M
MIdeogram vs Stable Diffusion
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
I
Choose Ideogram if…
- you want open source you can self-host or audit
- you work on iOS
- you're in its core audience: graphic designers, marketers
S
Choose Stable Diffusion if…
- you work on Self-hosted
- you're in its core audience: developers, researchers
Side by side
Feature Ideogram Stable Diffusion
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price$15/mo—
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
Trains AI on your content—Yes, unless you opt out
Data retention—Kept as long as reasonably necessary, including while account is active
Commercial use rights—
Inpainting / edit—
Outpainting / expand—
Image/style reference—
Built-in upscaling—
Transparent PNG export—
PlatformsWeb, iOS, APIWeb, API, Self-hosted
CompanyIdeogram, Inc.Stability AI Ltd · United Kingdom
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
S Stable Diffusion
- Text-to-image with the Stable Diffusion 3.5 suite
- SD 3.5 Flash and Turbo variants for faster, cheaper generation
- SDXL 1.0 available from 0.9 credits per image
- Platform API with credit-based billing
- Self-hosted deployment under a license
- Custom model training on the Enterprise plan
Their home pages
What each vendor shows first: the pitch, the plans and the sign-up.
Ideogram · ideogram.ai
Stable Diffusion · stability.aiWhat 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
Stable Diffusion
Community LicenseFree
API credits$0.01 per credit
Enterprise LicenseCustom
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)
Stable Diffusion
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
Stable Diffusion
- Free Community License for organizations under $1M annual revenue
- 25 free API credits for new accounts
- Choice of model sizes at different per-image costs
- Organizations above $1M annual revenue need a custom-priced Enterprise License
- API is pay-per-credit, with no flat monthly plan listed
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
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
P
PP
From $10.50/mo
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Oct 26, 2026. Editorial policy