How Much Does a Midjourney Subscription Cost (2024)

Introduction

In 2024, Midjourney remains a pivotal AI tool, and my personal favorite, blending artificial intelligence with artistic style to produce high-quality images. This platform is not just about generating images; it’s about creating art with ease of use, offering unlimited access to new images through various subscription plans.

Understanding Midjourney‘s pricing plan is crucial for potential users, especially when considering the balance between monthly costs and the comprehensive guide to usage rights, including free trials and paid plans.

Whether it’s exploring fast mode for immediate image generations or utilizing relaxed mode for less urgent projects, the platform caters to different needs. With options ranging from a basic monthly subscription to an annual plan, users can find the right choice to fit their artistic endeavors.

Midjourney offers four main subscription tiers with the option of monthly or annual billing, where the annual option provides a 20% discount. The plans include Basic, Standard, Pro, and Mega, with monthly costs ranging from $10 to $120. Each plan comes with varying amounts of Fast GPU Time, from 3.3 hours to 60 hours per month, and features like unlimited Relax GPU Time, the ability to work solo in direct messages, and access to Stealth Mode in higher-tier plans.

Payment methods accepted are primarily through Stripe-supported credit or debit cards, including Mastercard, VISA, and American Express, with Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Cash App Pay available in some regions. The subscription also includes benefits like access to the Midjourney member gallery, the official Discord, and general commercial usage terms.

Understanding Midjourney Subscription Plans

Midjourney has revolutionized the way we create and interact with AI-generated art, offering a variety of subscription plans to suit the diverse needs of its users. Each plan is designed to offer unique benefits, ensuring that both casual users and professionals can find a tier that matches their requirements. Let’s dive into the specifics of each subscription tier:

Basic Plan

Monthly Subscription Cost: $10
Annual Subscription Cost: $96 ($8/month)
Features:
- 3.3 hours of Fast GPU time per month
- Unlimited Relax Mode generations
- Ability to purchase additional Fast GPU hours at $4/hr
- Work solo in direct messages
- Rate images to earn free GPU time

Standard Plan

Monthly Subscription Cost: $30

Annual Subscription Cost: $288 ($24/month)
Features:
- 15 hours of Fast GPU time per month
- Unlimited Relax Mode generations
- Purchase additional Fast GPU hours at $4/hr
- Work solo in direct messages
- Rate images to earn free GPU time

Pro Plan

Monthly Subscription Cost: $60
Annual Subscription Cost: $576 ($48/month)

Features:
- 30 hours of Fast GPU time per month
- Unlimited Relax Mode generations
- Stealth mode availability
- Purchase additional Fast GPU hours at $4/hr
- Work solo in direct messages
- Rate images to earn free GPU time
- 12 Fast Jobs and 3 Relaxed Jobs concurrently

Mega Plan

Monthly Subscription Cost: $120
Annual Subscription Cost: $1152 ($96/month)
Features:
- 60 hours of Fast GPU time per month
- Unlimited Relax Mode generations
- Stealth mode availability
- Purchase additional Fast GPU hours at $4/hr
- Work solo in direct messages
- Rate images to earn free GPU time
- 12 Fast Jobs and 3 Relaxed Jobs concurrently

Each of these plans offers a balance between fast and relaxed generation times, providing users with the flexibility to create at their own pace. The option to switch between monthly and annual subscriptions offers significant savings, making it easier for users to budget for their creative endeavors. Whether you’re a new user exploring the realm of AI art or a professional seeking powerful tools for your projects, Midjourney’s subscription plans cater to a wide range of needs and preferences.

Which Paid Plan Do I Use?

I currently use the Standard Plan to create all of the AI art that is featured on this website. In practice the 15 fast hours per month are ALMOST enough for me. I usually run out of fast hours around the 25th of the month, and have to wait for relax mode to complete my jobs for the next five days. I ask Midjourney to create literally hundreds of prompts per month, and the Standard Plan is well worth the $30.

I started with the Basic Plan at $10, but I always found myself running out of fast hours early in the month. I was paying for additional fast hours $4 at a time, but with no option to switch to Relax mode on the Basic Plan, I found myself paying a lot more for a lot fewer generations than I get now on the Standard Plan.

With access to Relax Hours, I get unlimited image generation, as long as I am willing to wait for the Midjourney bot to think for a bit longer on each piece.

