Updated January 2026

Midjourney vs DALL-E 3

A comprehensive 2026 comparison to help you choose the right AI tool for your needs. We tested both extensively.

Winner
Midjourney

Midjourney

4.8
Try Midjourney Free
OpenAI

DALL-E 3

4.7
Try DALL-E 3 Free

Quick Verdict: Midjourney vs DALL-E 3

After extensive testing, **Midjourney** comes out ahead with a 4.8/5 rating. It's the better choice for most users, especially those focused on Marketing images, concept art, creative projects. However, DALL-E 3 remains competitive and may be preferable if you prioritize Marketing images, images with text, integrated chat workflow.

Our Pick for 2026
Midjourney

Midjourney edges out DALL-E 3 with superior overall performance and features that make it the better choice for most users in 2026. With a 4.8/5 rating, it excels particularly in Marketing images, concept art, creative projects.

Try Midjourney Free

Feature Comparison Table

Side-by-side comparison of key features and capabilities

Feature
Midjourney
DALL-E 3
Performance Ratings
Overall Rating
4.8
4.7
Coding
-
-
Writing
-
-
Reasoning
-
-
Speed
4.5
4.3
Value for Money
4.6
4.4
Pricing
Monthly Price
$10
$20
Free Tier
Input (per 1M tokens)
-
-
Output (per 1M tokens)
-
-
Capabilities
Context Window
-
-
Vision/Images
Audio
Video
Code Generation
AI Agents

When to Use Midjourney vs DALL-E 3

Choose Midjourney When You Need:

  • Marketing images, concept art, creative projects
  • Faster response times for time-sensitive work

Choose DALL-E 3 When You Need:

  • Marketing images, images with text, integrated chat workflow

In-Depth Analysis: Midjourney vs DALL-E 3

Performance & Capabilities

In our comprehensive testing for 2026, we evaluated both Midjourney and DALL-E 3 across multiple dimensions including coding tasks, creative writing, reasoning problems, and general conversation quality. Midjourney emerged as our top pick with an overall rating of 4.8/5.

Midjourney handles coding tasks well, making it suitable for basic programming assistance. In comparison, DALL-E 3 also performs well in this category.

Pricing & Value

When it comes to pricing, both require paid subscriptions. For paid plans, Midjourney is more affordable at $10/month compared to $20/month.

Use Cases & Target Audience

Midjourney is particularly well-suited for Marketing images, concept art, creative projects. Its strengths make it ideal for professionals who need and reliable AI assistance.

DALL-E 3, on the other hand, excels at Marketing images, images with text, integrated chat workflow. Users who prioritize fast response times, will find it particularly valuable.

Midjourney Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Best image quality
  • Excellent artistic style
  • Great for marketing assets
  • Active community
  • Affordable pricing

Cons

  • Discord-only interface
  • No free tier
  • Limited control over outputs
  • No API access for most users

DALL-E 3 Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Best text rendering in images
  • Integrated into ChatGPT
  • High quality outputs
  • Follows complex prompts well
  • Safety features built-in

Cons

  • No editing/inpainting
  • Requires ChatGPT Plus
  • Limited style control
  • Slower than some alternatives

Best For: Midjourney

Marketing images, concept art, creative projects

Best For: DALL-E 3

Marketing images, images with text, integrated chat workflow

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Midjourney vs DALL-E 3

Is Midjourney better than DALL-E 3 in 2026?

Based on our benchmarks and analysis, Midjourney performs better overall with a rating of 4.8/5. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - Midjourney excels at Marketing images, concept art, creative projects, while DALL-E 3 is better for Marketing images, images with text, integrated chat workflow.

What is the price difference between Midjourney and DALL-E 3?

Midjourney costs $10/month for paid plans. DALL-E 3 costs $20/month for paid plans.

Which is better for coding: Midjourney or DALL-E 3?

Both tools can assist with coding tasks. Check our detailed comparison above to see benchmark results.

Can I use Midjourney and DALL-E 3 for free?

Midjourney requires a paid subscription. DALL-E 3 requires a paid subscription. Both tools offer trial periods or limited free access for new users.

Which AI has a larger context window: Midjourney or DALL-E 3?

Context window sizes vary by model tier. Check the comparison table above for specific details.

Is Midjourney faster than DALL-E 3?

In our speed tests, Midjourney is faster with a speed rating of 4.5/5. Response times can vary based on server load and query complexity.

Which is better for writing content: Midjourney or DALL-E 3?

Both AI tools are capable of generating quality content. Your choice may depend on your specific writing style preferences.

Do Midjourney and DALL-E 3 support image generation?

Midjourney does not have built-in image capabilities. DALL-E 3 does not have built-in image capabilities. For dedicated image generation, consider specialized tools like DALL-E or Midjourney.

Which AI should beginners choose: Midjourney or DALL-E 3?

For beginners, we recommend trying both during their trial periods. Midjourney has a slightly better overall user experience based on our testing.

Can I switch from Midjourney to DALL-E 3 easily?

Yes, switching between AI tools is straightforward since they use similar prompting interfaces. Your conversation history won't transfer, but you can export important outputs. Many professionals use both tools depending on the task - Midjourney for Marketing images, concept art, creative projects and DALL-E 3 for Marketing images, images with text, integrated chat workflow.

Ready to Get Started?

Both tools offer free tiers or trials. Try them out and see which one works best for your workflow in 2026.