If you‘ve heard about the amazing AI art generator Midjourney but are confused by its pricing options, you‘ve come to the right place! In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll demystify Midjourney‘s pricing structure so you can pick the best plan confidently.
Introduction to Midjourney
For the uninitiated, Midjourney is an AI system that creates stunning images from text prompts. Within seconds, it can generate original art, illustrations, logo designs and more.
The catch? Midjourney isn‘t free to use. You have to choose and pay for one of its subscription plans to access the full experience.
The pricing can seem complex at first glance, but this guide will break it all down clearly. We‘ll cover:
- The 3 main Midjourney subscription plans and what you get with each
- Plan comparison charts listing all features and limitations
- Factors to consider when selecting the right plan for your needs
- Extra services you can purchase additionally
- Example use cases showing how different users would benefit from each pricing tier
- Answers to frequently asked questions
Let‘s get started!
Breakdown of Midjourney Pricing Plans
Midjourney offers 3 core subscription plan tiers, each with their own price points and capabilities. Let‘s analyze what you get with each one:
Midjourney Cost Per Image
Before diving into plan details, let‘s compare them from a cost efficiency standpoint. How much does each image cost you across tiers?
| Plan | Monthly Images | Monthly Price | Cost Per Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 200 | $10 | $0.05 |
| Standard | 900 | $30 | $0.03 |
| Pro | 7,200 | $60 | $0.008 |
A few interesting things stand out:
- Cheapest per image cost is with the Pro plan – By unlocking higher tier capabilities, you can generate content extremely efficiently. More images per month drives cost-per-image way down.
- Standard balances economic generation too – At $0.03 per image, the Standard plan keeps costs low while removing Basic limits.
- Basic is most expensive long run – With only 200 images included, if you hit that ceiling the cost per additional image leaps way up!
So in terms of sheer image economic value, Pro comes out ahead with aggressive generation capacity. But Standard warrants consideration to strike an affordable balance.
Now let‘s explore the plans‘ functional differences.
1. Basic Plan
- $10 per month
- Gives you 200 generations per month
- Each prompt results in 4 images = around 50 prompts allowed
- No fast generation option – longer wait times
- Best for new and casual Midjourney users
The Basic plan provides a low-cost way to test out Midjourney‘s capabilities. With 200 generations monthly, you can play around with 50 different prompts while seeing 4 images created per prompt.
This is a good starting point for hobbyists and those new to AI art who want to get their feet wet without too much commitment.
However, without any fast generation the image wait times can run fairly long depending on how busy Midjourney servers are. As the month progresses, queues typically develop and backups happen more frequently to the end.
But all in all, the Basic plan lets casual users dabble in Midjourney risk-free to understand the creative potential. Just be mindful of patience as queues swell by month‘s end without fast access!
2. Standard Plan
- $30 per month
- Gives 15 "fast hours" for priority generation
- Also provides unlimited "relaxed" generation
- No cap on monthly images
- Best for regular Midjourney users
This middle tier removes some restrictions present in the Basic plan and offers a well-rounded package for most Midjourney users.
The 15 monthly "fast hours" deliver lighting quick turnaround – you‘ll often get Standard plan images under a minute, sometimes even quicker! This enables exceptionally snappy iteration and creative option testing. Based on average 30 second generation speeds, you could crank through over 900 unique Midjourney images per month.
Once your fast hours are depleted, unlimited "relaxed" generation kicks in. Here your prompts enter a queue which rarely exceeds a 4 hour wait. For $30 monthly, relaxed mode provides a helpful fallback for continued tinkering without fully capping output.
For the value, speed, and flexibility combo, Standard makes for an extremely solid plan for general use cases. Unless you require high intensity features, this hits the sweet spot nicely.
3. Pro Plan
- $60 per month
- 30 fast hours for priority generation
- Unlimited relaxed generation
- 12 concurrent fast jobs
- "Stealth mode" to keep generations private
- Extra capabilities tailored for professionals
- Highest monthly image allowance
The Pro tier aims to empower truly unconstrained use for creative professionals and production-level workflows.
You gain additional monthly fast hours for even snappier iteration. By Midjourney‘s 30 second average benchmark, Pro could deliver over 7,200 unique images per month without slowing down! This volume suits enterprise creative pipelines.
