I Tested Midjourney vs. DALL·E to Find the Best AI Image Gen…

I’ve tried just about every major AI image generator out there: DALL·E, Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, Imagen, Runway, and even the latest GPT-5. Which ones do I keep coming back to? Midjourney and DALL·E. They’ve consistently led the pack in terms of quality, style, and creativity. 

Both have undergone significant transformations. Midjourney now offers v7 as the default model, while DALL·E is powering ahead with DALL·E 3, fully integrated into ChatGPT. 

With all this progress, I decided it was time for a proper Midjourney vs. DALL·E showdown. I wanted to see which one actually delivers better results in 2025 and which deserves the crown as the best AI image generator at the moment.

So I ran over 10 prompts, from cinematic landscapes to weird mashups of a cat riding a unicorn through a neon-lit Tokyo street, to find out which one is really the best AI image generator.

TL;DR: Midjourney delivers stunning, artistic visuals perfect for storytelling and emotional impact, while DALL·E 3 is more accurate with prompts, easier to access, and better for quick, clean, and literal image generation. With the latest updates, Midjourney’s V7 offers sharper realism, better prompt fidelity, and even AI-video capabilities. DALL·E 3 now delivers higher image quality than DALL·E 2 and supports larger resolutions. Use Midjourney when you want mood and creativity. Use DALL·E 3 when you want speed and precision.

Let’s get into the results, prompt by prompt, image by image.

Note: Both OpenAI and Midjourney frequently roll out new updates to these AI models. The details below reflect the most current capabilities as of August 2025, but may change over time.

Midjourney vs. DALL·E 3: What’s different and what’s not?

After spending considerable time with both Midjourney and DALL·E 3, I’ve observed distinct differences in their capabilities and user experiences. Yet, they also share some notable similarities. 

Midjourney and DALL·E 3: The differences

While both tools are capable, using Midjourney and DALL·E 3 feels like two very different creative experiences. From how you start a project to how much control you have over the results, the differences start to show quickly.

• Access and interface: DALL·E 3 is baked right into ChatGPT, so I can access it easily on the web or mobile. It feels smooth and familiar if you’re already using ChatGPT. I can also access it via Bing Image Creator or Perplexity Pro. Midjourney started off Discord-only, but now it has a web interface too, which makes browsing and organizing generations way easier.
• AI models: Midjourney runs on its own proprietary model. It’s not built on GPT or any open-source base, which might explain why it has such a distinct “artistic look.” Currently, it has version 7as the default model. DALL·E 3, on the other hand, is developed by OpenAI and closely integrated within their ecosystem. Currently, OpenAI has GPT-5, which has better image generation capabilities.
• Prompt interpretation: Midjourney likes to get creative. It often adds its own artistic spin, even when I give it a pretty basic prompt. DALL·E 3 is much more literal. It tends to follow the prompt, which can be great if you need control or specific details.
• Image style: Midjourney’s style is bold, detailed, and often dreamy or cinematic. It’s perfect when I want something visually stunning or unique. DALL·E 3, on the other hand, feels cleaner and more grounded, great for visuals that need to match a certain aesthetic.
• Editing tools: I’ve found Midjourney more flexible when it comes to editing. You can zoom, pan, tweak specific regions (using Vary Region), remix images, add style or character reference, set weights, have multiple prompts, and do more. DALL·E 3 does have inpainting inside ChatGPT, but it’s a little more limited and less interactive.
• Pricing and plans: Midjourney operates on a tiered subscription model, starting at $10/month with varying generation allowances. DALL·E 3 is included with ChatGPT for free. It can also be accessed through Microsoft’s Bing platform and Perplexity Pro plan.
• Privacy and image visibility: Here’s a big one. Midjourney is public by default. Every image you make (even in a private message) shows up in their community gallery unless you’re on a Pro or Mega plan with Stealth Mode. DALL·E 3 keeps your generations private automatically inside ChatGPT, so unless you share them yourself, no one else sees them.
• Community: Midjourney has a super active community, mostly on Discord. It’s a constant flow of prompts, tips, and image sharing. DALL·E 3 doesn’t really have the same centralized vibe. It’s part of the wider ChatGPT user base, so the image-gen side of things feels less community-driven.

