AI token cost to generate images
Enter how many images you need and the tool calculates the AI image generation cost per image or by subscription, comparing Midjourney, Firefly, Flux, Ideogram and more. The figures are budgeting estimates, not an actual invoice.
AI token cost to generate images
AI image costs are charged either per image (Flux) or through a subscription with a quota (Midjourney, Firefly, Ideogram). This tool converts the number of images you need into a cost for each option and recommends the best balance of price and quality.
Checklist before you start
Drawn from what we hit in practice — the traps that cost real money or force a rewrite.
- Confirm the tool still exists DALL·E was pulled from the API on 12 May 2026 and replaced by gpt-image-2; Sora shut down its app and web version on 26 Apr 2026, with API access ending 24 Sep 2026. Before you lock in an image workflow, check the vendor's own pricing and docs pages to confirm the tool is still running — old tutorials will not tell you.
- Decide: API or subscription Flux (API) gives no free credits and requires a developer to open a dev account, get an API key and write code; in exchange, its open weights let you run the model on your own infrastructure. If your team is designers only, stick with tools that work straight from the browser like Midjourney, Adobe Firefly or Ideogram.
- Check if the free tier renews Plenty of free allowances are one-time signup gifts, not monthly refills — Runway's 125 credits and Spacely AI's 40 trial credits both work that way. Read the pricing page and confirm the allowance repeats before you build a month of image output on top of it.
- Convert credits into cost per usable image Credits do not convert between vendors, so comparing "how many credits" across Midjourney, Firefly and Ideogram tells you nothing. Run one real batch, count how many images survive after rejects and retries, and work out what a single approved image actually costs.
- Settle commercial rights before you produce Free to use is not the same as free to sell: Recraft's free plan keeps ownership of your images, shows them publicly in its gallery, and bars commercial use. For client deliverables or paid ads, read the licence terms and move to a plan that permits commercial use before you generate at scale.
- Proofread text and numbers in the image AI renders text into images with total confidence and still gets brand names, prices and figures wrong, so inspect every character before handing anything over. Keep the prompt alongside the model version you used, so the image can be reproduced after the vendor updates.
Frequently asked questions
Which AI image tool costs the least?
It depends on volume: high volume often favours a Midjourney plan, while lower volume can favour a per-image API such as Flux. The tool compares them directly. Note: OpenAI removed DALL·E from its API on 12 May 2026.
How does Midjourney charge?
Through a monthly subscription with an image quota. Exceeding the quota requires a higher plan — the tool flags this.
Is the pricing up to date?
Prices are for reference and change frequently; check each provider’s official pricing page before deciding.
Can AI-generated images be used commercially?
Commercial rights vary between tools, and between plans within the same tool. Check the provider’s terms before using an image in advertising or on a product.
Why does the real cost usually exceed the estimate?
The first image is rarely the one you ship: each idea typically takes several attempts and prompt revisions. Multiply the images you need by an expected number of attempts when budgeting.
When is a real photo shoot the better choice?
When the image must show an actual product, person or space. AI suits concept work, illustration and testing ideas at volume.
All figures are reference estimates. Built by the TOT team.
