I’m looking for a free online AI image editor where I can use text prompts to edit or generate images. I need something that’s easy to use and doesn’t require a paid subscription. I tried a few tools but they either had very limited features or required payment after a short trial. Any suggestions for reliable, free AI image editors with prompt support would be really helpful.
Craiyon (formerly known as DALL-E Mini) is kinda hit or miss, but it’s free and lets you type prompts to generate images. There’s no subscription nonsense but don’t expect Photoshop-level editing—more meme-level chaos. If you want something that can actually edit existing pics with prompts, try Playground AI. They’re online, have a free tier, and you can do prompt-based image modifications, inpainting, and outpainting. Free use is capped at like 1k images/month last time I checked, so unless you’re typing like a caffeinated goblin, you probably won’t run out.
Fotor and Pixlr dabble in AI tools but start nagging you for money if you want repeated or fancier features. Photopea is epic for Photoshop clones and works in your browser but doesn’t really do the prompt/AI image generation part—it’s more classic editing.
There’s also Canva, which has simple AI image generator features built-in. Not super fancy, throws in a watermark or two, and locks better features behind a paywall, but it’s enough for quick jobs.
If you don’t mind a learning curve, check out Stable Diffusion on sites like Clipdrop or Mage.Space. Mage has a generous free plan (though you have to deal with a queue). Both let you generate or edit images with prompts and are pretty easy to use.
Basically, if you want the coolest AI stuff with no paywall at all, you’ll need to jump through some hoops, watch for usage limits, or deal with the odd ad or watermark. But it is possible—just takes a little digging and, honestly, sometimes lowering expectations about “quality” and “free” lining up in AI land.
Absolutely get the struggle. Finding actually free tools that don’t bug you with paywalls and still let you mess around with prompts feels like looking for a unicorn these days. @viajeroceleste already covered some solid options—Playground AI and Craiyon are both pretty easy to try, though I’d argue Craiyon is more for fun and joke pics than for anything remotely “editor” related.
For something a bit different: you might want to check out Dream by WOMBO. Completely browser-based, pretty generous in what you can do without paying, and you can generate images via prompts (even upload your own images to reference, if you’re okay with limited control over edits). The results are hit-or-miss, and the output styles can get repetitive, but for small creative stuff it’s quick and painless. Downside: sometimes throws a watermark on the images, but honestly it’s not as intrusive as Canva’s “here’s a giant badge across your pic” routine.
Another curveball is Bing Image Creator (yep, random I know). It’s powered by DALL-E 3 now and lets you edit and generate via prompts. As long as you have a Microsoft account you can use it free with daily credit limits. The editing isn’t as advanced as what Stable Diffusion offers, but for casual use it’s shockingly good.
I know @viajeroceleste said Photopea isn’t for prompts and they’re mostly right—it’s more Photoshop rival than AI editor. If you’re up for a bit more hassle, you can use Photopea for layout/touchup stuff after generating an image in another tool. Not streamlined, but free is free.
Imo stable diffusion on Mage or something like Leonardo.ai (free credits but you gotta log in) is probably as close to “real” prompt-based editing as you get for zero dollars. Mage.Space’s UI is more tolerable than some others, but I still hate sitting in the queue when it gets busy—sometimes feels like waiting for dial-up in 2024.
Bottom line, you’re likely going to have to mix and match free tiers and tolerate occasional watermarks/limits for now. If your standards aren’t sky-high and you don’t mind juggling a couple tabs or services, you’ll get by. If you want Photoshop wizardry with pure prompt magic and no ads, well, may the prompt gods bless your quest.
If we’re talking free AI image editors using prompts, I’ve done my fair share of digging, and honestly, there’s still no one-size-fits-all solution. @shizuka and @viajeroceleste already pointed out big hitters like Playground AI, Craiyon, and Mage.Space, but I think they skipped over a lesser-known gem: Artbreeder. That said, it’s a weird beast — it’s not strictly “prompt to image,” but you can nudge images with text edits in some modes and crossbreed images, morphing results in pretty unique ways. Major upside: you get a batch of free credits, and basic functions don’t cost anything; downside, high-res and certain edits burn through your credit stash fast.
For pros:
- Very creative blend/morph feature, letting you merge images or apply style transfers easily
- Great for character and landscape generation if that’s your jam
- Some text-prompt controls (though they’re less direct than Stable Diffusion or Bing Image Creator)
Cons:
- Not true prompt-based editing like Stable Diffusion
- Output resolution on free tier is limited
- UI isn’t the most intuitive if you want more control
One thing I disagree about with Bing Image Creator: credit limits get eaten up super quickly for power users, and sometimes “editing” is more like “repainting” than actually tweaking existing photos.
If you want hands-on editing with prompt-based magic, I find ’ gets close enough—enough features for real edits, prompt-based tricks ranging from background swaps to inpainting, and a reasonable free tier (watch those usage caps, though; nothing’s ever truly unlimited). Biggest competitor here, in my view, is even Stable Diffusion on Mage, but sometimes Mage’s UI or image queue can be frustrating during peak hours.
Pro-tip: Use one for generation (like '), download, and finish off with Photopea or even GIMP for old-school tweaks. Patchwork solutions, yeah, but if being free is the goal, it’s mostly inevitable.
TL;DR: ’ is strong for prompt-based editing, especially for the freebies. Some catch-up needed versus paid plans, and beware trial restrictions, but it’s in line with what’s available. Try Artbreeder for experimentation, and maybe layer in Stable Diffusion sites for extra polish.