Pick Midjourney if…
you want the most striking images with minimal setup and don't mind them being public on lower tiers.
Midjourney gives you the best-looking images with the fewest knobs. Leonardo, now owned by Canva, trades some of that polish for control: fine-tuned custom models, a free tier and a token bank that rolls over.
Pick Midjourney ($10/mo) for the strongest out-of-the-box aesthetics. Pick Leonardo AI ($12/mo) for game assets and product mockups where consistent, fine-tuned models matter, or if you want a free tier and private images on its cheapest paid plan.
| App | Free tier | Paid from | Top plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midjourney | No | $10/mo | $120/mo | Concept art, illustration, moodboards, stylized brand imagery |
| Leonardo AI | Yes | $12/mo | $60/mo | Game assets, product mockups, and creators who want fine-tuned custom models |
Monthly prices in US dollars before tax, from each vendor's official pricing (US list price; weekly-billed plans converted to a monthly figure). Updated October 7, 2026
| Midjourney | Leonardo AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Best at | Concept art, illustration, moodboards | Game assets, product mockups, custom fine-tuned models |
| Free tier | None | 150 fast tokens/day, public gallery only |
| Private images from | Pro plan (stealth mode) | Essential, the cheapest paid plan |
| Unlimited relaxed mode | Images from Standard; video on Pro/Mega | First-party models from Premium; video on Ultimate |
you want the most striking images with minimal setup and don't mind them being public on lower tiers.
you need repeatable assets from custom models, want private generations without paying for a top tier, or want to try before you buy.
It has a free plan with 150 fast tokens a day (no rollover) and public-only images. Midjourney has no free tier.
Fast, relaxed and unlimited generation vary by model, and plans combine a monthly token allowance with a rollover bank. Midjourney's hours of fast generation plus relaxed mode is simpler to reason about.
Yes, Canva acquired Leonardo in July 2024, and Canva Business includes Leonardo access.
How we choose: prices come from each vendor's official pricing page and are re-checked every week. We take no affiliate fees, so rankings aren't for sale.