Description
Midjourney
What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is an AI image generator that transforms text descriptions (prompts) into stunning visual artwork. Founded in 2021 by David Holz (co-founder of Leap Motion), Midjourney has become one of the most popular generative AI tools, known for its distinctive artistic style and exceptional image quality.
Unlike other image generators, Midjourney operates primarily through Discord, although since 2024 it has a complete web application. The company is notably self-funded, with no external investment, and generates approximately $200M ARR (2023).
Company and Key Data
| Data | Information |
|---|---|
| Company | Midjourney Inc. |
| Founder/CEO | David Holz |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, CA |
| Funding | Self-funded (no external investment) |
| Estimated ARR | ~$200M (2023) |
| Discord Community | 21M+ members |
| Daily Active Users | 1.2M - 2.5M |
Available Models (December 2025)
Midjourney V7 (April 2025) - Current Default Model
- Released April 3, 2025
- Default model since June 17, 2025
- Significant improvements in:
- Text and image prompt precision
- Image quality with richer textures
- Body, hand, and object coherence
- More coherent details
- New features: Draft Mode and Omni Reference
V1 Video Model (June 2025)
- Released June 18, 2025
- Image-to-video model
- Generates 4 five-second videos per request
- Extensible up to 21 seconds in recent versions
- Cost: 8x more than standard image generation
- Accessible via Discord
Previous Models
- V6.1 (July 2024): More coherent images, 25% faster than V6
- V6 (December 2023): Improved prompt accuracy, advanced remixing
- Niji 6: Specialized in anime and manga styles
Pricing and Plans (December 2025)
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Fast GPU | Relax Mode | Stealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10/mo | $8/mo ($96/yr) | 3.3h (~200 imgs) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Standard | $30/mo | $24/mo ($288/yr) | 15h (~900 imgs) | ✅ Unlimited | ❌ |
| Pro | $60/mo | $48/mo ($576/yr) | 30h (~1,800 imgs) | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ |
| Mega | $120/mo | $96/mo ($1,152/yr) | 60h (~3,600 imgs) | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ |
Additional Details
- 20% discount with annual billing
- Additional Fast Hours: $4/hour (don't expire)
- Free daily hour: Available by rating ~100 images/day (top 2,000 raters)
- Companies >$1M revenue: Require Pro or Mega plan
- No free trial since March 2023
Main Features
Image Generation
- Text to image with exceptional artistic quality
- 4 images generated per prompt
- Image variations and upscaling
- Inpainting and outpainting
- Image-to-image transformations
- Omni Reference: Better logo, character, and object recognition
Draft Mode (V7)
- 10x faster than standard mode
- 50% of normal cost
- Ideal for rapid idea iteration
- Lower quality but enhanceable
Generation Modes
- Fast Mode: Immediate generation, uses GPU hours
- Relax Mode: Public queue, 1-10 min wait, unlimited (Standard+)
- Turbo Mode: Faster but more expensive
Web Editor
- Improved interface with smart segmentation
- Smart selection tools
- Integrated vary and upscale buttons
- Smooth creation feed navigation
Privacy
- Stealth Mode (Pro/Mega): Private images
- Default: All images are public in gallery
Access Platforms
Discord (Primary)
- Official server with 21M+ members
- /imagine commands to generate
- DMs for private work
- Active community and support
Web App (midjourney.com)
- Complete editor
- Personal gallery
- Subscription management
- Explore community creations
API
⚠️ There is no official Midjourney API
Unofficial third-party APIs exist that violate ToS:
- ImagineAPI (~$30/mo)
- APIFRAME (~$39/mo)
- Useapi.net (~$10/mo)
- PiAPI (per generation)
Risk: Unofficial APIs can result in account ban.
Competition
| Tool | Strength | vs Midjourney |
|---|---|---|
| DALL-E 3 | ChatGPT integration | Midjourney: better artistic quality |
| Stable Diffusion | Open-source, local | Midjourney: easier to use |
| Firefly | Adobe integration | Midjourney: more versatile styles |
| Imagen 3 | Google ecosystem | Midjourney: more active community |
Limitations
- No official API
- No free trial
- Public images by default (except Pro/Mega)
- Primarily Discord-based
- Content restrictions (no NSFW)
- Copyright controversies (Disney/Universal lawsuits)
Use Cases
- Digital art and concept art
- Publication illustrations
- Character design
- Thumbnails and social media content
- Storyboarding and previsualization
- Marketing and advertising
- NFTs and collectible art
- Product design
- Architectural visualization
- Moodboards and visual references
Key Features
Image generation with exceptional artistic quality
V7 model with improved prompt precision
Draft Mode: 10x faster, 50% of cost
Omni Reference for logo and character recognition
V1 Video Model: image to video up to 21 seconds
4 images generated per prompt
Image variations and upscaling
Inpainting and outpainting
Web editor with smart segmentation
Fast Mode, Relax Mode and Turbo Mode
Stealth Mode for privacy (Pro/Mega)
21M+ member Discord community
Complete web app at midjourney.com
Multiple artistic styles
Niji model specialized in anime
Customization with SREF and moodboards
Improved hand and body coherence
Rich textures and coherent details
Free daily hour for rating images
20% discount with annual billing
Use Cases
Digital art and concept art
Publication illustrations
Character design
YouTube and social media thumbnails
Storyboarding and previsualization
Marketing and advertising
NFTs and digital collectible art
Product design
Architectural visualization
Moodboards and visual references
Book and album covers
Video game content
Scenario and background design
Editorial illustrations
Branding and visual identity
Animation and motion graphics
Fashion design
Merchandising art
Visual educational content
Rapid visual prototypes
Information
Company
Midjourney Inc.
Website
midjourney.comUser Reviews
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