Choose Midjourney if image output is your priority and you’re comfortable paying for Fast capacity: Basic starts at $8/month with annual billing ($10 month to month), and there’s no free plan. Choose Leonardo AI if you want a free entry point, editing and upscaling tools, video, or a Developer API. Its paid plans start at $12/month, though the pricing text doesn’t identify that figure’s billing mode. Leonardo also lists team and API options; Midjourney routes support through Discord or its help page.
01Side by side
| Midjourney | Leonardo AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8/month annual; $10 month to month | $12/month listed; billing mode unclear |
| Free plan | No free plan | 150 fast tokens per day |
| Best for | Creative image output and image/video models | Creators needing editing, video, models, or API |
| Core strength | Image and video model generation | Editing, upscaling, models, and Developer API |
| Learning curve | Not published on the vendor's site | Not published on the vendor's site |
| Integrations / data | Discord support; no API details supplied | Developer API; usage-based and custom options |
| Team / seat costs | Mega: $120/month; no per-seat price listed | Starter: $72/month, or $24/seat |
| Support | Product questions route through Discord or help page | Support route not specified on the vendor's site |
Midjourney Choose Midjourney if
- Choose Midjourney if image output is your priority.
- Choose Midjourney if annual billing at $8/month suits you.
- Choose Midjourney if you can work without a free plan.
Leonardo AI Choose Leonardo AI if
- Choose Leonardo AI if you want a free plan to start.
- Choose Leonardo AI for editing, upscaling, and video tools.
- Choose Leonardo AI if you need a Developer API or team pricing.
02Pricing compared
Midjourney has no free plan. Its Basic tier is $10 per month month-to-month or $8 per month with annual billing, and includes about 200 Fast image jobs monthly, but no Relax mode. Standard costs $30 monthly or $24 annually and adds 15 Fast hours plus unlimited Relax image generation. Fast-hour top-ups are available; unused hours expire after 60 days and are non-refundable.
Leonardo lists a free tier with 150 fast tokens per day and public creations. Its Essential plan starts at $12 per month, with 8,500 fast tokens and private creations. The pricing text shows an annual-billing toggle but doesn’t say which billing mode those prices reflect. Higher individual plans cost $30 and $60 monthly; team plans start at $72 monthly, or $24 per seat. Leonardo also offers usage-based API access.
03Features and depth
Midjourney’s stated focus is image and video models. Its plan limits matter: Basic includes SD video only, while Standard adds SD and HD video. Standard also brings unlimited Relax image generation; Pro and Mega add Stealth mode and higher Fast-hour allowances. The homepage teases software, medical and hardware projects, but provides no product details for them. Support questions route through Discord or the help page.
Leonardo is positioned as a broader creation and editing platform. It lists prompt- and custom-model image generation, video animation, precision editing, resolution upscaling and access to named models including Seedream, Nano Banana Pro and Flux.2 Pro. It also offers a Developer API. Its plans use token allowances rather than Midjourney’s Fast-hour limits: Essential includes 8,500 fast tokens per month, while Premium includes 25,000 and Ultimate 60,000. Some higher plans include unlimited relaxed generation on select models, so check which models and media types are covered before switching.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Neither product’s published information establishes that it is simpler to learn. Midjourney routes product questions and support through Discord or its help page, which may suit users already comfortable working there. Its Basic plan allows three simultaneous Fast image jobs and one Fast video job; higher tiers raise those limits.
Leonardo’s range of models, editing tools and API gives users more options to navigate. That breadth may be useful, but it also means there are more choices than a single image-generation workflow. The review notes UI churn as a frustration, but doesn’t provide specific examples. If predictable support is a priority, neither source gives enough detail to compare response times or service levels.
Questions people ask
Is it okay to use AI pictures?
That depends on how you plan to use them and the applicable terms. Midjourney’s plan details refer to general commercial terms, but the published information doesn’t spell out usage rights. Leonardo’s published pricing details don’t establish image ownership or permitted uses. Check each service’s current terms before publishing or selling images.
Is Leonardo AI secure?
The published product and pricing information doesn’t describe Leonardo’s security controls, data retention or privacy practices, so we can’t assess its security from these sources. Its Free plan specifies public creations, while Essential and higher individual plans list private creations. Review Leonardo’s current privacy and security documentation before uploading sensitive material.
Is Leonardo AI legal?
The published information doesn’t establish whether a particular Leonardo use is legal or explain its copyright and licensing terms. Legality can depend on the content, your use and the relevant jurisdiction. Review Leonardo’s current terms and consult a qualified legal professional if the use carries material risk.
Is the Leonardo AI free?
Yes. Leonardo lists a Free plan at $0 per month with 150 fast tokens per day, Auto model access only, public creations, one personal collection and basic quality settings. Paid plans start with Essential at $12 per month; the pricing text doesn’t identify whether that price reflects monthly or annual billing.