Admit it, how many times have you wanted to quickly create an image for a post or presentation, but instead got stuck in an editor or endless searches for a suitable image on Google? Wouldn't it be great if the picture in your head could just appear instantly? Time is money, inspiration is on pause, and that's where AI comes to the rescue. Neural networks can generate anything you want, including the craziest ideas. No need to spend hours searching when, with a few clicks, you can see what was in your thoughts just a second ago.
By the way, notice the cover with the dinosaur? Let's call him Rex. Rex is himself a product of neural network creation. Today he'll be the main star of our experiments. But what will we do? Remember I mentioned crazy ideas? Well, to understand all the possibilities of generation, let's give AI a difficult task. We'll send Rex somewhere in space, for example to the Moon, let him put on a spacesuit and and have him grill some barbecue with Earth in the background. Interested? Then buckle up, we're heading into the world of image generation.
1. BotHub
With BotHub, you can test popular AI image generators such as Flux, DALL·E, and Midjourney. The service has its own currency — caps. The service uses its own currency called "caps." You get 100,000 caps when you register using a referral link. After claiming your caps, you can start testing neural networks for free.
Speaking of which, you can select the AI model you want to use right above the prompt input field. The list includes ChatGPT, Claude, Flux, DeepSeek, Grok, Midjourney, DALL·E, Gemini, and others.
For example, I chose Midjourney and entered the prompt: "Draw a dinosaur in a spacesuit grilling barbecue on the Moon with Earth in the background." After about 40 seconds, I received four images. This cost 40,000 caps.
The result was pretty good — cartoon-style images. One even featured a full helmet, though it looked a bit awkward.
As for paid plans, Premium options are available. A typical plan grants full access to the integrated neural networks and provides a large number of caps (e.g., 3,500,000) – enough to generate our Midjourney dinosaur on Mars, Jupiter, or Neptune, with or without barbecue, roughly 87 times.
2. Grok
Next up is Grok — an AI from xAI and my personal favorite on this list. Grok is integrated directly into the X interface (formerly Twitter) and uses Flux model for image generation. It does an excellent job.
Create a free account on X.com, click the "Grok" button — and you're in the game! Want cool art? No problem! But we're here for experiments, right?
We enter: "Draw a dinosaur in a spacesuit cooking barbecue on the Moon with Earth in the background." And here's the result — everyone's happy! Both us and our dinosaur Rex!
For each prompt, Grok produces 4 images, and it's so fast I barely had time to sip my coffee before they were ready.
Want to generate hundreds of images a week? No problem! There are no limitations, so go ahead.
3. Free AI Image Generator: Canva
Now let's talk about Canva. They offer a free AI image generator available to anyone with an account. Look for the "Magic Media" section — and start generating. We immediately enter our prompt: "Draw a dinosaur in a spacesuit cooking barbecue on the Moon."
After entering the prompt, Canva puts on a show with words floating across the screen while it thinks. I admit, the process is slower than some other neural networks. Another thing: the results often lean towards a cartoon style. So, if you've dreamed of seeing a dinosaur as a comic book hero, Canva might be perfect for you. You'll get 4 images, which you can download immediately or refine further in Canva's editor.
And if you need adjustments like "Add a Martian cooking potatoes in the background" Canva will handle it quite well.
P.S. It really did handle it well.
4. Microsoft Image Generator
Now let's move on to Microsoft. Their image generator is like a magic door, and as per fairy tale tradition, opening it requires a small quest. You need a Microsoft account. Setting it up might involve confirming your email and solving a verification puzzle (sometimes a few). Confirm you're human, and you're ready to use it.
What's good about Microsoft? It lets you choose the image aspect ratio before generation, so you don't have to worry about resizing later. Just set your parameters, enter the prompt, and in a few seconds, you get 4 images. However, there's a limit on fast generations. Microsoft provides daily "boosts" (often around 15-100) for quick results. After using your boosts, generation is slower but usually still free. So, generating an unlimited number of Rexes quickly won't work; you'll have to use your boosts wisely.
What about the price for more speed? If you want more fast generations (boosts), you can purchase them, typically starting around $10 for 100 boosts, though prices can vary by region and offers. Generation speed after using boosts is slower than Grok's typical speed, and you only pay if you want more fast generations.
5. Free AI Image Generator: DeepAI
DeepAI offers a straightforward way to generate AI images. No extra steps: just go to the website, head to the "AI Image Generator" section, enter your prompt—done! Unlike most platforms, you don't even need an account to try it. Enter your prompt and wait for the result.
However, DeepAI produces only 1 image per request. An interesting feature is the ability to choose between speed and quality settings. And for those wanting more creative control, over 100 styles are available, which is impressive for a free service.
Important: While it might accept prompts in other languages, using English generally yields the best results. It sometimes struggles with nuances in other languages (our tests with Russian prompts often failed). That seems to be a quirk of the platform. And yes, there are ads, but hey, it's free.
