Midjourney vs DALL-E: Full Comparison (2026)
Quick Answer
Midjourney produces the most artistic and visually striking images. DALL-E 3 is easier to use (built into ChatGPT) and better at following complex text prompts accurately.
Midjourney vs DALL-E at a Glance
| Dimension | Midjourney | DALL-E | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease Of Use | 6.5/10 | 9.0/10 | DALL-E |
| Features | 9.0/10 | 7.5/10 | Midjourney |
| Overall | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 | Tie |
| Pricing | 7.0/10 | 8.0/10 | DALL-E |
| Support | 6.0/10 | 7.5/10 | DALL-E |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Midjourney | DALL-E |
|---|---|---|
| Basic / Free (ChatGPT) | $10/monthly | $Custom/monthly |
| Standard / API | $30/monthly | $0/monthly |
| Pro / ChatGPT Plus | $60/monthly | $20/monthly |
| Mega | $120/monthly |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Midjourney | DALL-E |
|---|---|---|
| API access | No | Yes |
| Batch generation | No | Yes |
| Commercial license | Yes | Yes |
| Community gallery | Yes | No |
| Fine-tuning/training | No | No |
| Image-to-image | Yes | Yes |
| Inpainting/outpainting | Yes | Yes |
| Prompt templates | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time generation | No | No |
| Style transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Text-to-image | Yes | Yes |
| Upscaling | Yes | Yes |
Ease Of Use: Midjourney vs DALL-E
DALL-E in ChatGPT is effortless. Midjourney's Discord interface has a learning curve.
Features: Midjourney vs DALL-E
Midjourney's style control, upscaling, and artistic capabilities are unmatched.
Overall: Midjourney vs DALL-E
DALL-E is more accessible; Midjourney produces superior artistic output.
Pricing: Midjourney vs DALL-E
DALL-E's ChatGPT Plus integration offers more value. Midjourney starts at $10/mo standalone.
Support: Midjourney vs DALL-E
OpenAI has formal support channels. Midjourney relies on community Discord.
Our Recommendation
Choose Midjourney for creative projects where image quality is paramount. Choose DALL-E for ease of use, ChatGPT integration, and precise prompt adherence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midjourney better than DALL-E?
For artistic quality and visual appeal, yes. Midjourney consistently produces more aesthetically pleasing images. DALL-E 3 is better at following complex prompts precisely and is much easier to use via ChatGPT.
Can I use Midjourney images commercially?
Yes. All paid Midjourney plans include commercial usage rights. The Basic plan starts at $10/month.
Is DALL-E free?
DALL-E 3 is available through ChatGPT free tier with limited daily generations. For unlimited access, you need ChatGPT Plus at $20/month. API pricing is $0.04-$0.08 per image.