Mage vs Midjourney
The best Midjourney alternative: private by default, free to start, with an API
Midjourney makes some of the most distinctive images in AI, but it has no free plan, every creation can appear on its public Explore page unless you pay for Stealth mode on Pro or Mega, and it offers no API. Mage is the Midjourney alternative for creators who want privacy on every plan, many models in one place, and developer access.
No installation. No credit card. Private by default.
The short answer
Is Mage a good Midjourney alternative?
Choose Mage for private creations from the first image, a free start, video and lipsync next to images, and a REST API and MCP server. Stay with Midjourney if its signature look, Personalization, and style references are what you are after.
Midjourney is best for: artists and designers who want a signature look and unlimited relaxed image generation
Midjourney is a self-funded research lab whose subscription service turns text and image prompts into images and short videos with its own models, on midjourney.com and in Discord.
Why people switch
Why people switch from Midjourney to Mage
Private by default
On Midjourney: Creations are open by default and can appear on the public Explore page; Stealth mode needs the Pro or Mega plan.
On Mage: Everything you make stays in your own library. Nothing appears in a public feed unless you post it.
Free to start
On Midjourney: There is no free plan on the website or in Discord; a limited trial exists only in the niji · journey app.
On Mage: New accounts get 300 free Gems, with no credit card and nothing to install.
28 model families in one place
On Midjourney: It runs only its own models, such as V8.2 and Niji 7.
On Mage: 51 image, video, and audio model versions behind one prompt box, including Nano Banana 2, GPT Image 2, Grok Image, Flux 2, Mango, Guava, Cherry, Lemon, Plum, and Wan Video v2.2.
API, MCP, and SDKs
On Midjourney: It offers no public API or MCP server, and its terms prohibit automating the service.
On Mage: A REST API, TypeScript and Python SDKs, ComfyUI nodes, and an MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor, all paid with the same Gems.
Fewer filters
On Midjourney: Community Guidelines allow only safe-for-work content, and some text and image inputs are blocked automatically.
On Mage: Creative freedom within clear rules: nothing illegal, and nothing that misuses a real person's likeness.
Side by side
Mage vs Midjourney at a glance
Mage's column is read from Mage's own catalog and plans. Midjourney's comes from its own pages, each with a link to the source.
| Feature | Mage | Midjourney |
|---|---|---|
| Paid plans from | $10 a month (Basic) | $10 a month (Basic) Source |
| Top plan | $200 a month (Max) | $120 a month (Mega) Source |
| Free tier | 300 free Gems when you sign up, no credit card | No free plan: a subscription is required on midjourney.com and in Discord. A limited trial is offered only in the niji · journey app for iOS and Android. Source |
| How usage is billed | Unlimited plans: from Basic ($10 a month), 11 model versions run unlimited at default settings, and Max runs all 51. Gems pay for everything else, at 1,000 Gems for $1. | Metered in GPU time rather than credits: each plan includes monthly Fast GPU hours that do not carry over to the next month, and extra Fast time costs $4 an hour. An SD image prompt uses about 0.8 GPU minutes and a batch of four SD videos about 8. Relax mode is unlimited for images on Standard, Pro and Mega, and for SD video on Pro and Mega; Turbo mode uses double Fast time. Source |
| Models | 28 model families and 51 versions, including Nano Banana 2, GPT Image 2, Grok Image, Flux 2, Mango, Guava, Cherry, Lemon, Plum, and Wan Video v2.2 | V8.2, V8.1, V7, V6.1, V6, Niji 7, and Edit Model Source |
| Privacy | Private by default: nothing is public unless you post it | Open by default: every image and video can appear on the public Explore page, including ones made in private Discord servers. Stealth mode, which hides creations on the website, is only on the Pro and Mega plans. Midjourney's EU training-content summary says data from user interactions, such as prompts, is used to train its models. Source |
| Content policy | Fewer filters, with clear rules: nothing illegal and no misuse of real people | Community Guidelines allow only safe-for-work content and ban gore. Some text and image inputs are blocked automatically, community moderators can warn, time out or block users, and the rules apply in Stealth mode and private channels too. Source |
| Consistent characters | Characters: save one from a photo or a prompt, then mention it as an @handle on 13 model families | The Edit Model (V8.1 and V8.2) takes up to four reference images to carry characters and objects into new images, replacing Omni Reference and Character Reference. Personalization profiles, Moodboards and Style References keep a consistent look. Source |
| Developer API | REST API with TypeScript and Python SDKs and ComfyUI nodes, paid in Gems | No public API. Midjourney says that, apart from rare exceptions it grants itself, it does not provide an API, and its Terms of Service prohibit automating the service. Source |
| MCP server | Official MCP server at https://mcp.mage.space/mcp for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and more | No official MCP server; Midjourney offers no public API. Source |
| Platforms | Web, in desktop and phone browsers | Web (midjourney.com) and Discord on every plan, signing in with Discord or Google; the Niji models also have the niji · journey app for iOS and Android. Source |
Pricing
Midjourney pricing vs Mage pricing
List prices in US dollars before tax. Mage's plans add monthly Gems and unlimited generation on the models they cover.
Midjourney plans
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly, per month | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | No free plan: a subscription is required on midjourney.com and in Discord. A limited trial is offered only in the niji · journey app for iOS and Android. |
| Basic | $10 | $8 | 3.3 Fast GPU hours (200 minutes) a month; no Relax mode |
| Standard | $30 | $24 | 15 Fast GPU hours a month plus unlimited Relax-mode images |
| Pro | $60 | $48 | 30 Fast GPU hours a month plus unlimited Relax-mode images and SD video; Stealth mode |
| Mega | $120 | $96 | 60 Fast GPU hours a month plus unlimited Relax-mode images and SD video; Stealth mode |
Mage plans
| Plan | Per month | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 300 Gems when you sign up |
| Basic | $10 | 500 Gems a month, and 11 model versions unlimited at default settings |
| Pro | $30 | 1,500 Gems a month, and 36 model versions unlimited at default settings |
| Pro Plus | $60 | 3,500 Gems a month, and 46 model versions unlimited at default settings |
| Max | $200 | 15,000 Gems a month, and 51 model versions unlimited at default settings |
In fairness
Where Midjourney is stronger
No tool is best at everything. As of October 2026, this is where Midjourney has the edge.
A distinctive in-house image model (V8.2) that adapts to each user through Personalization profiles and Moodboards built from images they pick. Source
Unlimited Relax-mode image generation from the $30 Standard plan, and unlimited Relax SD video on Pro and Mega. Source
Style References and style codes (--sref) reapply a look across many prompts without copying subjects. Source
Switching
How to switch from Midjourney to Mage in 3 steps
Create your free account
Sign up with Google, X, or email and get 300 free Gems. No credit card, nothing to install.
Bring your references
Download your favorite Midjourney creations and upload them to Mage as references, or save a face as a Character to keep it the same in every image and video.
Pick a model and create
Choose from 28 model families in one prompt box. When you want more, unlimited plans start at $10 a month.
A little more clarity
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Midjourney alternative?
Can I keep my Midjourney images private on Mage?
Does Mage have a Midjourney-style API?
Is Mage cheaper than Midjourney?
Is Mage free to use?
Are my creations on Mage private?
Does Mage have an API or an MCP server?
How current is this comparison?
Switch to Mage for free
Free to start, private by default, with 28 model families in one place.
Start creating for freeModels to try on Mage
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Facts about Midjourney come from its own public pages, checked in October 2026, and link to their sources. Plans and prices change, so check Midjourney's site for the latest. Midjourney is a trademark of its owner, and Mage is not affiliated with it.