Description
Midjourney is a text-to-image and video generation tool known for stylized, artistic output, accessed primarily through Discord or its own web interface rather than a traditional desktop app. There is no free tier; every plan is a paid subscription, running from Basic at $10/month up to Mega at $120/month, each granting a set amount of monthly Fast GPU time rather than a fixed image count, since usage is metered in GPU-hours. Standard and higher plans unlock Relax Mode, unlimited slower-queue image generation once Fast GPU time runs out, while Pro and Mega add Stealth Mode for keeping generations private and higher concurrent prompt limits for parallel workflows. All subscribers get general commercial usage rights over their outputs, though companies earning over $1,000,000 in annual gross revenue are required to be on Pro or Mega specifically. Extra Fast GPU time beyond a plan’s monthly allowance can be purchased at $4/hour on any tier. It suits digital artists, designers, and creators who want Midjourney’s distinctive artistic style and don’t mind working through Discord or the web app rather than a dedicated desktop tool.
Key Features
- GPU-hour metering — usage is measured in Fast GPU time (hours/month) rather than a fixed image or credit count.
- Relax Mode — unlimited, slower-queue image generation once Fast GPU time is used up, from Standard upward.
- Stealth Mode — keeps generations private rather than visible in Midjourney’s public gallery, on Pro and Mega only.
- SD and HD video generation — animate generated or uploaded images into 5- to 21-second video clips.
- General commercial usage rights — included on every paid plan, with a revenue threshold requiring Pro or Mega for larger companies.
- Discord and web access — no dedicated desktop or mobile app; Midjourney runs through Discord direct messages or its own website.
- Pay-as-you-go GPU top-ups — extra Fast GPU time beyond the monthly allowance costs a flat $4/hour on any plan.
How It Works
A subscriber generates images or video by typing a prompt, either in Midjourney’s own web interface or by messaging the Midjourney bot directly in Discord, and each generation consumes Fast GPU time from the plan’s monthly allowance rather than a per-image credit. On Basic, once the 3.3 hours of monthly Fast GPU time runs out, generation stops until the next billing cycle or a $4/hour top-up purchase. Standard, Pro, and Mega subscribers instead drop into Relax Mode once their Fast GPU time is exhausted, which keeps generating unlimited images (and, on Pro and Mega, SD video) at a slower, deprioritized queue speed rather than blocking access entirely. Pro and Mega additionally unlock Stealth Mode, which keeps a user’s generations out of Midjourney’s public gallery, and raise the number of prompts that can run concurrently, useful for production workflows generating many variations at once. Users can also earn additional free GPU time by rating other users’ generated images inside the platform.
Technical Architecture & Overview
- Core Engine: Midjourney’s own proprietary diffusion models for image generation, with a separate video generation pipeline for animating stills into SD or HD clips.
- Deployment: Discord bot (direct messages) and Midjourney’s own web app; no native desktop or mobile application is documented.
- API Surface: No official public developer API is documented; access is exclusively through the Discord bot or web interface under a subscription.
- Known Limits: Fast GPU time doesn’t roll over between billing cycles; Relax Mode video generation is limited to SD quality even on Standard, with HD Relax video reserved for Pro and Mega.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Distinctive, widely recognized artistic style that many creators consider a cut above generic photorealistic output | No free tier exists; there’s been no free trial since March 2023, so testing requires at least the $10/month Basic plan |
| Standard and higher plans include genuinely unlimited Relax Mode generation once Fast GPU time runs out, not a hard cutoff | Access is exclusively through Discord or the web app, with no native desktop or mobile application |
| General commercial usage rights are included on every paid plan, including the entry-level Basic tier | Stealth Mode (private generations) is reserved for Pro and Mega, meaning privacy costs at least $60/month |
| Users can earn extra free GPU time by rating other members’ generated images inside the platform | Basic’s 3.3 monthly Fast GPU hours (about 200 minutes) run out quickly for anyone generating regularly |
| Annual billing offers a straightforward 20% discount across all four tiers with no separate promo terms | Companies earning over $1,000,000 in annual gross revenue are contractually required to use Pro or Mega regardless of actual usage volume |
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic | $10/month billed monthly ($8/month billed annually) |
| Standard | $30/month billed monthly ($24/month billed annually) |
| Mega | $120/month billed monthly ($96/month billed annually) |
https://docs.midjourney.com/hc/en-us/articles/27870484040333-Comparing-Midjourney-Plans
Platform Availability
Discord | Web
Best For
Digital artists | Designers | Creators wanting a distinctive artistic style
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Midjourney have a free plan?
No. Per Midjourney’s own documentation, there is no free tier and no free trial has been available since March 2023; the cheapest option is the $10/month Basic plan.
What is Relax Mode?
Relax Mode is unlimited, slower-queue image generation available once a subscriber’s monthly Fast GPU time is used up, included on Standard, Pro, and Mega plans, according to Midjourney’s official plan comparison.
Which plan includes Stealth Mode for private generations?
Only Pro ($60/month) and Mega ($120/month) include Stealth Mode, which keeps a user’s images and videos out of Midjourney’s public gallery, per Midjourney’s official documentation.
Can I buy extra GPU time if I run out?
Yes. Extra Fast GPU time costs a flat $4 per hour on any plan tier, according to Midjourney’s official plan comparison.
Do I need Discord to use Midjourney?
Not exclusively. Midjourney offers both a Discord bot and its own web app for generating images and video, per Midjourney’s official documentation, though there is no dedicated desktop or mobile app.
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