Midjourney AI: Features, Pricing, Access and Alternatives Explained

AI-generated art is now more accessible than ever, with tools like Midjourney allowing users to create high-quality visuals from simple text prompts. But how does Midjourney work? What do you get in each plan, and how does it compare to similar tools?

This guide breaks down Midjourney based on three key areas: what it does, how it’s used, and how it compares to alternatives, without the marketing gloss.

Features and Function: What Midjourney Offers

Midjourney is an AI-powered text-to-image generation platform that operates exclusively through Discord. It does not provide a standalone application or web-based interface. Users engage with the system by submitting text-based prompts within Discord, and the platform generates visual outputs in response.

Core Features:

• Prompt-based image generation (via Discord bot)
• Image upscaling and variations
• Style and aspect ratio adjustments
• Private or public generation modes (depending on the plan)
• "Fast" mode for quicker results and "Relaxed" mode for unlimited, slower processing (available in higher plans)

The tool is primarily built for creators, designers, hobbyists, and anyone experimenting with visual concepts. However, it lacks a visual interface or canvas—everything happens via text inputs in Discord chat.

Access and Operation: Where and How You Use It

Midjourney requires users to sign in using their Discord account. There is no username-password login system independent of Discord.

To get started:

1. Go to midjourney.com/account
2. Sign in with your Discord credentials
3. Join the Midjourney Discord server (or a bot-supported community)
4. Use channels like #newbies to submit prompts via /imagine

All generated images are handled via Discord, and history can be viewed through the Midjourney web interface, although prompting still occurs on Discord.

There’s no dedicated mobile or desktop app beyond Discord itself.

Subscription Tiers

Midjourney offers four paid plans, each with fixed GPU usage limits and varying levels of access.

• Fast Time: Prioritized GPU generation (quicker image processing)
• Relaxed Mode: Unlimited, slower, queued processing
• Stealth Mode: Keeps image generations private (Pro and Mega only)

There is no ongoing free plan. Users may receive a short trial during initial use, but must subscribe to continue.

Compatibility: Devices and Platform Support

Since Midjourney runs through Discord, it works on any platform where Discord is available:

• Windows/macOS/Linux via the Discord desktop app
• iOS and Android via the Discord mobile app
• Any modern browser via Discord Web

The image processing is cloud-based, meaning device specs don’t affect image quality or speed. That said, mobile users may find the experience more limited due to smaller screen sizes and Discord’s interface constraints.

Considerations: What to Know Before You Subscribe

Things to consider:

• No GUI-based editor: Users must be comfortable typing commands
• No free tier: Continued access requires payment after trial
• No standalone app: Requires Discord installation or access
• GPU time limits: Usage is metered unless in Relaxed mode

Images are public by default unless you're on a higher plan

The lack of a traditional app or drag-and-drop interface might feel restrictive to users coming from tools like Canva or Photoshop. Midjourney prioritizes artistic output over interface simplicity.

Alternative Tools: Similar Platforms to Consider

If you’re comparing options, several tools offer similar image generation functionality with different interfaces, models, or licensing approaches.

Each has different limits on generations, image resolution, or user controls. Some are web-based, while others rely on downloads or browser tools.

Is Midjourney a Good Fit?

Midjourney is designed for those who are comfortable using Discord and want powerful AI-driven image generation without needing a traditional design UI. It's not the easiest tool for beginners unfamiliar with Discord to navigate, but it offers significant visual output quality, especially at higher subscription tiers.

If you need an intuitive interface or a free tier, other options like DALL·E or Leonardo AI may be more approachable. But if Discord-based workflows aren’t an issue, Midjourney remains a technically solid platform for AI art generation.