Midjourney and ChatGPT: The similarities

There are a few things they both do really well, and honestly, these shared strengths are what make them two of the best tools out there:

• High-quality outputs:  No matter which one I use, I usually end up with impressive results. Both tools can generate stunning visuals across styles, like realistic portraits, dreamy landscapes, and surreal mashups. It all comes down to how I craft the prompt.
• Inpainting support: Both platforms let me edit specific parts of an image without starting over. Midjourney’s “Vary (Region)” and DALL·E 3’s inpainting via ChatGPT work a bit differently.
• Commercial use: I can use the images commercially on both platforms. Whether I’m working on client content or experimenting, it’s nice to know I actually own the outputs. That said, while commercial use is allowed, there’s still no clear legal stance on copyright ownership of AI-generated content, so it’s something to keep in mind, especially for high-stakes projects.
• Fast generation: Speed-wise, they’re both solid. I get image results in seconds, which makes it super easy to experiment, iterate, and keep the creative momentum going.
• Prompt responsiveness: While they interpret prompts in their own way with Midjourney being more stylized, DALL·E 3 being more literal. Both reward thoughtful, detailed prompting. The better I write the input, the better the output turns out on either side.

Now that you’ve seen how these two tools compare in terms of features and user experience, let’s get into how I actually tested them side by side to put them through their paces.

How I compared Midjourney and DALL·E 3: My prompts and evaluation criteria

To get a fair sense of how Midjourney and DALL·E 3 perform, I ran the same 10 prompts through both tools. My goal wasn’t just to see which one could create a “pretty” image, but to test their strengths across different use cases: realism, creativity, detail, branding potential, and how well they followed my instructions. I also avoided using any custom settings, style presets, or model tuning.

I used a paid Midjourney plan and Bing Image Creator powered by DALL·E 3. Both tools generate four images per prompt, so I evaluated the entire batch, not just the best one, to get a true sense of consistency and output quality. Here’s what I looked at when comparing results:

• Prompt accuracy: Did the image match what I actually asked for?
• Visual quality: How polished, detailed, or clean did the image look?
  Creativity: Did the tool add something imaginative or unexpected (in a good way)?
• Realism vs. stylization: Could it be done in a more photorealistic way if needed? Could it switch to more artistic styles?
• Usefulness: Would I actually use the image in real-world content (e.g., a blog, brand visual, thumbnail, or mockup)?

To add other user perspectives, I also cross-checked my findings with G2 reviews to see how other users experience these models.

Disclaimer: AI responses may vary based on phrasing, session history, and system updates for the same prompts. These results reflect the models’ capabilities at the time of testing.

4. Complex image generation  

This was a loaded prompt. I had five distinct elements that needed to work together in a single image: a steampunk airship, three dragons, a futuristic desert city, sunset lighting, and people watching from rooftops. I wanted to see how each model handled complex scene composition and multi-part instructions.

Midjourney vs DALL·E pictures for a complex prompt

At first glance, DALL·E 3 outputs looked like it did really well. Each image included a cityscape, dragons in the sky, and a flying airship with a sunset backdrop. But on closer inspection, I noticed something odd — some of the airships had dragon wings, which kind of blurred the lines between the dragons and the vehicle. That creative interpretation cost it a bit in terms of prompt fidelity. Still, the composition and color grading were beautiful.

Midjourney’s images, meanwhile, were cinematic and rich with detail. The lighting was dramatic, the environments felt alive, and the steampunk vibes were unmistakable. But not every image checked all the boxes. In some, I saw more than three dragons, or couldn’t clearly spot rooftop spectators.

The airships looked amazing, but the instruction-following just wasn’t as tight. It leaned heavily into visual storytelling but took a few liberties with the specifics in most of the images. But I would say Midjourney had at least one visual that adhered to the prompt. 

DALL·E and Midjourney pictures for a complex prompt

So while neither tool consistently got everything right across all four images, if I had to choose one image that best captured the full prompt, I’d give the edge to Midjourney for that standout frame. It felt the most complete.

Winner: Midjourney

5. Abstract image

Mondrian’s work is all about geometric abstraction — think straight black lines, grids, and primary-colored rectangles on a white background. So when I asked for “an abstract painting of loneliness using cool-toned brushstrokes, in the style of Piet Mondrian,” I was expecting at least some interpretation of that structure.

Midjourney vs DALL·E pictures for abstract image prompt

Midjourney? It definitely got the emotion right. The figures felt isolated, the scenes were moody and painterly, and the cool tones were on point. But stylistically, it went completely in a different direction — expressionist, emotional, and soft-edged, not geometric or structured. Only one image even hinted at something remotely Mondrian-esque, and even that felt more like a distant cousin than a tribute.

