Updated for 2026

The Ultimate Guide to
AI Image Generators

We've tested 12 leading AI models across 7 key metrics. Discover which AI image generator is perfect for your creative projects, from photorealistic renders to stunning artwork.

12
AI Models Tested
7
Rating Criteria
Free
To Try Today
Two happy men, one flexing his bicep and the other laughing, embrace amidst a lively outdoor market with colorful stalls and blurred string lights.
A cozy, warmly lit fantasy inn common room with a roaring stone fireplace and window overlooking a moonlit, snow-covered mountain village, featuring a gaming table set with role-playing books, dice, and miniatures.
A striking cyberpunk geisha cyborg, with intricate golden armor and glowing internal mechanics, stands wielding a katana in a neon-lit, rainy Japanese alley.
A charming beige ceramic garden gnome, depicting a joyful boy with a straw hat and overalls, riding a tricycle and holding a butterfly net, sits peacefully among sun-dappled green foliage and smooth brown stones.
An elderly, barefoot hermit with a long white beard and worn brown clothes quietly fishes with a simple stick into a clear river, surrounded by lush green and golden-yellow ancient trees and mossy banks under a soft, muted light, evoking a serene, contemplative forest scene.
A striking portrait of a woman wearing futuristic, geometrically designed stained-glass sunglasses with glowing horizontal accents and a matching high-collared garment, exuding a chic, avant-garde style.
A regal female knight with flowing blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing intricately detailed silver and gold armor, stands before a medieval castle under a dramatic sky with banners.
A strong man in a "Rancher" t-shirt flexes his bicep while his bearded friend in a hat grins, hugging him from behind at a lively outdoor festival with warm, golden hour lighting.
A detailed close-up of a textured brown tortoise surrounded by vibrant green plants and dew-kissed red and yellow cherry tomatoes on rich dark soil, bathed in soft, natural sunlight creating a warm, organic mood.

AI Models Side by Side

Compare all 12 models across key performance metrics to find the perfect match for your needs.

# Model Score Quality Prompt Creativity Realism Edit Img Speed Freedom
1 Two happy men, one flexing his bicep and the other laughing, embrace amidst a lively outdoor market with colorful stalls and blurred string lights.
Nano Banana Pro
PRO NEW
9.7
Try It
2 A charming beige ceramic garden gnome, depicting a joyful boy with a straw hat and overalls, riding a tricycle and holding a butterfly net, sits peacefully among sun-dappled green foliage and smooth brown stones.
ChatGPT
PRO NEW
8.7
Try It
3 A regal female knight with flowing blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing intricately detailed silver and gold armor, stands before a medieval castle under a dramatic sky with banners.
FluX 2
NEW
7.9
Try It
4 A rustic woven basket overflows with an assortment of vibrant red, green, and pink apples, sitting on a weathered wooden table in a sun-dappled forest with ethereal misty light.
ImagineArt
NEW
7.5
N/A
Try It
5 A whimsical mushroom fairy house with a vibrant red cap roof and stained glass windows nestled in a lush, misty forest clearing, rendered in a painterly, storybook style.
SeeDream
NEW
7.5
Try It
6 A young woman in a dark dress and bright red shawl stands thoughtfully at a vibrant market stall laden with colorful fruit, her hand gently touching an orange, while other patrons and vendors mill about under striped awnings in the background.
WAN
PRO NEW
7.2
Try It
7 A weathered old man with a long white beard and tattered clothing intently fishes in a serene forest river, surrounded by lush green foliage and mystical, colorful plant life reminiscent of a fairy tale.
QWEN
NEW
6.9
Try It
8 A watchful ring-tailed lemur with striking orange eyes and a black snout peers directly into the camera, its fuzzy grey and white hands gripping a hollow wooden branch against a soft, dark green background.
Realismo
6.6
N/A
Try It
9 A white ceramic boy figurine, with closed eyes and spiky hair, rides a tricycle pulling a decorative cart and holding a butterfly net through a lush garden with rocks and sun-dappled foliage.
Z-Image Turbo
NEW
6.2
N/A
Try It
10 Two ethereal women with flowing hair of blue and gold threads and intricate headpieces emerge from shimmering water, surrounded by luminous bubbles, exuding a serene, mythical ambiance.
AIVision
PRO
6.2
N/A
Try It
11 A vibrant, expressive landscape painting with a surreal crescent moon dominating a swirling blue and purple sky above a colorful meadow of wildflowers and delicate trees.
DaVinci2
5.5
Try It
12 A surreal teddy bear, half soft brown plush and half shining metallic cyborg with a glowing red eye, sits on a dark wooden floor, emitting smoke and surrounded by wires, creating an unsettling yet intriguing mood.
Ideogram
PRO
5.5
N/A
Try It

