Midjourney has erupted onto the scene as one of the most capable AI art generators. With just a text prompt, it can conjure up stunning visuals out of thin air. But there‘s one big question surrounding this emergent technology – is Midjourney free to use or do you need to pay?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unravel Midjourney’s pricing and subscription structures. You’ll learn:
- The scoop on Midjourney’s past, present, and future fee structures
- An in-depth breakdown of every Midjourney subscription plan
- Exactly what GPU hours and job limits entail
- Expert tips to maximize the value of your Midjourney subscription
- Answers to frequently asked questions about Midjourney pricing
Let’s tackle the complexities of Midjourney pricing so you can unlock this AI’s vast creative potential.
The Evolution of Midjourney’s Pricing Model
First, let’s travel back in time to understand how Midjourney’s pricing has evolved over the past year:
The Early Free Access Phase
When Midjourney first launched in 2021, the platform was completely free to use. For early adopters who joined its Discord server, Midjourney provided:
- 25 free image generation prompts
- Unlimited Discord access
- Free web and mobile apps to manage Midjourney (no longer available)
This allowed new users to experiment with Midjourney’s capabilities risk-free. However, sharing the AI art you created publicly wasn’t permitted during this phase.
The Limited Free Mode
In mid-2022, Midjourney introduced changes – new users no longer got 25 free images.
However, folks could still use Midjourney for free in a restricted mode. Free users faced limitations like:
- 1 generated image allowed every 2 hours
- Lower 512×512 resolution
- Mandatory Midjourney branding/watermark
This throttle-limited free mode enabled testing the AI’s potential without fully subscribing.
The Subscription Mandate
In late 2022, Midjourney removed the limited free mode entirely. All users now require a paid subscription to generate images.
Some key changes:
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No more freebies – No 25 free images or throttled usage for non-subscribers. Strict paywall enacted.
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Discord still free – You can join Midjourney‘s Discord for free, but can‘t use the bot without subscribing.
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Four paid tiers – Midjourney rolled out subscription plans ranging from $10-$120 per month.
So in summary – Midjourney has transitioned from an early free-for-all to now requiring across-the-board paid subscriptions. Let’s examine those subscription options next.
Midjourney Subscription Plans and Pricing
Since free Midjourney access vanished, what are the current paid subscription tiers?
Midjourney offers 4 subscription levels, spanning from $10/month up to $120/month. Each plan includes a set allowance of GPU compute time and job queue capacity.
Here’s an at-a-glance view of Midjourney’s subscription pricing matrix as of January 2023:
| Plan | Price/Month | GPU Hours/Month | Max Jobs Queued | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10 | 3.3 hours | 3 concurrent jobs | |
| Standard | $30 | 15 hours | 3 concurrent jobs | |
| Pro | $60 | 30 hours | 12 fast jobs + 3 relaxed jobs | Stealth mode |
| Mega | $120 | 60 hours | 12 fast jobs + 3 relaxed jobs | Stealth mode |
Now let’s unpack what exactly you get at each tier.
Midjourney Basic Plan ($10/month)
The Basic plan is Midjourney’s most affordable subscription at just $10 per month. Here are its specifics:
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3.3 GPU hours/month – You can generate up to 3.3 hours of Midjourney images per month. Simple images take around 1-2 minutes of GPU-powered processing.
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Up to 3 concurrent jobs – You can have a max of 3 image generation jobs queued or in progress simultaneously.
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768×768 resolution – Images are capped at 768p resolution. Upscaling available through your GPU hour allotment.
Overall, the Basic plan is best for light, casual Midjourney use. According to Midjourney, you can produce around 200 basic images per month within its constraints.
Midjourney Standard Plan ($30/month)
Stepping up to the Standard plan opens Midjourney’s capabilities for broader use:
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15 GPU hours/month – Generate up to 15 hours of Midjourney images per month. Allows for approximately 1000 simple images.
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Up to 3 concurrent jobs – Same limit of 3 maximum queued or in-progress jobs.
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1280×1280 resolution – Unlocks full HD 1280p image resolution.
For 3X the price of Basic, you get over 4X the monthly image allowance with Standard. It’s a solid plan for regular Midjourney users.
Midjourney Pro Plan ($60/month)
The Pro plan introduces professional-grade allowances:
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30 GPU hours/month – Generate up to 30 hours per month, enabling ~2000 simple images.
