What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is an AI image generator that creates highly stylized, detailed pictures from text prompts and can also animate images into short videos. It is run by an independent, self-funded research lab and is widely used for concept art, mood boards, editorial illustration and campaign visuals where look and feel matter most.
Midjourney works through its own website and through the Midjourney bot on Discord. V7 has been the default model since June 2025, V8.1 was released in April 2026, and Niji 7 handles anime and illustration styles. Every plan is paid and measured in GPU time, with Fast hours for priority jobs and, on Standard and above, unlimited Relax mode for images.
Midjourney at a glance
How does Midjourney work?
- Subscribe to a plan
Log in at midjourney.com and choose Basic, Standard, Pro or Mega, since generation requires a subscription. Annual billing lowers the monthly cost by 20%.
- Write a prompt
Describe the scene on the website or type /imagine in a Discord channel, adding parameters such as aspect ratio or style.
- Review four options
Midjourney returns a grid of four images that you can upscale, vary or rerun.
- Edit or animate
Refine an image in the editor, or turn it into a 5-second video and extend it up to 21 seconds.
- Download and organize
Save finished images and videos from your gallery on the website.
Midjourney key features
Distinctive image models
V7 is the default, V8.1 is available, and Niji 7 focuses on anime and illustration.
Image-to-video
Animates a still into a 5-second clip with low or high motion, extendable to 21 seconds, with loop and end-frame options.
Fast and Relax modes
Fast mode uses your GPU hours for quick results, while Relax mode queues jobs without using paid time.
Stealth mode
Pro and Mega plans can keep generations out of the public gallery.
Personalization profiles
Global personalization tunes outputs toward your taste, and is required to unlock V8.1.
Web app and Discord
Create and organize on the website or work with the bot inside Discord.
HD video
Standard, Pro and Mega plans can render 720p video in Fast mode.
Niji anime model
Niji 7, launched in January 2026, is tuned for anime and illustration styles.
Why use Midjourney?
- Its default aesthetic produces striking images with less prompt tweaking than many tools.
- Unlimited Relax generations on Standard and above make heavy image use affordable.
- Image-to-video lets you turn key visuals into short motion clips without another tool.
- Personalization helps outputs move toward a consistent house style over time.
- A large Discord community shares prompts and techniques.
Who is Midjourney best for?
A good fit for
- Creative directors building mood boards and concepts
- Illustrators and artists exploring styles
- Marketers who need eye-catching hero images
- Content creators making stylized social visuals
Less suited to
- Users who want a free plan or trial before paying
- Projects that depend on precise text inside images
- Developers who need an official public API
Midjourney pricing
| Pricing model | Subscription |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Not confirmed |
| Starting price | $10/month (Basic), or $8/month billed annually |
Basic includes about 3.3 Fast GPU hours, Standard ($30/month) adds 15 hours and unlimited Relax images, Pro ($60) and Mega ($120) add Stealth mode and more hours. Annual billing saves 20%.
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official Midjourney pricing page before you buy.
Midjourney pros and cons
Pros
- Consistently strong, artistic image quality
- Unlimited Relax image generations from the Standard plan
- Built-in image-to-video with extensions
- Clear plan tiers based on GPU time
Cons
- No free plan and no stated free trial
- Stealth mode is limited to the more expensive tiers
- Video is short and starts at SD resolution
Midjourney integrations and platforms
Works with
Available on
Midjourney alternatives
See the full shortlist in Best AI Image Generators.
Midjourney FAQ
Is Midjourney free?
No. Midjourney requires a paid subscription before you can generate images. The cheapest option is the Basic plan at $10 per month, or $8 per month when billed annually. The official plans page does not list a free trial, so budget for at least one month of Basic to try it. Pro and Mega also add Stealth mode for private work.
How much does Midjourney cost?
Midjourney has four plans. Basic costs $10 per month, Standard $30, Pro $60 and Mega $120, with a 20% discount for annual billing. Higher tiers add more Fast GPU hours, unlimited Relax mode, Stealth mode for private generations and more concurrent jobs. Fast hours are used first, and Relax mode queues jobs without spending them.
Can Midjourney make videos?
Yes. Midjourney can turn an image into a 5-second video, which you can extend four times by 4 seconds each, for up to 21 seconds. Videos are 480p by default, and Standard, Pro and Mega plans can create 720p HD video in Fast mode. Video uses more GPU time than images, so plan your Fast hours accordingly.
Midjourney vs Leonardo.ai: what's the difference?
Midjourney is paid-only and focuses on its own models with a recognizable artistic quality. Leonardo.ai has a free daily token allowance, many in-house and third-party models, a canvas editor and a developer API. Pick Midjourney for aesthetics and Leonardo.ai for flexibility and integrations. Both tools are popular with illustrators and marketers.
Do I need Discord to use Midjourney?
Not necessarily. Midjourney can be used through its website, where your images also appear in a gallery, or through the Midjourney bot on Discord using the /imagine command. Many users now work on the website, while others prefer the community features of Discord. Your images appear in the same account gallery either way.
Sources
This overview is based on Midjourney's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.