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Head-to-Head Comparison
Midjourney vs Stable Diffusion
An honest, side-by-side breakdown of pricing, features, and security — so you can pick the right tool.
Published Last updated
- Midjourney is cheaper to start — £8/mo versus £40/mo for Stable Diffusion.
- On privacy, Stable Diffusion offers a no-training-on-your-data policy where Midjourney does not.
- Midjourney is best for everyday AI image generation users; Stable Diffusion for developers who want open-source AI image generation.
Midjourney
AI Image
7.9/ 10
£8/mo · Paid only
Best for everyday AI image generation users
Visit MidjourneySee all AI Image Generators →
Stable Diffusion
AI Image
7.5/ 10
Free · Free tier
Best for developers who want open-source AI image generation
Visit Stable DiffusionSee all AI Image Generators →Some “Visit” links are affiliate links. How we earn →
Feature comparison
| Feature | Midjourney | Stable Diffusion |
|---|---|---|
| CompareMyAI score | 7.9 / 10 | 7.5 / 10 |
| Free tier | ||
| API access | ||
| Open source | ||
| Enterprise ready | ||
| GDPR compliant | ||
| Vendor holds SOC 2 | ||
| Vendor holds ISO 27001 | ||
| MFA supported | ||
| Trains on your data | Yes |
Certifications may only cover business or enterprise plans. Check the vendor’s trust page for your plan.
Midjourney comes out ahead in our comparison.
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Pricing
Price checked with vendor on
Basic PlanUS$10/mo ≈£7.52/mo
Standard PlanUS$30/mo ≈£22.55/mo
Pro PlanUS$60/mo ≈£45.09/mo
Mega PlanUS$120/mo ≈£90.18/mo
Self-hosted (free)Free
Brand Studio TrialFree
Enterprise—
Always check the provider's site for the latest pricing.
Pros & cons
Midjourney
Pros
- +Highest quality artistic image generation
- +Strong community and style inspiration
- +Excellent for creative and editorial work
Cons
- −Discord-only interface is awkward
- −No free tier
- −No API access
- −Limited control over exact outputs
Stable Diffusion
Pros
- +Open source and free to run locally
- +Maximum privacy — no data leaves your machine
- +Highly customisable with community models
Cons
- −Technical setup required
- −No managed hosted version
- −Quality depends heavily on prompt skill and model choice
Our take— Midjourney wins
Based on our comparison of published pricing, features, and compliance data, Midjourney takes the overall edge, though Stable Diffusion offers a no-training-on-your-data policy and API access. Midjourney scores 7.9/10 to Stable Diffusion's 7.5/10. Pick Stable Diffusion if a no-training-on-your-data policy matters — Midjourney takes it overall on our scoring, but the gap is narrow.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Midjourney or Stable Diffusion?
Midjourney is cheaper to start, with its lowest paid plan at £8/mo versus £40/mo for Stable Diffusion. These are each vendor's published prices and can change, so check before you buy.
Does Midjourney train on your data?
Based on published vendor information, Midjourney may use your data to help train its models. Training is sometimes opt-out, or switched off on paid and business plans, so review the privacy settings in your account.
Does Stable Diffusion train on your data?
Based on published vendor information, Stable Diffusion does not train its models on your data. Policies can differ by plan and change over time, so it is worth confirming the current terms on the vendor's site.
Are Midjourney and Stable Diffusion GDPR compliant?
Based on published vendor information, both Midjourney and Stable Diffusion state they are GDPR compliant. Vendor-level compliance does not remove your own obligations when you process personal data through either tool.
Do Midjourney and Stable Diffusion have a free tier?
Stable Diffusion offers a free tier, while Midjourney is paid only. If you want to try before paying, Stable Diffusion is the one to start with.