Comparing Midjourney Plans

To compare Midjourney plans effectively, consider your usage frequency, desired GPU time, and specific features like stealth mode and direct message work. The Basic Plan suits occasional users, the Standard Plan is for regular users, the Pro Plan targets heavy users with commercial needs, and the Mega Plan caters to the highest demand users. Evaluate your need for fast GPU time, concurrent jobs, and additional features against the cost of each plan. For detailed comparisons, visit Midjourney’s official documentation.

Subscription Benefits

Midjourney offers a range of subscription benefits designed to cater to various user needs, from casual creators to professional designers and businesses. Subscribers can enjoy unlimited relaxed mode generations across all plans except the Basic tier, which provides a specific amount of Fast GPU time. This allows for more flexibility in generating AI art without consuming your allocated fast processing time. Community access is another key benefit, enabling users to connect with other creators, share their work, and gain inspiration from the Midjourney member gallery. Additionally, all plans come with general commercial usage terms, allowing creators to use their generated images for commercial purposes, with specific considerations for companies with a gross revenue exceeding $1,000,000 USD required to opt for the Pro or Mega plans for their commercial projects.

Managing Your Subscription

Midjourney makes it straightforward to manage your subscription. Users can easily upgrade or downgrade their plans based on their current needs directly from the Midjourney account management page. This flexibility ensures that users can adjust their subscription tier to match their usage patterns, whether they require more Fast GPU time or wish to save on monthly costs. The process for changing plans is designed to be user-friendly, with options for immediate upgrades or scheduling changes for the end of the current billing cycle, ensuring users can make the most out of their subscription period.

Payment Methods and Billing Cycle

Midjourney supports a variety of payment methods, including major credit or debit cards like Mastercard, VISA, and American Express, through Stripe, a PCI Service Provider Level 1, ensuring the highest level of security in payment processing. Additionally, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Cash App Pay are available in some regions, providing users with multiple options to manage their subscription payments. The billing cycle for Midjourney subscriptions can be either monthly or annually, with the annual option offering a 20% discount. Subscriptions automatically renew, and Midjourney provides clear guidelines for managing renewals, plan switches, and cancellations, ensuring users have complete control over their subscription and billing preferences.

Making an Informed Decision

When selecting a Midjourney subscription plan, consider several crucial factors to ensure the choice aligns with your creative needs and budgetary constraints. Firstly, assess the volume of image generation you anticipate needing; this will guide you towards the appropriate tier based on allocated Fast and Relax GPU times. For casual users with sporadic projects, the Basic Plan may suffice, offering a limited but practical amount of Fast GPU time. Regular users or those with professional needs might find more value in the Standard or Pro Plans, which offer significantly more Fast GPU time and the added benefits of Stealth Mode for privacy.

The need for unlimited relaxed mode generations and the potential commercial use of generated images should also influence your decision. If you’re representing a company with substantial gross revenue, the Pro or Mega plans not only provide extensive GPU time but also comply with commercial usage terms required for such entities. Furthermore, the flexibility of managing your subscription—upgrading or downgrading plans, managing billing cycles, and understanding the payment options available—are pivotal in adapting to your changing needs over time.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Midjourney subscription in 2024 is more than just a financial decision; it’s about aligning with your creative aspirations and operational requirements. Whether you’re a solo artist exploring AI-generated art, a professional designer in need of a powerful tool for commercial projects, or a business looking to leverage AI art at scale, Midjourney offers a structured yet flexible subscription model. By considering your usage patterns, desired features, and budget, you can select a plan that not only fits your current needs but also supports your creative journey as it evolves. The importance of this choice cannot be overstated, as it directly influences your ability to produce high-quality, innovative art with efficiency and ease, ensuring that your engagement with AI and digital creativity remains both fruitful and inspiring.

Learn More About Midjourney

Lauren McDonagh-Pereira Photography

Lauren McDonagh-Pereira is a photographer from Massachusetts, USA. She captures the beauty of the world around her, favoring Nikon cameras and lenses. She is drawn to shooting landscapes, wildlife, nature, and people authentically enjoying life. Lauren has been carrying a camera to capture everyday magic since the early 2000s. She has been minting her photography as Ethereum NFTs since February 2022, and as Tezos NFTs since May 2022. Lauren is a mother of two small children and holds a masters degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Read my story here.