AI tools clearly explained
Midjourney: AI images at a professional level.
Midjourney is one of the best-known AI image generators: from a short text description, it creates images in seconds that look like they came from a photo studio or an illustrator. Here you will learn what the tool can do, what it costs, why there is no free version – and what to watch out for legally.
- Explained for beginners
- Honest pricing perspective
- Commercial use clarified
- As of September 2026
The basics
What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is an AI image generator: you describe in your own words which image you need – a so-called “prompt” – and receive photorealistic images or illustrations in seconds.
Today you operate Midjourney through its website; it used to run primarily through the chat service Discord. You type in your image idea – subject, style, mood – and the tool turns it into finished images that you can refine further. In terms of quality, Midjourney is considered the benchmark among AI image generators: hardly any other tool nails aesthetics, lighting and composition so reliably.
Important from the start: Midjourney is a tool, not a photographer replacement with a legal department. It delivers impressive image drafts – the selection, the review and the responsibility for using them remain with you. If you take that on board, you save yourself expensive stock photo compromises and get images that truly fit your own brand.
Typical use cases
What is Midjourney best suited for?
Website headers & mood images
Large hero images and atmospheric visuals that match your industry and visual language exactly – instead of the stock photo everyone has seen a hundred times.
Social media graphics
Eye-catching visuals for posts, ads and campaigns – in a consistent style that makes your channel recognizable.
Product & brand worlds
Visualize scenes and environments where your offering lives – ideal for developing a brand world before the expensive shoot begins.
Moodboards & design drafts
Run through styles, color worlds and layout ideas in minutes – find a shared visual language before the design goes into detail.
Illustrations instead of stock photos
Your own illustrations for blog, brochure or presentation – distinctive instead of interchangeable, without an illustrator budget.
Playing through variants
Test one image idea in dozens of versions: different lighting, different angle, different style – until the version that clicks is there.
Midjourney is less suitable when things have to be exact: text within images, precise brand logos and detailed specifications remain weak spots – and depictions of people should always be checked critically. If your images are meant to become moving scenes, it is worth a look at our guide on Higgsfield.
The most important question
How much does Midjourney cost – and is there a free version?
Midjourney is a paid-only tool
Midjourney does not offer a free plan – the earlier free trial was discontinued in 2023. If you want to try AI images at no cost first, you still have options:
- No free plan, no trial quota
- Every tier is a subscription – monthly or cheaper per year
- Try for free: limited image features in ChatGPT
- Also free with limits: images in Google Gemini
- Afterwards you will know whether switching is worth it
Four tiers, clearly staggered
Entry starts with Basic; most users end up with Standard. All prices are approximate figures per month:
- Basic, around 10 US dollars: limited quota, roughly 200 images/month
- Standard, around 30 US dollars: larger fast quota plus unlimited Relax mode with waiting time – the most popular tier
- Pro (around 60 US dollars) and Mega (around 120 US dollars): more speed
- Stealth mode for private images from Pro upwards
- Commercial use generally included in the paid plans
Our recommendation for beginners: start with Basic to get a feel for the tool – or go straight to Standard if images are to become a regular part of your work. Prices and quotas change continuously – the current details on Midjourney's website are what counts (this page: as of September 2026).
Getting started
Four steps to your first own AI image.
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Choose a plan
Create an account on the Midjourney website and choose a plan – Basic is enough for trying things out, Standard for regular use.
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Write your prompt
Describe subject, style, mood and image format in clear words. The more concrete the description, the closer the result gets to what you have in mind.
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Refine the variants
The first result is a draft: generate variants, adjust details, sharpen the prompt – in that back-and-forth, the image you really need takes shape.
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Review & deploy
Look closely before publishing: hands, faces, details, rights. Only then does the image go onto your website, channel or campaign.
A note on law and labeling: respect copyright and trademark law – do not imitate living artists and do not use other people's logos. AI images with recognizable people never belong in public without consent, and depending on the context, labeling obligations apply. This is not legal advice – if in doubt, our guide on eRecht24 helps.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Midjourney.
Is Midjourney free?
No. Midjourney does not offer a free plan – the earlier free trial was discontinued in 2023. If you want to try AI images at no cost first, you will find limited image features in ChatGPT and Google Gemini; we have dedicated guides on both.
How much does Midjourney cost?
Entry starts with the Basic plan at around 10 US dollars per month with a limited quota of roughly 200 images. The most popular tier is Standard at around 30 US dollars per month – with a larger fast quota and unlimited Relax mode with waiting time. Pro (around 60 US dollars) and Mega (around 120 US dollars) offer more speed; annual billing is cheaper. The current details on Midjourney's website are what counts.
May I use Midjourney images commercially?
On the paid plans you may generally use the generated images commercially – for example on your website or in social media. The exact details and limits are governed by Midjourney's terms of use; review them before important projects. This is expressly not a legal guarantee.
How good is Midjourney compared to other image generators?
In terms of quality, Midjourney is considered the benchmark when it comes to aesthetics: the images often look more coherent and higher-grade than many alternatives. Weak spots remain text within images, exact brand logos and very precise specifications. If you only need images occasionally, the limited image features of ChatGPT or Google Gemini are often enough.
Do I need Discord?
No. Today you use Midjourney directly through its website. It used to run primarily through the chat service Discord – that is no longer necessary to get started.
Further reading
These guides go well with this one.
Higgsfield
AI videos instead of still images – when your image ideas are meant to become moving scenes.
ElevenLabs
AI voices and speech output – the right soundtrack for your images and videos.
ChatGPT
The world's best-known AI tool – including limited image features for trying things out free of charge.
All articles at a glance: AI Tools Guides
From trying out to putting to work
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