Compare AI Image Models (2025)

Choosing the right image model depends on quality, control, speed, and licensing needs. This guide compares popular options and shows how to call them via a single unified API.

Note: Pricing and limits evolve rapidly. Treat the tables below as a decision aid, and check providers for current details.

At‑a‑glance

Feature comparison

Prompts that work well

• DALL·E: brand‑safe product shots, clean illustrations, readable UI/mockups
• Midjourney: art‑direction, cinematic lighting, stylized characters
• SDXL: technical control (composition, depth, edges) with ControlNet or LoRA

Unified API examples

Text‑to‑image (SDXL) — JavaScript

import axios from "axios";

const res = await axios.post(
  "https://api.coreapi.com/v1/stability/sdxl",
  {
    prompt: "A studio photo of a modern espresso machine, product shot, soft rim lighting",
    width: 1024,
    height: 1024,
    guidance: 7.0,
    steps: 30,
  },
  { headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.CORE_API_KEY}` } }
);
console.log(res.data);

Text‑to‑image (SDXL) — Python

import requests

r = requests.post(
    "https://api.coreapi.com/v1/stability/sdxl",
    json={
        "prompt": "A studio photo of a modern espresso machine, product shot, soft rim lighting",
        "width": 1024,
        "height": 1024,
        "guidance": 7.0,
        "steps": 30,
    },
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['CORE_API_KEY']}"},
)
print(r.json())

Midjourney (imagine) — JavaScript

import axios from "axios";

const res = await axios.post(
  "https://api.coreapi.com/v1/midjourney/imagine",
  {
    prompt: "Cinematic portrait of a cyberpunk violinist in neon rain, 85mm, shallow depth of field",
    version: "v6",
    aspect_ratio: "3:4",
    stylize: 200,
    chaos: 5,
  },
  { headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.CORE_API_KEY}` } }
);
console.log(res.data);

When to choose what

• Prefer DALL·E for clear, brand‑safe outputs and text rendering.
• Prefer Midjourney for aesthetics and exploration in creative directions.
• Prefer SDXL when you need maximum control and an open ecosystem.