How We Calculate the Score

Each model's overall score is calculated using a weighted average, with the highest weight given to image quality and prompt accuracy. N/A characteristics are excluded from the calculation, so models aren't penalized for missing features.

2.0x
Quality
1.5x
Prompt
1.2x
Creativity
1.0x
Realism
1.0x
Edit Img
0.4x
Speed
0.4x
Freedom

Create AI Art in Seconds

Transform your ideas into stunning visuals with just a few clicks. No design skills required.

1

Choose a Model

Select from our collection of 12 AI models, each with unique strengths and styles.

2

Describe Your Vision

Write a text prompt describing the image you want to create. Be as detailed or simple as you like.

3

Generate

Click generate and watch as AI transforms your words into a unique piece of art.

4

Download & Share

Download your creation in high resolution or share it with our creative community.

All AI Models Reviewed

Detailed reviews with example generations for every AI model. Click on images to see full-size examples.

#1

Nano Banana Pro

Pro New
9.7
Score /10

Nano Banana Pro (a.k.a Nano Banana 2) is Google's new state-of-the-art image generation and editing model, currently the best image generation and image editing model in the world. Optimized for creative and diverse outputs with excellent prompt adherence and support for all aspect ratios, making it ideal for professional content creation.

Quality
5/5
Prompt Accuracy
5/5
Creativity
5/5
Realism
5/5
Image Editing
5/5
Speed
4/5
Freedom
3/5
#2

ChatGPT

Pro New
8.7
Score /10

ChatGPT leverages OpenAI's GPT Image model for industry-leading prompt understanding and creative interpretation. Premium quality with sophisticated AI reasoning for complex concepts and detailed scenes.

Quality
5/5
Prompt Accuracy
5/5
Creativity
5/5
Realism
4/5
Image Editing
3/5
Speed
3/5
Freedom
2/5
#3

FluX 2

Free New
7.9
Score /10

FluX 2 is the next generation of Black Forest Labs' image generation technology. Offers Base mode for fast, quality outputs and Pro mode for maximum detail and fidelity.

Quality
4/5
Prompt Accuracy
4/5
Creativity
4/5
Realism
4/5
Image Editing
4/5
Speed
4/5
Freedom
3/5
#4

ImagineArt

Free New
7.5
Score /10

ImagineArt 1.5 Preview is a high-quality image generation model that produces stunning visuals with excellent prompt adherence and creative interpretation.

Quality
5/5
Prompt Accuracy
4/5
Creativity
4/5
Realism
5/5
Image Editing
0/5
Speed
3/5
Freedom
3/5
#5

SeeDream

Free New
7.5
Score /10

SeeDream 4.0 is ByteDance's cutting-edge image generation model offering ultra-realistic visuals with exceptional detail and clarity. Features both V3 and V4 versions for maximum flexibility and stunning output quality.

Quality
4/5
Prompt Accuracy
4/5
Creativity
4/5
Realism
3/5
Image Editing
4/5
Speed
3/5
Freedom
3/5
#6

WAN

Pro New
7.2
Score /10

Wan2.5 by Alibaba is a high-quality image generation model that specializes in creating realistic and detailed images. It is perfect for creating professional-quality images for various purposes.

