In this comparison
Overview
Midjourney and DALL-E 3 dominate AI image generation, but they couldn't be more different in philosophy and approach.
Midjourney has always prioritized aesthetics. Its images look stunning by default — cinematic lighting, rich textures, artistic composition. It's the tool artists reach for when they want something beautiful. The downside? It runs through Discord (though a web interface is now available), and getting exactly what you want sometimes requires learning its particular prompting style.
DALL-E 3 took a different path: accuracy. Integrated directly into ChatGPT, it understands natural language prompts remarkably well. You can describe exactly what you want and it'll follow your instructions faithfully. The images are good but often lack the artistic "wow factor" that Midjourney delivers.
Choosing between them comes down to what you value more: beauty or control.
Midjourney vs DALL-E 3: Side-by-Side
| Category | Midjourney | DALL-E 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Midjourney Inc. | OpenAI |
| Access Method | Discord + Web App | ChatGPT + API |
| Base Resolution | 1024x1024 (up to 2048) | 1024x1024 (up to 1792x1024) |
| Price | $10-60/month | Included with ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) |
| Prompt Following | Good (stylized) | Excellent (literal) |
| Default Aesthetic | Artistic, cinematic | Clean, realistic |
| Text in Images | Decent | Good |
| Inpainting/Editing | Yes (vary region) | Yes (via ChatGPT) |
| API Access | No public API | Yes |
| Commercial Use | Yes (paid plans) | Yes |
Image Quality & Aesthetics
Midjourney v6.1 produces some of the most visually stunning AI images available. There's a painterly quality to its outputs that makes them look like they belong in a portfolio. Lighting, composition, depth of field — Midjourney handles these intuitively, even when you don't explicitly ask for them.
DALL-E 3 creates clean, technically competent images but they often feel a bit flat compared to Midjourney's output. They're accurate to the prompt but lack that artistic "something" that makes you stop and stare.
That said, DALL-E 3 has gotten much better with GPT-4o's native image generation. The quality gap is narrowing, but Midjourney still leads on pure aesthetics.
Winner: Midjourney, and most people agree on this.
Prompt Understanding & Control
DALL-E 3 wins here because it's built on ChatGPT's language understanding. You can describe what you want in plain English — "a red bicycle leaning against a yellow wall with a cat sleeping in the basket" — and it'll include every element.
Midjourney sometimes ignores parts of complex prompts or interprets them creatively. You need to learn its prompting syntax (--ar, --style, --chaos, etc.) to get consistent results. It's powerful once you learn it, but there's a real learning curve.
Winner: DALL-E 3, especially for beginners.
Text Rendering in Images
Both models can now render text in images — something that was impossible just a year ago. DALL-E 3 is slightly more reliable at getting text right, especially longer phrases. Midjourney handles short text (2-3 words) well but can scramble longer strings.
Neither is perfect. For designs where text accuracy is critical, you'll still want to add text in a graphic design tool afterwards.
Winner: DALL-E 3, by a small margin.
Ease of Use
DALL-E 3 is dead simple. Open ChatGPT, type what you want, get an image. You can iterate conversationally — "make the sky more orange" or "add a person in the background." It's the lowest barrier to entry in AI image generation.
Midjourney's Discord interface is initially confusing. You type commands in chat channels, your images appear alongside other people's generations, and the whole experience feels chaotic. The new web interface improves things, but it's still not as seamless as ChatGPT.
Winner: DALL-E 3, by a lot.
Pricing & Value
If you already pay for ChatGPT Plus ($20/month), DALL-E 3 is essentially free — it's included. Midjourney starts at $10/month for the Basic plan (200 images) and goes up to $60/month for the Mega plan.
For casual users, DALL-E 3's inclusion with ChatGPT is unbeatable value. For professionals generating hundreds of images, Midjourney's Standard plan ($30/month) with unlimited relaxed generations is the better deal.
Winner: DALL-E 3 for casual use. Midjourney for heavy use.
The Verdict
For artists, designers, and anyone who cares about visual quality above all else, Midjourney is still king. Its images have a quality and aesthetic sense that DALL-E 3 can't match. If you're creating mood boards, concept art, or social media visuals, Midjourney produces work you'd actually be proud to show.
For everyone else — especially if you just want accurate images from natural language descriptions — DALL-E 3 through ChatGPT is the smarter choice. It's easier, cheaper (if you have ChatGPT Plus), and more reliable at following your instructions.
The power move: use DALL-E 3 for quick concepts and iteration, then use Midjourney for the final polished versions. Best of both worlds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midjourney worth paying for if I have ChatGPT Plus?
If image quality matters to your work, yes. Midjourney's aesthetic quality is noticeably superior to DALL-E 3. For casual image generation, ChatGPT's built-in DALL-E 3 is perfectly fine and you're already paying for it.
Can I use these images commercially?
Yes, both allow commercial use. Midjourney requires a paid subscription for commercial rights. DALL-E 3 images created through the API or ChatGPT Plus can be used commercially per OpenAI's terms.
Which is better for photorealistic images?
Midjourney v6.1 produces more convincing photorealistic images with better lighting and detail. DALL-E 3 can do photorealism but the results often look slightly 'AI-generated' compared to Midjourney's output.
Do I need to learn special prompting for either?
DALL-E 3 works with plain English — no special syntax needed. Midjourney benefits from learning its parameter system (--ar for aspect ratio, --style for style strength, etc.) but will also work with plain descriptions.