✅ What you'll learn
- Midjourney's free trial ended in mid-2023 and has not returned as of June 2026.
- Midjourney is a privately held company and does not share user numbers publicly, but it is widely estimated to have millions of paying subscribers.
- The Basic Plan at ~$10/month allows commercial use of generated images.
- Midjourney has no free tier, no "freemium" model, and no free educational access as of June 2026.
💡 Perfect if you're thinking...
No, Midjourney is not free as of June 2026. The free trial that existed in 2022–2023 was removed in mid-2023. A paid subscription is now required, starting at approximately $10 per month for the Basic Plan. If you want a free AI image generator, alternatives like Microsoft Copilot (powered by DALL-E 3) or Adobe Firefly are good options.
What Most Parents (and Kids) Think About This
Many online articles — especially older ones — still mention a Midjourney free trial. This causes genuine confusion. Parents search for "free AI image generator" and find Midjourney recommended, only to hit a paywall when they try to sign up. The free trial is gone and has not returned as of June 2026.
Some people assume there is a workaround, like using Discord to get free images. There is not. Whether you use the website or Discord, a subscription is required before you can generate images.
Others assume that because AI tools are generally getting cheaper and more accessible, Midjourney must have a free option somewhere. Not currently — though the company's plans and pricing do change over time.
What This Question Really Means for Your Family
Knowing Midjourney's real cost helps you make good decisions about which AI tools to introduce to your children. There are excellent free options, and paying for Midjourney only makes sense if your family has a specific need for its distinctive artistic style.
From the field: Sawan Kumar, who trains professionals on AI adoption through his Dubai-based agency EvolvXAI, observes: "Organisations that succeed with AI start with education, not tools. Understanding what AI genuinely can and cannot do is the difference between a successful implementation and a wasted budget."
The Real Answer — Explained Simply
Midjourney ran a free trial period during its early days (2022 to mid-2023) that let new users generate a limited number of images for free. This helped Midjourney grow rapidly as word spread about its impressive image quality.
In mid-2023, Midjourney ended free trials, citing widespread abuse of the free tier. Since then, all access requires a paid subscription.
Current Midjourney Plans (as of June 2026 — check midjourney.com for latest prices):
| Plan | Approximate Monthly Cost | GPU Time | Commercial Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | ~$10/month | ~3.3 hrs/month | Yes |
| Standard | ~$30/month | ~15 hrs/month | Yes |
| Pro | ~$60/month | ~30 hrs/month | Yes + Stealth Mode |
| Mega | ~$120/month | ~60 hrs/month | Yes + Stealth Mode |
"GPU time" refers to how much computing time you get. Fast generations (better quality, quicker) use more GPU time. Relaxed generations (slower) are unlimited on Standard plans and above.
What is Stealth Mode?
By default, images you create on Midjourney are publicly visible in the Midjourney gallery. Stealth Mode (available on Pro and Mega plans) keeps your images private. For most families and casual users, this does not matter.
Annual discounts
All plans are cheaper if billed annually (typically about 20% off). For example, the Basic Plan works out to approximately $8/month when paid annually.
Is it worth it?
For a casual user or a child exploring AI art, probably not — the free alternatives are very good. For a teenager seriously interested in digital art, illustration, or game design, the Basic Plan at $10/month can be worthwhile. For professional use, the image quality and commercial rights make it competitive.
Free Alternatives to Midjourney (Updated June 2026)
If you want free AI image generation, here are reliable options:
- Microsoft Copilot (copilot.microsoft.com) — Free, uses DALL-E 3, no account required for basic use. Excellent quality.
- Adobe Firefly (firefly.adobe.com) — Free tier available, excellent for families, has strong safety filters.
- Google ImageFX (labs.google/fx/tools/image-fx) — Free, from Google, good quality.
- Bing Image Creator (bing.com/images/create) — Free, powered by DALL-E 3.
- NightCafe (nightcafe.studio) — Free daily credits, uses multiple AI models including Stable Diffusion.
Facts You Should Know (Updated June 2026)
- Midjourney's free trial ended in mid-2023 and has not returned as of June 2026.
- Midjourney is a privately held company and does not share user numbers publicly, but it is widely estimated to have millions of paying subscribers.
- The Basic Plan at ~$10/month allows commercial use of generated images.
- Midjourney has no free tier, no "freemium" model, and no free educational access as of June 2026.
- Several free tools (especially Microsoft Copilot) now produce images of comparable quality to Midjourney for most everyday use cases.
- Midjourney pricing has changed multiple times since launch; always check midjourney.com for current rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try Midjourney before paying?
As of June 2026, there is no free trial. You need to subscribe to use it. Midjourney's billing is monthly (or annual at a discount) and you can cancel anytime.
What is the cheapest way to use Midjourney?
The Basic Plan at approximately $10/month (or about $8/month if billed annually) is the cheapest option. This gives you enough GPU time for a moderate amount of image creation each month.
Are there any free AI image generators as good as Midjourney?
For most uses, yes. Microsoft Copilot (DALL-E 3) produces excellent results for free. Midjourney's distinctive painterly, cinematic style is harder to replicate for free, but unless you specifically need that aesthetic, free tools work very well.
The Bottom Line
Midjourney is not free — a subscription starting at around $10/month is required as of June 2026. For families and children exploring AI art, start with free alternatives like Microsoft Copilot or Adobe Firefly. They are excellent tools, and you can always upgrade to Midjourney later if you need its specific style and quality level.
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