Who Is Midjourney For?
Midjourney is an AI image generator known for producing stunning, artistic visuals. Unlike some competitors, it has no free tier—you're paying from day one.
The ideal Midjourney subscriber:
- Creates visual content professionally — Marketing, design, art direction
- Needs consistent aesthetic quality — Midjourney's style is distinctive and polished
- Generates images regularly — Multiple times per week or daily
- Values artistic output — Not just "an image" but a beautiful image
If you need one image a month or simple graphics, there are cheaper options.
Pricing Breakdown
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10 | $96/yr ($8/mo) |
|
| Standard | $30 | $288/yr ($24/mo) |
|
| Pro | $60 | $576/yr ($48/mo) |
|
| Mega | $120 | $1152/yr ($96/mo) |
|
Hidden Costs: Upscaling and variations consume extra GPU time from your quota.
Refund Policy: Generally no refunds, but customer service may help with issues.
Understanding "GPU Time"
Midjourney charges based on GPU time, not just image count. The "~200 images" on Basic is an estimate assuming average usage.
What consumes more GPU time:
- High resolution upscales
- Multiple variations
- Complex prompts
- V6 model (latest, highest quality)
You might get fewer than 200 images if you upscale everything and iterate heavily.
The Real Cost Per Image
| Plan | Images/Month | Cost/Image | |------|--------------|------------| | Basic | ~200 | $0.05 | | Standard | ~900 | $0.03 | | Pro | ~1800 | $0.03 |
At $0.03-0.05 per image, Midjourney is expensive compared to free alternatives but reasonable for professional use.
Time vs. Money Tradeoff
| Factor | Details | |--------|---------| | Setup Time | 10-15 minutes (Discord setup) | | Learning Curve | Moderate—prompting is a skill | | Time to Value | First good image in minutes |
Midjourney runs on Discord, which can feel awkward if you're not a Discord user. The web experience is improving but Discord remains primary.
Learning to write good prompts takes time. Expect to spend hours learning what works.
Midjourney vs. Alternatives
| Product | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Midjourney (This review) | — | — |
| DALL-E 3 (ChatGPT) | $20/mo (with Plus) | ChatGPT users, text accuracy |
| Stable Diffusion | Free (local) | Technical users, full control |
| Leonardo AI | $0-24/mo | Free tier available, game assets |
| Adobe Firefly | $5-23/mo | Adobe ecosystem, commercial safety |
| Ideogram | $0-20/mo | Text in images, free tier |
Midjourney vs. DALL-E 3
DALL-E 3 (in ChatGPT Plus):
- ✅ Included in $20/mo ChatGPT subscription
- ✅ Better at text in images
- ✅ Conversational prompt refinement
- ❌ Less artistic, more "stock photo" feel
- ❌ Slower generation
Midjourney:
- ✅ More artistic, distinctive aesthetic
- ✅ Better at beautiful, stylized images
- ✅ Faster generation
- ❌ Requires Discord
- ❌ Separate subscription
If you already pay for ChatGPT Plus, DALL-E 3 is "free"—try it before adding Midjourney.
Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion
Stable Diffusion is free if you run it locally. Tradeoffs:
- Requires technical setup (or a paid hosting service)
- More control and customization
- Can generate content Midjourney prohibits
- Quality depends heavily on your configuration
For non-technical users, Midjourney's convenience is worth the cost.
Quality Comparison (Subjective)
| Style | Best Option | |-------|-------------| | Artistic/painterly | Midjourney | | Photorealistic | Midjourney / Stable Diffusion | | Text in images | DALL-E 3 / Ideogram | | Anime/illustration | Stable Diffusion (with models) | | Quick concepts | DALL-E 3 |
Midjourney's aesthetic is distinctively "Midjourney." Some love it; some find it samey.
When Midjourney Is NOT Worth It
❌ Skip If:
- You need images occasionally — Free alternatives or DALL-E 3 with ChatGPT Plus
- You already have ChatGPT Plus — Use DALL-E 3 first
- You're technical and patient — Stable Diffusion is free
- You need realistic product photos — Traditional photography might be better
- You're on a tight budget — $10/mo adds up if you're not making money from it
- You hate Discord — The experience is awkward for non-Discord users
The biggest trap: subscribing because you saw amazing examples, generating 20 images, then forgetting about it.
When Midjourney IS Worth It
✅ Buy If:
- You create visual content professionally — The quality pays for itself
- You need consistent, polished aesthetics — Midjourney's style is distinctive
- You generate images weekly or daily — Volume justifies the subscription
- You've maxed out free alternatives — You know what you need and alternatives aren't enough
- You monetize AI art — Book covers, marketing, merchandise
Commercial Use Rights
Midjourney grants commercial rights on paid plans:
- ✅ Use images in commercial projects
- ✅ Sell products with Midjourney images
- ✅ Use in client work
If your company revenue exceeds $1M annually, you need Pro or higher for the commercial license.
Final Verdict
DEPENDS
Midjourney is worth it for professionals and serious creators who need high-quality AI art regularly. The output quality is genuinely best-in-class for artistic, stylized images.
It's not worth it for casual users. Try DALL-E 3 (if you have ChatGPT Plus), Leonardo AI's free tier, or Stable Diffusion before paying $10-60/month.
Bottom Line: If you know you need it, you probably do. If you're not sure, try free alternatives first. Midjourney is a professional tool priced accordingly.
FAQ
Is Midjourney worth it vs. DALL-E 3?
Midjourney produces more artistic, stylized images. DALL-E 3 is better at following complex prompts and text accuracy. If you already pay for ChatGPT Plus, use DALL-E 3 first—it's included. If you need Midjourney's aesthetic specifically, the additional cost may be justified.
Is Midjourney worth it for beginners?
Probably not immediately. Start with free options (Leonardo AI, DALL-E 3 with ChatGPT) to learn prompting. Once you understand what you want and free tools aren't delivering, Midjourney becomes worth the investment.
Can I use Midjourney images commercially?
Yes, all paid plans include commercial use rights. Free trials (when available) do not. If your business makes over $1M/year, you need Pro tier or higher.
Why does Midjourney require Discord?
Midjourney started as a Discord bot and keeps this model for community and moderation reasons. A web interface exists but Discord remains the primary experience. Many users find this awkward.