Both DALL-E 4 and Leonardo AI are powerful image generation tools with distinct strengths. DALL-E 4 is better for users prioritizing photorealism and ease of use, while Leonardo AI is a strong contender for those seeking customization, community support, and potentially faster generation speeds, especially with its free tier. The choice depends on individual priorities and specific project requirements.
| Attribute | DALL-E 4 | Leonardo AI |
|---|---|---|
| Image generation speed | Fast generation time, simplifying the image-generating process to a single step. | Can generate images rapidly, almost five times faster than Midjourney in some cases (13 seconds vs 51 seconds in one review, approximately 25 seconds vs 21 seconds in another review). |
| Variety of art styles supported | Can generate imagery in multiple styles, including photorealistic imagery, paintings, and emoji. It can switch between photorealism, cartoon styles, and abstract art with relative ease. | Offers a diverse array of styles and themes, allowing users to experiment with different artistic genres. It provides various AI art models and shines in artistic renderings and stylized outputs. |
| Level of photorealism achievable | Designed to create highly realistic images from text prompts. It can produce images with fine textures, shadows, and colors that closely mirror real-world visuals. | Has dedicated photorealistic pipelines like PhotoReal V2 and Leonardo Vision XL. While it emphasizes photorealism, its strength is primarily in illustration-like imagery and has limited photorealism compared to DALL-E. |
| Text-to-image accuracy | Offers improved comprehension of complex prompts, allowing it to generate images with greater accuracy and detail. | Uses artificial intelligence to generate images from detailed text descriptions. |
| Image editing capabilities | Can produce variations of an existing image and edit the image to modify or expand upon it. The DALL-E editor streamlines the editing process by incorporating conversational text prompts and interactive selection tools, allowing users to modify specific areas of their images. | Has an AI Canvas that blends robust editing functions with the creative process. The AI Canvas allows users to erase distractions, adjust dimensions, and refine details. The platform also offers tools for automatic object removal, background removal, and color enhancement. |
| Customization options for image generation | Introduces new styles and quality settings, such as 'natural' and 'vivid,' and offers a 'quality' parameter to choose between standard and high-definition outputs. | Emphasizes customization, allowing users to tailor their experience. Users can input detailed descriptions of desired images and use negative prompts to exclude elements. They can also create and train their own models, providing granular control over generation parameters. |
| Pricing and subscription plans | Offers a limited number of free credits for new users, after which you'll need to purchase additional credits or subscribe to a plan. DALL-E offers various plans to suit different users, including a free plan with limited image generation, a Pro plan, and Team and Enterprise plans. | Offers a free plan with limited access and daily tokens. Paid plans include Apprentice, Artisan, and Maestro, with varying token allocations and features. API plans are also available. |
| Community features and support | Provides detailed documentation, prompt examples, and how-to guides on OpenAI's website, including interactive tutorials. The user community thrives on platforms like Reddit and Discord. | Has a thriving community on Discord and Facebook. Users can interact with fellow creators, receive tips, access tutorials, and find inspiration. |
| API availability and integration | Supports API integration for teams who want to build custom workflows. | Offers a fully documented API for seamless integration into applications. |
| Commercial usage rights | Commercial licensing is straightforward, and outputs consistently meet professional standards. | You can use Leonardo AI images for commercial purposes. If you generate an image using your own prompt, you have full rights to use it commercially. Paid subscribers retain full ownership and intellectual property rights. |
| Ease of use for beginners | Unmatched in ease of use and prompt interpretation. It has a simple and user-friendly interface that's text-prompt-based. | Is designed to be accessible and user-friendly for creators of all backgrounds. It has an intuitive interface, in-depth tutorials, and an active community. |
| Quality of generated faces and hands | OpenAI has significantly improved the quality of generated faces and hands in the newer model. | Includes PhotoReal, a pipeline designed to generate lifelike portraits. |