8 Best AI Art Generators Reviewed

Drawing artistic illustrations requires creativity and skill, or does it?

There was a time when you needed a sketchbook, pencil, and paints to create art but artificial intelligence has completely transformed this genre with art generators. Today, you can produce art by simply entering a text prompt of what you want your masterpiece to look like.

That said, not all AI art generators can create accurate depictions and you’re sometimes left with weird pieces of art that are fun to look at but of no value. So, how do you find an AI tool that can actually bring your ideas to life? The answer is simple: Try, Test, and Compare.

But if you don’t have the time to experiment with the bazillion AI art generators in the market, this article will introduce you to the 8 best AI art generators you can try. I have reviewed and compared all these tools to help you narrow down one that best meets your needs.

So, let’s dive right in.

Part 1. What Are AI Art Generators?

AI art generators turn text descriptions into works of art using artificial intelligence.

This technology was first introduced in 1973 with a program called AARON. However, it wasn’t until 2021 that AI art generators really took center stage. DAll-E, named after Salvador Dali and Pixar’s WALL-E, reintroduced AI art generators and gave regular users a unique opportunity to create art without any design knowledge or expertise.

Art-generating AI tools have come a long way in the last 3 years and are now widely used to create visual content for different purposes. From social media content, and marketing materials, to fantasy artwork and business logos, there are multiple use cases of AI-generated art.

Part 2. Let’s Understand How AI Art Generators Work

AI art tools use deep learning algorithms and generative adversarial networks (GANs) to generate images from text prompts. The software is trained on a large data set of images.

The system analyzes the shapes, styles, and colors of the images and their descriptions closely. This is one of the reasons why some AI art generators perform better than others. They have been trained on a wider library of text-image pairs and media, allowing them to draw inspiration from more subjects, textures, and styles.

When a user inputs a descriptive prompt, the AI tool generates a picture that best matches that description based on its training. This process is called diffusion. The interesting thing about AI art apps is that they don’t just copy the images they have studied, but they create something new.

You can think of it as having a digital artist who understands what you want and paints the image you imagined exactly.

Part 3. Best AI Art Generators For Content Makers

1. Midjourney

Midjourney is the best AI art generator when it comes to creating accurate images from text prompts. Its latest upgrade, the V6 model, can understand long prompts (up to 350 words) and generate images with greater color control.

Getting started on Midjourney is pretty straightforward. You need to sign up for a plan, type your prompt in the text bar and the AI tool will generate 4 image options for you to consider. Make sure to enter a detailed prompt to allow the AI tool to work its magic. You can even add emojis for image mood and style references to customize the output.

What sets this platform apart from other AI tools is its operation platform, Discord. While others offer a web interface, Midjourney boasts a 20 million members’ community on Discord. The only downside of this AI tool is that there’s no free version so you have to buy a subscription to see its true potential.

Key Features

• Turns text into images
• 4 output variations
• Download, upscale, or edit generated images
• Image blending

Since Midjourney doesn’t allow users to generate AI images without a subscription, here’s an AI-generated artwork from one of its members. The prompt was:

“Close-up of a Futuristic Southeast Asian female Warrior goddess, Full Body View, Equipment, tenakth warrior face paint, ancient jungle and temple background, rainy atmosphere, bright light, highly detailed, extremely photorealistic, anatomically correct, sharp focus.”

2. Fotor

Fotor is the best free AI art generator for beginners. The user interface is simple and the features are easy to use. With Fotor, you can create incredible images with text prompts but it’s best known for generating unique profile pictures.

Fotor offers users a wide array of text-to-image tools like AI Avatar, AI Headshot, AI Face Generator, and a new Face Swap feature to turn their portraits and selfies into exciting headshots. The fact that you can generate AI images and edit them within the same platform makes this tool a user favorite.

Although Fotor can’t rival Photoshop’s range of editing tools, it is a one-click solution for AI-generated art. The recent addition of the M2 AI model delivers even more realistic results.