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12 fast jobs, 3 relaxed jobs – Queue up to 12 high-priority and 3 regular jobs simultaneously.
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Stealth mode – Hide your account name when sharing Midjourney creations publicly.
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2560×2560 resolution – Enjoy sharp 2.5K image resolution.
Pro has enough capacity for commercial applications of Midjourney. Power users will appreciate the expanded job queue and stealth mode privacy.
Midjourney Mega Plan ($120/month)
Mega is Midjourney’s top-shelf subscription geared for volume usage:
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60 GPU hours/month – Massive allowance for up to 60 hours of generation per month.
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12 fast jobs, 3 relaxed jobs – Same beefed up job queue ability as Pro.
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Stealth mode included – Keep your account anonymous when sharing art.
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2560×2560 resolution – Matches the 2.5K resolution of the Pro plan.
With double the monthly GPU allowance, Mega removes constraints for agencies, artists, and creators pushing Midjourney to its limits. It’s built for high-volume commercial use cases.
In summary, Midjourney offers plans scaling from hobbyists up through professional production needs. Let‘s break down the key differentiators between tiers.
Midjourney Plan Comparison
When choosing your ideal Midjourney subscription, here are the core factors to weigh for each tier:
| Plan | Key Considerations | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Very limited monthly images Good for testing |
Light hobby use |
| Standard | Enables daily generations HD resolution unlocked |
Regular hobby users |
| Pro | Commercial volumes possible Advanced features |
Professional creators |
| Mega | Near-limitless monthly images Max features and privacy |
Agencies and businesses |
With this perspective, you can select the lowest Midjourney tier that matches your use case and budget.
Next, let’s demystify what “GPU hours” means and how Midjourney uses it to meter subscriptions.
GPU Hours – Midjourney’s Usage Meter Explained
You’ll notice Midjourney subscriptions mention an allotment of “GPU hours.” What exactly does this refer to?
GPU stands for graphics processing unit. This is the specialized chip that powers AI image generation within Midjourney.
When you submit an image prompt, Midjourney leverages clusters of high-speed GPUs to process and create it. This GPU compute time is extremely intensive.
To manage capacity, Midjourney rations access to these GPU resources via monthly “GPU hour” quotas.
Each subscription tier includes a set amount of GPU hours per month:
- Basic: 3.3 GPU hours
- Standard: 15 GPU hours
- Pro: 30 GPU hours
- Mega: 60 GPU hours
As you use Midjourney to create images, it deducts the required GPU time from your plan’s monthly allowance.
Once you hit your quota, you cannot generate anymore images until your GPU hour allotment resets at the start of the next billing period.
In summary, think of GPU hours as the “gas in your tank” powering Midjourney usage each month. Your tier allowance determines how far you can go creation-wise until needing a refill.
Midjourney Job Queue Limits
In addition to the GPU hour allowance, Midjourney subscriptions limit how many jobs can be queued simultaneously.
Each image prompt submitted to Midjourney counts as a job. Here are the concurrent job limits for each plan tier:
- Basic: 3 jobs maximum queued at once
- Standard: 3 jobs max queued
- Pro: 12 fast jobs + 3 relaxed jobs
- Mega: 12 fast jobs + 3 relaxed jobs
Having more slots means you can have Midjourney working on generating more images in parallel.
The Pro and Mega plans also enable prioritizing jobs. Fast jobs take precedence over relaxed jobs in the render queue.
So higher Midjourney tiers grant you more parallel generation throughput via bigger job queue capacities.
Changing or Canceling Midjourney Plans
What if you want to cancel, downgrade, or upgrade your Midjourney subscription? Here’s how modifications work:
Canceling Midjourney
You can cancel your Midjourney subscription anytime. However, cancellation only takes effect at the end of your current billing period.
For example, if you cancel mid-month, you’ll retain full access until the end of that month. Cancel in advance to avoid being charged for the next cycle.
Downgrading Midjourney Plans
Like cancellation, downgrading your Midjourney tier also only applies at the next renewal date.
You keep your current plan’s full benefits and allowances until the renewal, when your new downgraded limits kick in.
Upgrading Midjourney Plans
Upgrading Midjourney plans takes effect immediately. As soon as you upgrade, you’ll gain the increased allowances of the higher tier.
You‘ll be charged a prorated price reflecting the remainder of your current billing period.
In summary, plan changes apply immediately for upgrades but at renewal for downgrades and cancellations.
