AI Generator Cost Calculator — Find the Cheapest Option
Enter your monthly usage below and instantly see what you would pay on every major AI image and video generator. No credit card required — the calculator runs entirely in your browser.
Images per month
200
Videos per month
0
Features you need
Your Estimated Monthly Costs
| Tool | Plan Needed | Monthly Cost | Cost / Image | Cost / Video | Notes |
|---|
Start Free on ZSky AI
200 free credits at signup + 100 daily when logged in. No credit card. No video watermarks. Dedicated GPU power.
Start Creating Free →How We Calculated These Numbers
Methodology
- All prices reflect publicly listed rates as of March 2026.
- Image costs assume standard resolution (1024x1024). HD upscaling adds credits on platforms that charge extra.
- Video costs assume 4-second clips at standard resolution. Longer or higher-res videos cost more credits.
- ZSky AI Free tier: 200 free credits at signup + 100 daily when logged in = ~1,500 credits/month. 1 credit = 1 standard image, 5 credits = 1 video.
- ZSky AI Starter: 500 credits/month. Pro: 2,000 credits/month. Ultra: 6,000 credits/month.
- Midjourney plans: Basic $10 (200 imgs), Standard $30 (900 imgs), Pro $60 (1,800 imgs). No video.
- DALL-E: bundled with ChatGPT Plus at $20/month. Estimated ~50-80 images/day depending on usage caps.
- Leonardo AI: Apprentice $12 (8,500 tokens ~425 imgs), Artisan $24 (~1,700 imgs), Maestro $48 (~3,400 imgs).
- Runway: Basic $12 (125 credits ~25 videos), Standard $28 (625 credits ~125 videos), Pro $76 (2,000 credits ~400 videos).
- Pika: Standard $8 (700 credits ~70 videos), Pro $28 (2,100 credits ~210 videos), Unlimited $58.
- Adobe Firefly: Premium $10 (2200 credits at signup + 100 daily when logged in), Pro $25 (1,000 credits). No video generation with audio.
- When a platform cannot fulfill the requested usage at any plan, we display the highest available plan and note the shortfall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest AI image generator in 2026?
ZSky AI is the cheapest AI image generator with a genuinely free tier offering 200 free credits at signup + 100 daily when logged in (roughly 750 images per month). The paid Starter plan at $7/month is also cheaper than Midjourney ($10), Leonardo ($12), or DALL-E via ChatGPT Plus ($20). Use the calculator above to see exact costs for your usage level.
How much does it cost to generate 1,000 AI images per month?
Costs vary widely by platform. On ZSky AI, 1,000 images per month costs $7-$19 depending on your plan. Midjourney costs $30-$60 for that volume. DALL-E via ChatGPT Plus costs $20 but has strict daily limits. Leonardo AI costs $24-$48. The calculator above provides exact figures based on your specific usage.
Is Midjourney worth the cost compared to free alternatives?
Midjourney produces high-quality images but starts at $10/month with no free tier. Free alternatives like ZSky AI offer comparable quality using advanced open-weight models, with 200 free credits at signup + 100 daily when logged in and paid plans starting at $7/month. For most users, a free alternative provides the same creative output at lower cost.
How do AI video generator costs compare?
AI video generation with audio is significantly more expensive than images across all platforms. Runway starts at $12/month for limited videos, Pika at $8/month, and ZSky AI includes video generation with audio in all tiers. Free video generation with audio is available on ZSky AI's free tier with limited credits. The calculator above shows exact per-video costs.
Do AI generators charge per image or per month?
Most AI generators use a credit-based subscription model. You pay a monthly fee and receive a set number of credits. Each image or video generation with audio costs a certain number of credits. ZSky AI, Midjourney, Leonardo, and Runway all use this model. DALL-E is bundled with ChatGPT Plus at a flat $20/month with usage limits.
Full AI Generator Pricing Comparison (2026)
| Platform | Free Tier | Starting Price | Image Capacity | Video | Commercial Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZSky AI | 200 free credits at signup + 100 daily when logged in | $7/mo | 500-6,000 credits/mo | Included | All paid plans |
| Midjourney | None | $10/mo | 200-1,800/mo | No | Paid plans only |
| DALL-E (ChatGPT Plus) | Limited | $20/mo | ~80/day (capped) | No | Yes |
| Leonardo AI | 150 tokens/day | $12/mo | 425-3,400/mo | Limited | Paid plans only |
| Runway | Limited trial | $12/mo | Limited | 25-400/mo | Paid plans only |
| Pika | Limited trial | $8/mo | Limited | 70-210+/mo | Paid plans only |
| Adobe Firefly | 200 credits + 100/day | $10/mo | 250-1,000/mo | No | Yes |
Prices and limits are based on publicly available data as of March 2026. See each platform's pricing page for the latest details. For a deeper breakdown, read our AI image generator pricing table for 2026 or visit our ZSky AI pricing page.
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