Quality
4/5
Prompt Accuracy
4/5
Creativity
3/5
Realism
4/5
Image Editing
3/5
Speed
3/5
Freedom
3/5
#7

QWEN

Free New
6.9
Score /10

QWEN is an advanced foundation model by Alibaba that excels at complex text rendering, precise image editing, and natural photo-like outputs. Offers three style modes: AmateurPhoto, SmartPhone, and Pure for versatile image generation.

Quality
3/5
Prompt Accuracy
4/5
Creativity
3/5
Realism
5/5
Image Editing
3/5
Speed
3/5
Freedom
3/5
#8

Realismo

Free
6.6
Score /10

Realismo is optimized for ultra-realistic imagery with enhanced upscaling capabilities. Specializes in photographic quality outputs with exceptional detail preservation and natural lighting.

Quality
4/5
Prompt Accuracy
4/5
Creativity
3/5
Realism
5/5
Image Editing
0/5
Speed
1/5
Freedom
4/5
#9

Z-Image Turbo

Free New
6.2
Score /10

Z-Image Turbo is a high-speed image generation model optimized for fast, quality outputs. Perfect for rapid prototyping and quick creative iterations.

Quality
3/5
Prompt Accuracy
3/5
Creativity
3/5
Realism
3/5
Image Editing
N/A
-
Speed
5/5
Freedom
3/5
#10

AIVision

Pro
6.2
Score /10

AIVision uses OpenAI's DALL-E 3 with additional enhancements from DDG to offer a futuristic approach to image creation, harnessing the power of AI to visualize cutting-edge concepts and designs. It's perfect for innovators and visionaries.

Quality
4/5
Prompt Accuracy
4/5
Creativity
5/5
Realism
2/5
Image Editing
0/5
Speed
2/5
Freedom
1/5
#11

DaVinci2

Free
5.5
Score /10

DaVinci2 is a versatile SDXL-based model optimized for realistic image generation with excellent detail and artistic flexibility. Perfect for creating high-quality renders with balanced realism and creative expression.

Quality
3/5
Prompt Accuracy
2/5
Creativity
4/5
Realism
2/5
Image Editing
1/5
Speed
5/5
Freedom
5/5
#12

Ideogram

Pro
5.5
Score /10

Ideogram excels at text-in-image generation and graphic design with three quality modes. Features multiple style presets (Auto, General, Realistic, Design) for logos, posters, and professional graphics.

Quality
3/5
Prompt Accuracy
4/5
Creativity
3/5
Realism
3/5
Image Editing
0/5
Speed
3/5
Freedom
2/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about AI image generators and how to use them.

What is the best AI image generator in 2026?

Based on our comprehensive testing, the top AI image generators are Nano Banana Pro, ChatGPT, and FluX 2. Each excels in different areas - some prioritize quality, others speed or creativity.

Are there free AI image generators?

Yes! Deep Dream Generator offers several AI models with free tiers. You can generate AI images without any cost using models like DaVinci2 and others. Pro models offer higher quality and faster generation for subscribers.

How do AI image generators work?

AI image generators use deep learning models trained on millions of images. When you enter a text prompt, the AI interprets your description and generates a unique image by predicting what pixels would best match your description.

Can AI edit existing photos?

Many AI image generators support image editing. Models like Flux 2, ChatGPT, and Nano Banana Pro can modify existing images based on text prompts, allowing you to change styles, add elements, or transform photos into artwork.

Which AI is best for realistic images?

For photorealistic images, we recommend models with high realism scores like AIVision, Flux 2, and Realismo. These models excel at generating lifelike portraits, landscapes, and product photography.

How do I write better AI prompts?

Be specific and descriptive. Include details about style, lighting, mood, and composition. For example, instead of "a cat," try "a fluffy orange tabby cat sitting on a windowsill, golden hour lighting, photorealistic."

Ready to Create Amazing AI Art?

Join millions of creators using Deep Dream Generator. Start with free credits and explore all 12 AI models today.