Written by Mo Kahn on
October 11, 2025
AI image generation has taken the creative world by storm. One of the most talked-about tools in this space is MidJourney, an AI image generator that runs through Discord. But with the rising popularity of other AI image generators, is MidJourney still worth your time and money?
In this MidJourney review, we’ll break down its features, pricing, output quality, and how it compares to alternatives like starryai.
Before we go deep into MidJourney, it’s important to highlight starryai—a strong alternative that’s rapidly gaining ground.
Unlike MidJourney, which operates strictly on the Discord server, starryai offers a dedicated app and website that are much more beginner-friendly.
Here’s why many creators choose starryai over MidJourney:
If you want high quality images without the learning curve, starryai is more accessible and easier to use.
MidJourney is an AI image generator that converts text prompts into detailed and creative artwork. It uses advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze prompts and generate stunning images across different art styles.
Unlike most AI image generation tools, MidJourney doesn’t have a standalone app. Instead, it runs entirely through the MidJourney Discord server, where you type in prompts and receive four images to choose from.
MidJourney operates through a Discord chat where you interact with the MidJourney bot. Here’s the general process:
The tool is powered by artificial intelligence and trained on massive amounts of image data. It uses diffusion techniques to transform random noise into coherent, detailed images.
When looking at MidJourney’s features, here’s what stands out:
MidJourney is no longer free. To use it, you must subscribe to one of its paid tiers:
Unlike starryai, which still offers completely free credits daily, MidJourney requires a paid subscription to even start.
MidJourney is widely praised for its high quality images. The generated images often lean toward artistic, surreal, and painterly aesthetics. It’s particularly good for:
That said, realism isn’t MidJourney’s strongest suit. If you want realistic images, tools like Stable Diffusion or starryai often perform better.
One of the biggest pain points is accessibility. Since MidJourney operates only on Discord, new users often struggle. The interface isn’t intuitive for people unfamiliar with chat-based bots.
Other AI image generators, like starryai, offer a smoother experience with clean interfaces and mobile apps. That makes them better suited for content creation, casual users, and professionals who don’t want to spend time learning Discord commands.
But if you’re someone who wants to start generating images instantly without setup, starryai is more beginner-friendly.
While MidJourney creates stunning images, the process feels rigid. You depend on buttons (U, V) and Discord commands.
On the other hand, starryai gives you:
If your goal is stunning AI images with less effort, starryai edges out MidJourney.
MidJourney offers stealth mode on higher-tier plans so your images aren’t visible to other users on the server. Without it, all your generated images are public by default.
Starryai handles privacy differently—it’s app-based, so your creations are personal by default.
Some of the top MidJourney alternatives include:
If you don’t want to pay upfront or wrestle with Discord, starryai is the most practical MidJourney alternative right now.
MidJourney is still one of the most powerful AI image generators for artistic and conceptual visuals. If you’re part of the furry fandom, a digital artist, or a marketer looking to experiment, it’s worth the paid subscription.
But for most new users who want to generate high quality images quickly without Discord complexity, starryai is the better choice.
It’s easier to use, more accessible, and offers a free plan. If you’re looking for your first AI image generator, try starryai first—then upgrade to MidJourney if you want advanced Discord-based workflows.