Importantly, the Pro plan introduces "stealth mode" to keep your Midjourney creations private instead of publicly listed by default. This secrecy widens applicability to confidential applications.
You also unlock increased concurrent generation – up to 12 simultaneous fast jobs when inspiration strikes! This turbocharges prompt productivity to new heights.
In essence, the Pro plan removes any inhibitors that may throttle next-level use cases or commercial potential. The steeper $60 monthly price brings beastly capabilities to those who truly need them.
Now let‘s visually compare the core plan differences:
Midjourney Plan Comparison
| Plan Feature | Basic | Standard | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $10 | $30 | $60 |
| Fast Hours | None | 15 hrs | 30 hrs |
| Relaxed Generation | None | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Concurrent Fast Jobs | None | None | 12 jobs |
| Stealth Mode | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Total Images/Month | 200 | 900+ | 7200+ |
| Cost Per Image | $0.05 | $0.03 | $0.008 |
| Best For | Beginners | Most users | Power users |
Let‘s also visualize the incredible value you can unlock over an entire year by leveraging Pro and Standard plans:
Total 12 Month Image Generation Allowances
| Plan | 12 Month Images | 12 Month Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2,400 | $120 |
| Standard | 10,800+ | $360 |
| Pro | 86,400+ | $720 |
When you tally up the output across a full year, those unlimited monthly generations really start to stack! This showcases how Pro and Standard plans offer superb long term bang for your buck through AI art economies of scale.
Standout Capabilities of Each Tier
- Basic – Dip your toes into Midjourney hassle-free
- Standard – Balance of capacity and cost for regular use
- Pro – Removing limits and constraints for advanced applications
Now let‘s examine use cases further.
Choosing the Right Midjourney Plan For You
With the foundations covered, how do you determine the best fit pricing tier for your needs? Here are key factors to weigh:
Your Usage Amount
How extensively will you leverage Midjourney‘s AI for creative goals? Are you dabbling casually or generating prolifically? Generally, match projected monthly image volume to the appropriate plan limit:
- Light use (< 500 imgs/month) – Basic should suffice
- Moderate use (~500-2,000) – Standard is likely ideal
- Heavy use (2000+) – Pro capacity suits high volumes
But also factor in spikes – a big project could drive sudden bursts in prompt demand. Give yourself some headroom there when estimating "average" use.
Type of User
Your profession and application of Midjourney will impact suitable pricing too.
Hobbyists – The low-commitment Basic plan provides solid starting room to play as a casual user.
Creative Pros – Standard gives you plenty of monthly images to integrate Midjourney into your workflow.
Agencies – Pro throughput and features align better with enterprise production needs.
So consider use cases tied to your work. What‘s the match in terms of features?
Current Creative Bottlenecks
Think about your present creative sticking points…where does generation slow down? Where are you lacking for fresh ideas or revisions?
Upgrading your Midjourney access can directly target and accelerate breakthroughs there!
For example:
- Basic/Standard – Feeling capped on monthly images as projects ramp up
- Standard/Pro – Need more fast hour capacity for quick iteration
- Standard/Pro – Lack of privacy limiting confidential applications
Identify then upgrade to smash specific blockers! Midjourney plans offer direct problem-solving jumps.
Budget Landscape
Available budget inevitably plays a decisive role too. Find the balance between desired capabilities and accessible cost:
- Basic – $10 per month provides entry access
- Standard – $30 per month hits the sweet spot for most
- Pro – $60 monthly offers premium quality and scale
Weigh how features align to existing budgets – unlimited potential via Pro may warrant allocation expansion for some. Costs can be reframed as investments towards enhanced creative output.
By cross-analyzing these pivot points – usage, user type, bottlenecks and budget – you‘ll reveal the ideal Midjourney plan fit.
Now let‘s showcase sample use case applications:
Midjourney Plan Use Case Examples
Let‘s demonstrate how hypothetical users across situations may apply Midjourney‘s pricing tiers:
Casual Hobbyist
- Has a full-time job unrelated to graphics or art
- Dabbles in Midjourney for fun to make weird avatars and landscapes
- Only uses it a few times a week for entertainment
The Basic plan conveniently suits needs as a casual hobbyist. $10 per month provides adequate capacity for occasional hobby use without wasting higher tier allowances you won‘t fully utilize.
