Midjourney

What is Midjourney?

Midjourney is an AI image generator that turns a text prompt into four detailed images in a minute, and can animate them into short videos. It is built by an independent research lab led by David Holz and has been available since 2022.

It works by converting your prompt into numbers and using a diffusion model to refine random noise into a finished picture. The default model is V8.2, released in July 2026.

Key Features

Midjourney’s key features are text-to-image generation on its V8.2 model, HD output at 2K, style references and personalisation, a web editor, 5-second video clips that extend to 21 seconds, and Fast and Relax speed modes.

• Text-to-image generation: Creates four image options per prompt, which you can upscale or vary. The default model is V8.2, released on 24 July 2026, and Midjourney says standard jobs render about four to five times faster than on earlier versions.
• HD images at 2K: Renders HD images at 2K resolution on V8.2. An HD job uses about 1.3 minutes of GPU time against 0.8 for standard definition, and aspect ratios go up to 14:1, or 4:1 in HD.
• Style references and personalisation: Keep a look consistent across images with Style Reference, style weight and image prompts, or train a personal profile on images you rate. Omni Reference is not supported in V8.2; the Edit Model replaces it.
• Web editor: Inpaints, extends, zooms and re-prompts parts of an image in the browser. Images made with the Edit Model appear on midjourney.com for other members unless Stealth Mode is on.
• AI video: Animates an image into a 5-second clip and extends it up to four times, about 4 seconds each, to a maximum of 21 seconds. Each prompt returns four videos by default.
• Video controls: Offers Low Motion and High Motion settings, looping clips, and a separate end frame set with the –end parameter. HD video at 720p is available on Standard, Pro and Mega in Fast mode only.
• Speed modes: Fast mode draws on monthly GPU time, from 3.3 hours on Basic to 60 hours on Mega. Relax mode is slower but unlimited for images on Standard and above, and extra Fast time costs $4 an hour.
• Niji model: A separate model tuned for anime and illustration styles. The current version is Niji 7, launched on 9 January 2026.

Pros

Midjourney’s main advantages are polished image quality, deep style control, commercial use rights on every paid plan, unlimited Relax image generation from the $30 Standard plan, and images and video under one subscription.

• Image quality: Output is among the most polished of any AI image generator, and V8.2 adds HD rendering at 2K resolution for work that needs more detail.
• Strong style control: Parameters, style references, image prompts and personalisation profiles give precise direction over the look of an image, which suits brand and concept work.
• Two interfaces: Use the web app at midjourney.com or Discord commands. Both run on the same subscription and image library, and video works in both.
• Commercial use: Allowed on every paid plan, including the $10 Basic plan. Only companies with more than $1 million in annual gross revenue are required to use Pro or Mega.
• Unlimited Relax images: Standard, Pro and Mega include unlimited image generation in Relax mode, so regular users do not run out of images when their Fast hours are used up.
• Annual discount: Yearly billing cuts every plan by 20%. Basic falls to $8 a month ($96 a year) and Standard to $24 a month ($288 a year).

Cons

Midjourney’s main drawbacks are that it has no free plan, images are public unless you pay $60 a month for Pro, the Basic plan’s GPU time is small, and there is no public API.

• No free plan: You must subscribe before generating anything. The cheapest option is Basic at $10 a month, or $96 a year, and there is no free trial.
• Public by default: Images and videos are visible to other members unless you use Stealth Mode, which is only included in Pro at $60 a month and Mega at $120.
• Basic plan runs out quickly: Basic includes 3.3 hours of Fast GPU time a month, about 200 minutes, with no Relax mode. One batch of four standard-definition videos uses 8 of those minutes.
• Video is short and low resolution: Clips start at 5 seconds and stop at 21. Standard definition is 480p, HD is 720p, and an HD batch of four uses 26 minutes of GPU time.
• No public API: Midjourney does not offer a public API, so it is hard to automate or build into other software.
• Learning curve: Parameters take practice to use well, and V8.2 no longer supports multi-prompting, the quality parameter or Turbo mode, so older guides that rely on them are out of date.

Who is Using Midjourney?

• Designers and illustrators: Concept art and visual references.
• Marketers and ecommerce brands: Campaign visuals and product mockups.
• Filmmakers: Storyboards and animated drafts.
• Content creators: Social media and blog images.

Pricing

Midjourney costs from $10 per month, with 20% off for annual billing (prices as of October 2026).

Disclaimer: Pricing can change. Check the official Midjourney website.

What Makes Midjourney Unique?

Midjourney stands out for its recognisable, cinematic image style and the depth of control it gives over that style. It is a specialist tool built only for visual work.

Compatibilities and Integrations

• Platforms: Web app and Discord, on desktop or mobile browsers.
• Sign-in: Google or Discord account.
• Export: Download images and videos for use in any design tool.
• API: No public API.

Midjourney Tutorials

You can learn how to use Midjourney in a few minutes:

1. Sign in at midjourney.com and choose a plan.
2. Type a short, specific prompt in the Imagine bar, or use /imagine in Discord.
3. Pick an image to upscale, vary or edit.
4. Add parameters such as –ar for aspect ratio or –no to exclude elements.

How We Rated It

Summary

Midjourney is the strongest choice for people who care most about image quality and style. Basic is enough to test it, Standard suits regular use, and Pro adds privacy. It is less suitable if you need a free tool, an API or exact product accuracy.