Midjourney image generation is not generally free on midjourney.com or Discord. Midjourney’s help page lists a limited trial in the niji · journey app for iOS and Android, but says no free trial is available on its website or in Discord. The page does not specify the app trial’s image limit or eligibility, so check the app before relying on it. (Midjourney: Free Trials)
Where can you try Midjourney for free?
The documented trial availability differs by channel:
- niji · journey app: Midjourney lists a limited trial for its iOS and Android app. The help page does not say how many generations it includes or who qualifies.
- Midjourney website and Discord: Midjourney says there is no free trial on either channel. Budget for a paid subscription to generate images there. (Midjourney: Free Trials)
So, the app is the documented way to try without paying, but its unspecified limits mean you should confirm availability in the app. Don’t treat an unverified “20 images” claim as a guaranteed allowance.
What does Midjourney cost?
Midjourney’s official plan comparison lists Basic at $10 per month or $96 per year upfront ($8 per month equivalent). It lists prices with a dollar sign; the comparison does not specify regional tax treatment or confirm whether checkout totals vary by location. Plans automatically renew monthly or yearly unless you cancel. (Midjourney: Comparing Plans)
| Plan | Monthly billing | Annual billing, paid upfront | Fast GPU time | Relax image generations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10/month | $96/year ($8/month equivalent) | 3.3 hours/month | Not included |
| Standard | $30/month | $288/year ($24/month equivalent) | 15 hours/month | Unlimited |
| Pro | $60/month | $576/year ($48/month equivalent) | 30 hours/month | Unlimited |
| Mega | $120/month | $1,152/year ($96/month equivalent) | 60 hours/month | Unlimited |
The annual prices reflect a 20% discount, with the full year paid upfront. Midjourney’s comparison says unlimited image generations in Relax Mode are available on Standard, Pro, and Mega. Stealth Mode is available only on Pro and Mega. Basic is the lowest listed entry price; Standard may suit people who expect to generate more images and are comfortable using Relax Mode. (Midjourney: Comparing Plans)
What about using an image-generation API in production?
An API is a different way to build image generation into a product or workflow; it is not a free Midjourney plan. OpenAI’s GPT Image 2.5 Flare is a separate model, not Midjourney. OpenAI documents it for image generation through the Image API and as an image-generation tool in the Responses API; the model accepts text and image inputs and produces images. The model page does not establish account-specific access eligibility. (OpenAI: GPT Image 2.5 Flare)
OpenAI lists GPT Image 2.5 Flare text input at $5 per million tokens, image input at $8 per million tokens, and image output at $30 per million tokens with Standard processing or $15 per million tokens with Batch processing. These are token-based usage rates, not a monthly subscription or fixed per-image price; your total depends on the tokens used. (OpenAI: GPT Image 2.5 Flare pricing)
Illustrative calculation, not a typical-image estimate: 100,000 output image tokens would cost $3 at the Standard rate or $1.50 at the Batch rate, before input charges. For a production budget, estimate from expected request volume and actual usage rather than comparing a token rate directly with Midjourney’s monthly subscription.
Choose Midjourney if you specifically want its own website, Discord, or app experience. Consider an image-generation API if your priority is integrating a separately billed model into software. Do not assume an API provider offers Midjourney itself: Midjourney’s guidelines prohibit unauthorized automation and third-party apps. (Midjourney: Community Guidelines)
Bottom line
For image generation on Midjourney’s website or Discord, the lowest listed subscription price is $10 per month. The niji · journey app has a limited trial, but Midjourney’s help page does not state its amount or eligibility. A production image API is a separate product with usage-based costs and a different model—not a free way to access Midjourney. Check the official trial and plan pages before purchasing.