M
MIdeogram vs Photo AI
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
I
Choose Ideogram if…
- you want a free plan to start with
- you need an API to build on
- you want open source you can self-host or audit
- you work on iOS
- you're in its core audience: graphic designers, marketers
P
Choose Photo AI if…
- you want the lower entry price ($9/mo vs $15/mo)
- you're in its core audience: social media creators, professionals needing headshots
Side by side
Feature Ideogram Photo AI
Pricing modelFreemiumPaid
Starting price$15/mo$9/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWeb, iOS, APIWeb
CategoryImage GeneratorsAI Headshots
CompanyIdeogram, Inc.—
Full feature lists
I Ideogram
- Text-to-image with Ideogram 3.0, 4.0 and 4.5 models
- Ideogram Vector model for vector output
- Precise Edit, Object Remover and Background Remover apps
- Ad Resizer, Colorways and Material Swap tools
- Custom image model training
- Unified API for image and video models
- MCP integration for Claude and Cursor
- Open Ideogram 4.0 weights for local use
P Photo AI
- AI twin trained from 5+ selfies in about 2 minutes
- 174+ photo packs such as dating, LinkedIn and Halloween
- Several image and video models, including Nano Banana 2 and Kling 3.0
- AI video generation with sound
- Custom prompts and remixing of any photo
- Magic upscaler plus edit, crop and zoom-out tools
- Shopify clothing try-on
- MCP connection for ChatGPT, Claude and Cursor
What you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
Ideogram
Free$0
Plus$20/mo or $15/mo billed yearly
Pro$60/mo or $42/mo billed yearly
Team$30/user/mo or $20/user/mo billed yearly
EnterpriseCustom
Photo AI
Starter$19/mo or $9/mo billed yearly ($99/yr)
Pro$49/mo or $29/mo billed yearly ($349/yr)
Max$99/mo or $49/mo billed yearly ($599/yr)
Ultra$199/mo or $99/mo billed yearly ($1,199/yr)
Price changes we've recorded
We re-read each pricing page every month and log what changed.
Ideogram
- Nov 8, 2026Pricing model: Paid → Freemium; Starting price: $20/mo → $15/mo; New plan: Free ($0); New plan: Pro ($60); New plan: Team ($30)
Photo AI
No changes since we started tracking.
Strengths and limitations
Ideogram
- Free plan with 30 credits per week
- Ideogram 4.0 weights available for local use
- One API for multiple image and video models
- Paid plans can keep generating in a slower queue after credits run out
- Free-plan generations are public
- Email-and-password accounts get no free credits
- No Android app listed
- Team plan requires at least 2 users
Photo AI
- Annual billing roughly halves the price, with Starter at $9/mo
- Many image and video models available in one subscription
- 174+ ready-made photo packs
- Commercial use license from the Pro plan
- No free plan or free trial
- Starter is limited to personal use, slow processing and low quality
- Video generation and the upscaler require the Max plan ($49/mo yearly) or higher
More comparisons
Other options to consider
MM
From $8/mo
A
AGenerate and edit images, video and audio with AI for creators and teams
Free, from $9.99/mo
A
Free, from $9.99/mo
A
Generate and edit images, video and audio with AI for creators and teams
Image GeneratorsFree plan
S
SS
Freemium
S
Open image generation models you can self-host or call through an API
Image GeneratorsFree planAPI
G
GG
Free, from $19.99/mo
M
MM
Paid
M
AI image, video, audio and 3D tools with upscalers and a stock library
Upscalers & EnhancersAPI
C
CBrowser-based AI image tools for removing backgrounds, cleanup, upscaling and generation
Freemium
C
Freemium
C
Browser-based AI image tools for removing backgrounds, cleanup, upscaling and generation
Photo EditingFree planAPI
Facts from each vendor's public pages. Editorial policy