Midjourney vs Recraft

Midjourney and Recraft are both AI Art & Drawing tools (Image Generation). Below: what each costs, what it does well, its biggest catches, and who should pick which, all from public sources rather than our own testing.

Side by side

MidjourneyRecraft
CategoryAI Art & Drawing · Image GenerationAI Art & Drawing · Image Generation
PricingFree tier: no. Basic $10/mo ($96/yr), Standard $30/mo, Pro $60/mo, Mega $120/mo. (checked Oct 10, 2026)Free tier: yes (daily credits). Basic $10/mo billed annually ($12 monthly), 1,000 credits/mo. (checked Oct 10, 2026)
Pros
  • Basic starts at $10/mo ($8/mo billed annually)
  • Standard and up get unlimited image generation in Relax mode
  • Every paid plan includes general commercial use rights
  • Generates editable vector output, not just flat images
  • Paid plans give full ownership and commercial rights, and images stay private
  • Has an API for vectors, background removal and inpainting
Catches
  • No free plan: every tier is an auto-renewing subscription
  • Your images aren't private unless you pay for Pro ($60/mo) or Mega, since Stealth Mode is only on those
  • Companies earning more than $1M a year must buy Pro or Mega
  • Recraft owns free-plan images: they're public and not licensed for commercial use
  • Monthly subscription credits don't roll over
  • Refunds are discretionary and limited to the past 30 days
Best forArtists and marketers who want the most stylized, art-directed images.Logos, icons and brand assets a designer can edit later.
Skip it ifYou want to try it free, or you need private generations on a small budget.You plan to use free-tier output commercially.

Which should you pick?

Pick Midjourney if…

you fit this: artists and marketers who want the most stylized, art-directed images.

But not if: you want to try it free, or you need private generations on a small budget.

Watch out for: No free plan: every tier is an auto-renewing subscription.

Pick Recraft if…

you fit this: logos, icons and brand assets a designer can edit later.

But not if: you plan to use free-tier output commercially.

Watch out for: Recraft owns free-plan images: they're public and not licensed for commercial use.

More options

Sources

Midjourney

Recraft

Pros, catches and prices are compiled from public sources (official pricing and docs pages, published reviews, user reports), not hands-on testing. Prices change often, so check the vendor page before you buy.