DALL·E 3 did a bit better on the stylistic side. Its images incorporated blocks, grids, and lines that nodded toward Mondrian’s layout, but the shapes were more freeform and layered, not true to his stark, minimal style. And while the cool palette was there, the overall feel was more like a fusion of digital art and surrealism than a clean Mondrian homage. It tried, but didn’t really stick the landing.

Images generated by Midjourney and DALL·E for the abstract image prompt

So in the end, one focused on mood (Midjourney), the other on loose structure (DALL·E 3), but neither gave me what I’d call an authentic, recognizable Mondrian-inspired piece. I would give it to DALL·E just because it got the abstractness of Mondrian art in all of its four images. 

Winner: Midjourney

6. Character design

This one was all about originality and detail. I wanted to see how each tool would bring a fantasy character to life — something that felt otherworldly, but still cohesive and believable. 

DALL·E 3 immediately impressed me with how elaborate and imaginative its characters looked. The designs were bold, mystical, and almost cinematic. The glowing eyes popped, the backgrounds were consistently misty, and the characters had a sense of presence.

Midjourney vs DALL·E pictures for the character design prompt

But here’s the thing: while the mossy armor was there, it often leaned more toward plant-monster aesthetics than actual wearable armor. The figures themselves felt more like creatures than humanoid hybrids; in some cases, they looked like sentient tree trunks with faces. Gorgeous? Yes. But slightly off-prompt when it came to the “half-human” aspect.

Midjourney, on the other hand, gave me designs that felt closer to concept art for a high-budget fantasy RPG. The silhouettes were strong, the anatomy balanced, and the mossy armor details were incredibly intricate.

I noticed glowing mushrooms, tangled vines, and layered organic textures woven right into the armor. And the forest setting? Soft mist, ambient lighting, and perfect atmospheric depth. It stuck more closely to the “wearing armor” idea while still letting the tree-spirit vibe shine through.

Images generated by DALL·E and Midjourney for the character design prompt

Both tools delivered top-tier visuals, but for me, Midjourney absolutely crushed this test. Its designs were just more grounded in character design logic, without sacrificing creativity. Everything from the posture to the fine details screamed original fantasy character, not just a cool-looking entity, but something I could see in a world-building deck or game concept doc.

Winner: Midjourney

7. Specific artistic medium

This test was all about seeing how well each tool could replicate a specific artistic medium, in this case, watercolor. I wanted to know: could Midjourney and DALL·E 3 truly capture the softness, texture, and mood of a serene, hand-painted landscape?

Midjourney vs DALL·E pictures for a watercolor painting prompt

DALL·E 3, on the other hand, leaned a little more polished and cinematic. The colors were slightly more saturated, and while the mountain compositions were beautiful, they felt closer to digital illustrations trying to imitate watercolor, rather than the real thing.

The light was soft and well-handled, but a couple of the images had sharper detail and harder edges that pulled away from the watercolor feel.

Midjourney’s images had the softness and flow you’d expect from a watercolor painting. The diffused light, misty gradients, and muted blues gave them a very painterly quality that felt emotionally resonant, almost like something I’d actually sit down and paint myself.

The brush textures and layering were subtle but present, and the whole vibe was tranquil and cohesive. It really nailed the serene mood I was aiming for.

Images generated by Midjourney and DALL·E for a watercolor painting 

If I’m judging purely on medium fidelity, how closely the output resembles a genuine watercolor, Midjourney wins this one. Its scenes felt more organic and painterly, like they came from the pages of an art journal rather than a screen.

Winner: Midjourney

8. Humor and surrealism 

This test was all about playful absurdity: how well can these AI tools take a ridiculous prompt and bring it to life with convincing visuals?

Midjourney vs DALL·E pictures for a humorous yet surrealistic image prompt

DALL·E 3 really leaned into the surreal charm of the prompt. I saw squirrels with expressive faces, detailed fur textures, and, crucially, top hats and monocles in nearly every image. Not only did it nail the accessories, but it also gave the squirrels readable newspapers and believable park bench settings.

The vibe was playful but polished. One squirrel even wore a full-on outfit, which was oddly delightful. The overall execution walked the line between silly and surprisingly refined.

Midjourney, on the other hand, gave me beautifully rendered squirrels. I have no complaints about the photorealism. The fur detail, lighting, and artistic polish were excellent.

But when it came to prompt adherence, it fell short. The monocle was completely missing in all four images. It felt like the tool got the aesthetic part right but missed the heart of the joke.