Freelance Illustrator
- Works as a children‘s book illustrator selling to publishers
- Wants to leverage Midjourney to accelerate character design ideation
- Will create high volumes of style options to evaluate
The Standard plan shines here. Unlimited relaxed generation lets you freely output batches of illustrations to sift through. 15 monthly fast hours provide snappy iteration to quickly review and tweak variations. All extremely helpful for landing novel concepts that resonate.
Marketing Agency
- Consults businesses on visual branding and ad creation
- Needs to produce diverse high quality graphic content
- Looking to Midjourney to boost internal concepting
The Pro plan‘s beastly generation throughput slots perfectly into an agile agency workflow. Concurrent fast job processing also vibrantly mirrors parallel creative team dynamics too!
Independent AI Artist
- Quit day job to sell Midjourney art full time
- Needs to swiftly generate, adapt and list art to keep sales volume high
- Relying on subscription model to fund basic income
Pro plan is non-negotiable here – the unlimited generation freedom and capacity to mass produce removing income hindrances is paramount. The lower cost-per-image drives profitability margins up.
As shown, users across contexts have pricing tiers fitting their applications. So choose what empowers your creative goals best!
Now let‘s tackle some common FAQs:
Midjourney Pricing FAQs
Here are answers to frequent questions about Midjourney pricing:
Do I have to commit to Midjourney annually?
Nope! All core subscription plans are completely month-to-month with no yearly lock in. You can cancel or change tiers freely anytime.
That said, annual billing does offer perks…
Are there annual sub discounts?
Yes – paying annually upfront nets you either 2 free months (Standard) or 6 free months (Pro). But first validate you‘ll use Midjourney enough before committing to 12 months. Try a single month to gauge frequent usage.
Can I pay per generation instead of monthly fees?
Unfortunately, no. At this time, Midjourney solely offers set priced subscription plans detailed above rather than per-generation billing.
What payment options are accepted?
You can pay Midjourney plans via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover or PayPal conveniently.
Can I transfer subscription credits if I upgrade?
Yes, any extra generation credits or hours you purchase will carry over if upgrading from Basic to Standard, Standard to Pro, etc at any point.
Are add-ons available beyond base subscriptions?
Yes, you can buy extra fast processing credits starting at $4 per hour if you ever hit plan limits. Special capabilities like 4K image upscaling are also available add-ons. But core Midjourney use won‘t demand these.
That resolves some common logistical questions around managing Midjourney and subscriptions!
Now I‘d like to offer some forward-looking projections…
The Future of Midjourney Pricing
How might Midjourney adapt or shift its pricing models moving forward as the AI capacities advance? Here are my perspectives as an industry analyst:
- More granular billing for power users – Per generation billing tiers based on volume, competitive with other AI platforms
- Expansion of privacy focused plans – Encryption and confidential collaborative features
- Vertical specialization packages – Tailored pricing around niche professional use cases
- Broadening free tier access – Limited free monthly generations allowing more users to trial Midjourney
There is also the eventual possibility down the line data credits enter the equation if Midjourney usage scales massively. Think similar to how large language models such as GPT-3 employ a credit data volume model.
But in the near term, it‘s reasonable to expect Midjourney will stick close to its existing subscription plan framework while gradually enhancing capabilities and speed.
The core value propositions meeting most user needs already shine through strongly in the current pricing lineup. But specialization and performance increases beckon down the road!
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
We‘ve covered comprehensive ground explaining Midjourney‘s subscription cost models. Let‘s recap core lessons:
- Midjourney offers 3 monthly paid plans dictating AI art generation allowances
- Differences center on monthly image quotas and advanced special features
- Standard satisfies most use cases balancing capability and cost
- But weigh your unique usage, user profile, roadblocks and budget to confirm ideal fit
- Pick the plan supplying your creative goals best long term value
Armed with clarity around Midjourney‘s pricing plans, sign up and start creating!
- Visit Midjourney to jump into incredible AI art
- Kick off with a Basic plan to get your feet wet first
- Then upgrade as needed when hitting usage ceilings each month
Choose your optimal subscription tier wisely – then enjoy unlocking Midjourney‘s artistic superpowers!
I‘m also happy to offer personalized guidance advising your unique use case if helpful. Just ask!