Key Features

• Generate images from text description
• A wide range of AI features
• Photo editing options

I tested the tool with the AI-generated prompt:

“A bustling medieval marketplace with cobblestone streets, colorful stalls selling fruits, fabrics, and trinkets, and villagers dressed in traditional attire chatting and trading under a bright summer sky.”

The style I selected for this image was ‘Cinematic,’ and here’s the result.

3. Wondershare Virbo

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Virbo is another AI art generator tool that delivers quick and accurate results. It offers a variety of styles for artistic experimentation, ranging from digital art to anime, cartoons, K-pop, and more. The user interface is simple, so beginners can generate art pieces without any learning curve.

While Virbo does a decent job of bringing landscape visions to life, I enjoy the photo transformation feature the most. All you need to do is upload a selfie or portrait and select an AI filter from Model, Kpop, Steampunk, Vampire, Vice City, etc. The AI image generator then turns your pictures into unique masterpieces that you can share across social media.

Another exciting feature is the talking photo where a still image is animated to create dynamic visuals. You can add background music, auto voiceovers, and text to generate a video from the AI image you create with the tool.

Key Features

• Text-to-image generation
• Still image animation
• AI-powered video creation
• Photo filters for selfies and portraits

I put Virbo’s AI art generator to the test with the prompt:

“An old sailor in his boat, sailing against the backdrop of clear blue water and sunset-colored skies.”

For this image, I selected the ‘Oil painting’ style, and here’s the result.

4. DALL-E 3

OpenAI’s text-to-image generator DALL-E 3 works with ChatGPT to offer users ease of use and the ability to adjust images in real time. The output you get with this AI tool is accurate and impressive. Whether you want to create social media ad materials, conceptual art pieces, or custom graphics- DALL-E 3 can do it all.

Since this best AI art generator app is seamlessly integrated into ChatGPT, it can understand long text prompts and generate relevant images. Due to this integration, users get to enjoy a minimalist interface where they just have to type what they want to create in a text box and that’s it.

One thing I like about the AI tool is that you can continue previous conversations and not lose context. However, there are a few drawbacks to DALL-E 3 that professional creators might find challenging. First, it’s too simple. There are no customization options and zero styles to choose from. Secondly, the tool only generates a single image at a time.

Key Features

• Consistent and realistic outputs
• ChatGPT integration.
• Restrictions against inappropriate image generation
• Easy-to-use interface

I generated an image with an AI-generated prompt:

“A desolate wasteland with crumbling skyscrapers, rusted cars overgrown with vines, and a lone wanderer in a hooded cloak walking toward a glowing horizon under a stormy sky.”

Here’s Dall-E 3’s output.

5. StarryAI

StarryAI is a powerful text-to-image tool that can turn simple text into stunning artwork. Users can choose between three image categories: photographs, art, and illustrations. Within each category, you will find different styles to bring your visions to life.

Compared to most AI art generators in the market, StarryAI stands out because of its unique user-made styles. You can also create a personal style by uploading 5 to 60 images in a similar form. In the end, you just have to give it a name and store the style for future use.

StarryAI creates realistic AI-generated images, especially human portraits. The images contain minute details that you’d otherwise find in photographs. What I like the most is that each prompt generates four high-quality images from different angles, giving users the choice to select one or all four depending on how they want to use the generated images.

Key Features

• Realistic AI images
• Generous free plan
• Unique and customizable image styles
• Upscaler to enhance photos

I generated this AI image using the style ‘RealVisXL.’ The text prompt was:

“A brown-haired woman staring out of her window at night, surrounded by crawling trees, shrubs, and flowers.”

6. Canva

If you’re just getting started with AI image generation, Canva will come as a pleasant surprise. This online design platform is full of useful features, one of them being Magic Media that you can use to create novel images straight out of your imagination.

What’s great about Canva is that you can try different image styles, color schemes, and backgrounds for image generation. The AI tools’ large library of templates and elements is another highlight that makes Canva popular among users.

