Calculator · Image generation
AI image generation cost calculator.API vs subscription — what your images actually cost.
Image generation cost calculator
Enter your monthly image volume and find the cheapest provider at your resolution.
Images per month500images
1010,000
How image generation pricing works
Image generation tools use one of three billing models: per-image API pricing, credit packs, or flat subscriptions. The cheapest option depends entirely on your volume.
$0.008
Cheapest per image (standard)
Leonardo API at standard resolution — the cheapest major provider. At 500 images/month that is $4/month vs $30/month on Midjourney Standard.
No API
Midjourney limitation
Midjourney has no public API. You cannot use it in automated pipelines. For any workflow requiring programmatic generation, an API-based provider is required.
5×
Resolution price multiplier
Moving from standard to XL resolution typically increases cost by 3–5×. Only generate at the resolution you actually need.
| Provider | Standard /image | HD /image | API access | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DALL-E 3 HD | $0.040 | $0.080 | Yes | No |
| GPT Image 1.5 | $0.013 | $0.042 | Yes | No |
| Flux Dev | $0.025 | $0.025 | Yes | No |
| Leonardo (API) | $0.008 | $0.020 | Yes | Yes |
| Midjourney | ~$0.05+ | ~$0.05+ | No | No |
Frequently asked questions
Is Midjourney worth it?
For creative and artistic work where Midjourney's distinctive aesthetic is important, yes. For volume generation, product imagery, or automated pipelines, no — Midjourney has no API, and Leonardo or Flux produce more images per dollar.
What is the cheapest image generation API?
Leonardo API at $0.008 per standard image is currently the cheapest major provider. Flux Dev at $0.025 per image offers consistent quality across resolutions. Both are significantly cheaper than DALL-E or Midjourney subscriptions at most volumes.
How do I use image generation in an automated pipeline?
Use any provider with a public API — Leonardo, Flux, DALL-E 3, or GPT Image 1.5. Midjourney does not offer API access. Connect via their API keys and call the endpoint directly or through a platform like n8n or Make.
Prices updated daily · Last fetch: Mar 27, 2026
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