Maximizing the Value of Your Midjourney Subscription
Here are some professional tips for extracting maximum mileage from your Midjourney plan:
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Start modestly – Pick your lowest needed tier at first while assessing your true usage needs. Upgrade later if required.
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Use all monthly hours – Consistently generate up to your monthly GPU hour limit to fully capitalize on your allotment.
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Fill job queues – Always have your allowed maximum jobs queued to optimize your plan’s throughput.
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Prioritize intelligently – For Pro/Mega plans, reserve fast job slots for your most important images.
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Set reminders – Use app alerts so you know when you’re close to hitting your monthly quota.
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Downgrade vs cancel – To pause Midjourney, downgrade to Basic rather than fully canceling your subscription.
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Change plans anytime – Dynamically upgrade, downgrade, or cancel based on your evolving generation needs month to month.
With some planning, you can maximize your Midjourney value and avoid overspending.
Which Plan Is Right For You?
With four tiers available, how do you know which Midjourney plan to choose? Here are some guidelines:
Light Hobby Use
If you’re just testing Midjourney out or plan to create less than 30 images per month, the Basic plan should suit your needs.
It allows for casual experimentation at an affordable $10 monthly price. But you‘ll need to upgrade for heavier usage.
Regular Hobby Use
For Midjourney hobbyists who want to create daily, the Standard plan unlocks enough capacity for about 1000 images per month.
This satisfies most casual users’ ongoing generation needs for only $30 per month.
Professional & Commercial Use
The Pro plan enables professional application of Midjourney, with room for 2000+ robust images monthly.
The additional features also make Pro ideal for commercial use cases, at a reasonable $60 monthly rate.
High-Volume & Business Use
For agencies, artists, and enterprises needing unlimited Midjourney capacity, the Mega plan delivers with a whopping 60 GPU hours per month.
If you need to push Midjourney to its limits, Mega is the top-tier choice despite its $120 monthly cost.
Evaluate your exact use case and creation goals, then opt for the lowest tier that can support your needs.
Is Midjourney Worth the Cost?
Midjourney does require paid access. But many users feel it’s well worth the subscription cost. Here are some of the key benefits that make Midjourney a good value:
Unlimited Generations
Unlike some rivals, Midjourney doesn’t limit how many total images you can create. You can generate endlessly, restricted only by your plan’s monthly allowance.
Full Commercial Rights
You retain full ownership and rights to any art you create with Midjourney. You can use it commercially in any way you choose.
Rapid Improvements
Midjourney’s underlying AI models are continuously trained and enhanced. So it‘s consistently getting better over time.
Vibrant Community
Being part of Midjourney’s Discord community provides inspiration, support, and camaraderie with fellow users.
Cost Savings
For some applications, Midjourney can replace hiring designers and artists, saving money.
While not free, Midjourney can provide immense value given its professional-grade capabilities. For many creators, it’s a worthwhile creative investment.
Midjourney Pricing Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about Midjourney’s pricing and subscriptions:
Is there still any way to access Midjourney for free?
No, Midjourney strictly requires a paid subscription now. Free tiers and trials have been discontinued.
What happens if I exceed my monthly GPU hour limit?
You cannot generate any additional images until your allowance resets at the start of the next billing period.
Can I get a Midjourney refund if I cancel my subscription mid-cycle?
No, there are no refunds for early cancellation. But you‘ll retain access until your current term expires.
Who sets and controls Midjourney’s pricing?
As a startup, Midjourney itself determines and adjusts its subscription pricing. They‘ve gradually increased rates to fund expanded capacity.
Can I gift a Midjourney subscription?
Yes, you can purchase Midjourney subscriptions as gifts. Recipients redeem gift codes to activate the purchased plan.
Is there any way to reduce or recoup my Midjourney costs?
Some users offer Midjourney services commercially to offset their own subscription fees. But there are no direct discounts or rebates.
Unleashing Creativity with Midjourney
While no longer free, Midjourney enables digital creativity once possible only in our imaginations. For many, the value provided justifies the monthly subscription cost.
Choose the right tier for your needs, put your creative spirit to work, and let Midjourney handle materializing your visions. Its capabilities make Midjourney well worth the investment for artists, professionals, and hobbyists alike.
So is Midjourney worth it? For those seeking to augment their creative powers, the possibilities unlocked are absolutely worth the required subscription. Let Midjourney expand your horizons.
