ToolRankBest free AI image tools (with a real free plan)
Updated 16 Oct 2026 · Prices from vendor pages only · How we rank →
The short answer
These AI image tools have a free plan or are free to use, and we confirmed it on each vendor's own pricing page. Recraft comes first: low-cost plans with multiple models and design-focused output. The cheapest verified paid plan here is Krea Basic ($9/month ($5 annual)). 4 of the 4 have a free plan we could confirm. Every price below is from the vendor’s own page, checked 16 Oct 2026.
Ranked shortlist
- Recraft: Low-cost plans with multiple models and design-focused output. Plan: Free: $0
- Krea: Access to many image/video models plus an agent, with a daily free allowance. Plan: Free: $0
100 units/day - Leonardo.Ai: Image and video generation platform with fine-tuned models; owned by Canva. Plan: Free: $0/month
150 tokens/day - ComfyUI: Open-source node-based interface for running image and video models. Plan: Free: $0
5 free cloud runs
Order follows ToolRank’s editorial ranking in Image & Design, filtered to tools that fit this page. Anything we couldn’t confirm on a vendor page says “Not yet verified”.
Side by side
| Rank | Tool | Relevant plan | Starting price | Free plan | Best for | Main limitation | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Recraft | Free: $0 | $10/month (Basic, billed annually) | Limited free credits, personal use only | Designers making brand-consistent graphics and vectors | Free plan is personal use only with limited credits. | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #2 | Krea | Free: $0 100 units/day | $9/month ($5 billed annually) | 100 units/day | Creators who want many models in one place | Free plan is 100 units/day; heavy video use needs higher tiers. | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #3 | Leonardo.Ai | Free: $0/month 150 tokens/day | $12/month (Essential) | Free: $0/month, 150 fast tokens/day, public creations | Image and video generation with trainable models | Free-tier creations are public; listed prices exclude tax and the monthly/yearly toggle state was not confirmed | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #4 | ComfyUI | Free: $0 5 free cloud runs | $16/month (Comfy Cloud Standard, yearly; $20 monthly) | Comfy Cloud: 5 free runs on GPUs for new users; ComfyUI itself is open source | Node-based image and video workflows | Steep learning curve | 16 Oct 2026 |
Prices as listed by each vendor on the last-checked date, USD, before tax. Plans and limits change, so follow the sources below.
Who should pick which
Pick Recraft for designers making brand-consistent graphics and vectors (Free: $0); think twice if you need commercial use on a free plan. Pick Krea for creators who want many models in one place (Free: $0); think twice if you only need one model and want the cheapest route. Pick Leonardo.Ai for image and video generation with trainable models (Free: $0/month). Watch out: free-tier creations are public; listed prices exclude tax and the monthly/yearly toggle state was not confirmed. Pick ComfyUI for node-based image and video workflows (Free: $0). Watch out: steep learning curve.
FAQ
Which of these is cheapest?
Krea Basic ($9/month ($5 annual)) is the lowest paid price we verified on this list (https://www.krea.ai/pricing, checked 16 Oct 2026). Check the vendor page for tax, billing period and usage limits.
Which of these have a free plan?
Recraft: Limited free credits, personal use only; Krea: 100 units/day; Leonardo.Ai: Free: $0/month, 150 fast tokens/day, public creations; ComfyUI: Comfy Cloud: 5 free runs on GPUs for new users; ComfyUI itself is open source.
How were these tools chosen?
They are the tools in ToolRank's rankings with a free plan or free use (not just a trial), confirmed on the vendor's own website on 16 Oct 2026. Tools we could not verify are left out rather than guessed, and anything unconfirmed is marked Not yet verified.
Sources
- Recraft: Recraft pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Krea: Krea pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Leonardo.Ai: Leonardo.Ai pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- ComfyUI: ComfyUI pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
Related comparisons
Profiles: Recraft · Krea · Leonardo.Ai · ComfyUI
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- Full Image & Design ranking →
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