Images generated by DALL·E and Midjourney for a humorous yet surrealistic image prompt

So while Midjourney’s squirrels were objectively pretty, DALL·E 3 won this one by capturing the quirky essence of the prompt with better accuracy and storytelling flair.

Winner: DALL·E 3

9. Negative prompt

This prompt was all about testing negative prompting — specifically, whether the models could exclude specific elements like people, land, birds, or other boats while still delivering a serene and peaceful scene of a lone sailboat on turquoise waters under a clear midday sky.

Images generated by Midjourney and DALL·E following negative prompt instructions

Midjourney followed the prompt nearly perfectly. All four images stuck to the core elements: a single sailboat, calm water, and a clear sky. There were no people, no land, no birds; just a quiet, meditative composition that felt tranquil and controlled.

The visual consistency across the outputs was strong, too. One image had what could almost pass for a distant land, but it was subtle enough to feel like a misty horizon. Overall, it did a great job of understanding what not to include, and that’s not always easy for image models.

DALL·E 3’s images were visually beautiful and leaned into a soft, dreamlike realism. But it missed the mark on the exclusions. At least two of the images included people aboard the sailboat, and a couple had faint island-like shapes or extra sailboats in the background.

The lighting and color grading were lovely, but the prompt fidelity wasn’t as tight. It felt more like it was optimizing for scenic beauty than strict instruction-following.

Images generated by Midjourney and DALL·E following negative prompt instructions

Between the two, Midjourney edged out the win here, not just because of how it rendered the scene, but because it actually understood and respected what the prompt asked it not to do.

Winner: Midjourney

10. Text in image

This was the final test and arguably the most brutal. I asked both tools to render an image with actual readable text: a weathered wooden sign hanging from rusty chains, with the words “Hello World!” painted in bold, slightly uneven red lettering. Seems simple enough, especially for tools that can generate near-photorealistic faces and futuristic cities. But here’s where things took a nosedive.

Images generated by Midjourney and DALL·E for text in image prompt

DALL·E 3 came closer to the goal, but just barely. Out of the four images, only one managed to get “HELLO WORLD!” The others fell victim to the typical AI image-text curse: misspellings, gibberish, or warped letterforms that vaguely resemble language but break down under scrutiny.

Midjourney, on the other hand, completely dropped the ball. The signs it produced were visually consistent with the style I described — weathered wood, outdoor lighting, rusty chains — but the text was unintelligible in every single image. “HLLwod,” “HLLovod1,” and other unpronounceable arrangements took center stage. Even as artistic compositions, they didn’t deliver on the core instruction: make the words readable.

This surprised me, especially because other AI image generators handle text much more precisely. I’ve seen these models generate product mockups, logos, and typographic designs with clean, correct copy. So, this lack of consistency felt like a serious step back. With the new V7, you can get words or phrases to show up in your images by putting them inside double quotation marks. Still, it is recommended to stick to shorter words or phrases and the standard Latin alphabet, like English letters.

In short, if your creative workflow involves legible in-image text, neither Midjourney nor DALL·E 3 (at least via Bing) is ready for prime time in this area. And that’s a real limitation to keep in mind. So, for this, DALL·E 3 wins because of its one passable image. 

Winner: DALL·E 3

Midjourney vs. DALL·E 3: My final verdict

After testing both tools across ten very different prompts and digging into G2 review data, I’ve come to see Midjourney and DALL·E 3 less as rivals, and more as creative tools with very different personalities.

Midjourney slightly edges out DALL·E 3. It’s a visual storyteller. Its images often feel like concept art from a movie or game — full of mood, depth, and painterly detail. It’s especially strong when you’re looking for emotional resonance, fantasy, or cinematic quality. If you want to create art that feels original or imaginative, this is where Midjourney really shines.

DALL·E 3, on the other hand, is more structured. While it doesn’t always get every detail right, it tends to interpret prompts in a more straightforward way. Its accessibility through Bing or ChatGPT makes it an excellent option for quick experiments, marketing visuals, or simple compositions that still need to look polished.

My biggest takeaway? These tools are best when used together. For creative professionals, marketers, designers, or even curious hobbyists, the smart move might not be choosing one, but learning when to reach for each.

Use Midjourney for storytelling, mood, and high-impact visuals. Use DALL·E 3 when you need quick iteration, cleaner structure, or ease of access.

No single tool is perfect, but when used intentionally, both can unlock some incredible creative possibilities.

Why stop at still images when you can create videos in minutes? Explore the best AI video generators on G2 now. 

This article was originally published in April 2025, and has been updated with new information.