DALL-E vs Midjourney
A detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose.
DALL-E
OpenAI's image generation model accessible via ChatGPT and API
Midjourney
Industry-leading AI image generator producing stunning artistic visuals
Our verdict
We recommend DALL-E
DALL-E edges ahead with stronger scores in key areas.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DALL-E | Midjourney |
|---|---|---|
| API Access | ||
| Plugins / Extensions | ||
| Image Generation | ||
| Code Execution | ||
| File Upload | ||
| Web Search | ||
| Max Context Window | N/A | N/A |
Pricing Comparison
| Tier | DALL-E | Midjourney |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Plus | $20 Image generation included with ChatGPT Plus subscription | $10 3.3 fast GPU hrs/month (200 min); SD video; no relaxed mode; $96/yr ($8/mo) |
| API (GPT Image) | Free Pay-as-you-go ~$0.005-$0.25 per image by model & quality; DALL-E 2/3 removed from API (May 2026) | $30 15 fast GPU hrs/month; unlimited relaxed images; SD & HD video; $288/yr ($24/mo) |
| Pro | — | $60 30 fast GPU hrs/month; unlimited relaxed; stealth mode; SD & HD video; $576/yr ($48/mo) |
| Mega | — | $120 60 fast GPU hrs/month; unlimited relaxed; stealth mode; 12 concurrent fast jobs; $1,152/yr ($96/mo) |
Score Breakdown
| Dimension | DALL-E | Midjourney |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 9.0 | 7.0 |
| Features | 7.0 | 8.0 |
| Value for Money | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Support | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 | 7.0 |
Pros & Cons
DALL-E
Pros
- +Seamlessly integrated into ChatGPT Plus subscription
- +Excellent at understanding natural language prompts
- +Strong API access for developers building image apps
- +Good at realistic and photographic styles
Cons
- −Image quality not as artistic as Midjourney
- −Limited control over fine-grained image details
- −API costs add up at scale
Midjourney
Pros
- +Consistently produces the highest quality artistic images
- +Unique aesthetic style unmatched by other AI image tools
- +Active community and extensive prompt-crafting resources
- +Web interface now available alongside Discord
Cons
- −No free tier — subscription required to start
- −No public API for developer integrations
- −Learning prompt syntax takes time for best results