6. Free AI Image Generator: FreePik
Go to FreePik and create an account—you can log in via Google or other services. Now for the main event! After logging in, head to their AI tools section (look for "AI Image Generator" or similar under "Create"), enter your prompt, and generate.
The result here was 4 high-quality images that stood out compared to the more cartoonish styles of some others. Freepik lets you choose the number of images per prompt (within limits), style, color, and framing, offering good creative freedom.
However, there's a catch—the free usage is limited. The platform typically provides around 20 free credits per month, with each generated image costing credits. Still, 20 free high-quality AI images monthly is pretty decent for moderate use.
7. MagicStudio
MagicStudio provides an easy way to create AI images online. Registration requires email confirmation (and potentially SMS verification). Once registered, head to their AI image tool, enter your prompt, and voila!
We asked for Rex grilling barbecue on the Moon, but it seems he got a bit confused and just stood there with the Moon in the background. So, the platform doesn't always grasp complex requests perfectly, especially highly creative ones. The resulting pictures often have a distinct comic book aesthetic, which could be a drawback for some users.
On the definite plus side, you can choose various aspect ratios and select from around 18 styles to customize the look. But keep in mind: MagicStudio works best with English prompts. Our tests with Russian produced unexpected results (like a cat in a costume instead of a dinosaur). Stick to English for predictable outcomes. Also, the number of free generations per month is limited (e.g., around 40, often shown in the interface).
8. Craiyon
Craiyon is another option for free AI image generation online. No hassle: just go to the website, enter your prompt, and start generating images.
One caveat—Craiyon generally takes longer to create images than other platforms, often around 60 seconds per request. But the payoff is that you get 9 images at once! Not all will be winners, but with nine options, you're likely to find a couple of good ones.
Images generated using Craiyon
Craiyon also offers different styles (like Art, Photo, Drawing, or None) to make the process more interesting. It can handle prompts in other languages (like Russian), but often misses nuances compared to English. For example, our Rex prompt in Russian yielded dinosaurs, but they were just standing in a field, missing the Moon and barbecue elements entirely. So, the platform doesn't always understand non-English requests fully.
You'll also have to put up with ads on the site, but for free, that's forgivable — they don't strain your eyes.
9. Adobe Express
Adobe is renowned for Photoshop, but they haven't stayed on the sidelines of AI. Meet Adobe Express, their online platform that includes AI image generation. And it's my personal #2 pick on this list.
The standout feature of Adobe Express is its user-friendly integration. You enter a prompt, then easily choose the aspect ratio, content type (Photo or Art), style, and even apply effects or reference styles. Need something dynamic, minimalist, or photographic? The design options are extensive and intuitive. And importantly, it seems to handle non-English prompts better than many others.
The output is typically 4 high-quality images at once. However, there's a limit: Adobe Express usually provides a monthly allowance of free generative credits (often around 25). After using these, you'll need a premium subscription ($9.99/month) for more generations.
So, find the "Text to Image" feature, sign in (Google or Adobe ID), and let your imagination turn into AI images. Onwards!
10. Deep Dream Generator
Generation in Deep Dream Generator is relatively quick and can be tried without registration. We entered our prompt in Russian, and... well, the result was highly unexpected. We asked for Rex and got a girl in armor.
As you might guess, Deep Dream struggles significantly with non-English prompts. Stick to English here to avoid truly bizarre results!
On the plus side, you can choose various artistic styles and effects, and the interface is simple.
Limitations? Definitely. After about 5 free images, Deep Dream requires registration. A free account offers a limited number of generations (the exact limit might vary). Premium costs $19 per month.
However, it struggled even with our English dinosaur prompt: after several attempts, we couldn't get a proper Rex with a head—it kept giving him a spacesuit helmet instead. And when we asked for one dinosaur, the platform decided two human astronauts were better than one reptile.
11. StarryAI
Everything starts smoothly: you go to StarryAI, type a prompt, and an image appears. But! The moment of truth is downloading. To save the picture, you must register (which is free).
Also, note that the platform doesn't support image creation via mobile browsers; you'll need their mobile app or use a desktop/laptop.
Images generate in about 30 seconds, and you typically get 1 picture per prompt. However, like several others, this platform performs best with English prompts. Our Russian test turned our dinosaur request into a cute dog! Stick to English.
Another factor is the daily limit on free generations, usually managed through credits (e.g., enough for a handful of images per day). If you plan on creating a large gallery for free, you'll hit this daily cap quickly. Want more? Premium plans start around $12 per month.
Wrapping Up:
We've tested numerous free AI image generators, and each has its unique strengths and weaknesses. We have to admit that not all generators perform equally well, and sometimes even multiple attempts with one tool won't quite deliver what you envisioned.
Remember, AI image generators are powerful tools, but often work best as creative assistants. Human guidance, prompt refinement, and clear ideas are key to unlocking their full potential.
And finally, our Rex, still grappling with his AI adventures across the cosmos, begs to return to Earth. Let's send him back—he definitely wasn't cut out for conquering the galaxy! Luckily for him (and us), thanks to AI, visualizing almost any thought is possible in seconds.