The user interface is straightforward with clearly labeled options, so there’s hardly any learning curve for beginners. Also, if you’re concerned about the privacy of your intellectual property, Canva Shield protects users from safety and privacy breaches.

Key Features

• High-quality, realistic images
• AI-powered design suggestions
• Large image library of over 1 million photos and graphics
• Content can be shared directly on social media
• Mobile app for convenient access

I wanted to see Canva’s AI image generation in action, so I inserted the AI-generated prompt:

“A futuristic spaceship landing on a vibrant alien planet, with purple skies, two suns, and fields of bioluminescent plants, as astronauts in white space suits explore the terrain.”

The style I chose for this image was ‘Anime’ and here is the output.

7. Stable Diffusion

Developed by StabilityAI, Stable Diffusion has been trained on millions of image-text pairs to deliver results that closely match user prompts. This AI tool can interpret long and detailed descriptions (up to 10,000 characters) and use existing media as a reference. You can even mention the elements you want highlighted in the generated image through the prompt.

Apart from its accurate depictions, Stable Diffusion is a favorite because of its accessibility. The AI tool seamlessly integrates with Stable Assistant, DreamStudio, and Hugging Face, allowing users with little technical knowledge to create AI images easily.

While Stable Diffusion is one of the best free AI art generators in the market, it tends to generate inconsistent images. This is especially problematic when you have to create a set of related images. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth trying.

Key Features

• High-quality and lifelike images
• Offline access for greater control and security
• Generates up to 10 images per prompt
• Various image sizes and resolutions

I put Stable Diffusion’s AI art generator to the test with the AI-generated prompt:

“A serene oasis in the middle of a vast, golden desert, with clear turquoise water surrounded by lush palm trees, shimmering under the midday sun, with dunes stretching endlessly in the background.”

This was the output.

8. NightCafe

NightCafe is an exciting AI art generation tool that makes creating unique pieces a breeze. It is incredibly user-friendly and has a buzzing community where you can publish and share your artwork.

The AI tool allows you to experiment with different AI image-generation models and preset styles. You can also edit the number of images per prompt and tweak the output resolution, aspect ratio, and run time. The level of customization you get with NightCafe is more than what you’d otherwise get with other free AI art apps.

Users get 5 free credits when they sign up, which is replenished every day. The app also allows you to earn extra credits by publishing your content on NightCafe or visiting 2 days in a row. If you don’t need to generate too many AI images, the app’s free version should be enough for you.

Key Features

• High-quality images
• Various image-generating models
• 44 preset styles
• An active community of AI-generated art enthusiasts

I tested NightCafe’s image-generation abilities with the AI-generated prompt:

“A grand throne room with golden light, marble columns, a jewel-encrusted throne, red carpet, and a monarch in elegant robes, surrounded by courtiers and stained-glass windows.”

I selected the style ‘Gouache’ for this one, and here’s what the image looked like.

Here’s a roundup of all the AI art generators we have reviewed in this article.

Part 4. How To Choose The Best AI Art Generator?

With so many amazing AI tools, selecting one can be a real challenge. But that’s where you need to identify your intended application for the AI-generated images. For example, if you’re an AI enthusiast who wants to explore AI-generated art as a hobby, a tool with basic features and a quick turnaround time would be the ideal choice.

On the other hand, if you want to create professional-level artwork for your clients, an AI tool that can interpret long, detailed prompts, and offers more features and control over the output will work better for you. But keep the pricing of the tool in mind because if it’s beyond your budget, you won’t be able to sustain consistent outputs for clients.

Start with AI tools that have a free trial so you experiment with different styles and generate multiple outputs without committing to a paid plan. Take the plunge once you find an art generator that matches your unique style and sits within your budget.

Ready To Become An Artist?

Bringing your artistic vision to life has become easier than ever with the best AI art generators. Each tool we reviewed has unique and powerful features to help you translate your imagined designs to an accurate image. But remember to test the AI tools for speed, accuracy, and prompt responsiveness before buying a subscription.

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