In the realm of AI image generators, a plethora of options await those seeking creative inspiration. Among the array of choices, two luminaries shine brightly amidst the others: Midjourney and Grok 2. The former boasts a well-deserved reputation for crafting strikingly realistic images, while the latter is renowned for its unparalleled ability to manifest any conceivable idea, unabashedly disregarding copyright constraints and societal norms.
Now, let us delve into the essential details of each.
Pricing and tiers
Embracing Midjourney or Grok 2 necessitates a financial commitment, as neither platform extends a complimentary tier to users. X Premium account offerings begin at $7 per month, providing a reduction in ads and an enhanced reply boost. Elevating to the Premium+ level for $14 monthly eliminates ads in entirety and affords the privilege of composing articles alongside tweets, with early access to Grok bestowed upon both Premium tiers.
Meanwhile, Midjourney presents four subscription tiers, available for monthly or annual billing. The Basic package, priced at $10 per month, grants users 3.3 hours of Fast GPU time monthly, with additional access time purchasable at $4 apiece. Opting for the Standard plan at $30 monthly elevates Fast GPU access to 15 hours each month, supplemented by unlimited "Relax" GPU time. The Pro Plan, priced at $60 per month, amplifies Fast GPU time to 30 hours monthly, coupled with extra slots in the processing queue. A premium offering of 60 Fast GPU hours monthly awaits in the Mega plan, priced at $120 per month. Notably, businesses generating over $1,000,000 in gross revenue annually mandatorily require a Pro or Mega plan.
What is Grok, and what can it do?
Grok, an AI chatbot from xAI founded by Elon Musk post his departure from OpenAI’s board due to governance concerns, emerged onto the scene in November 2024. Trained on a plethora of GPUs, the evolution from Grok-1 to Grok-2 unfolded with the latter debuting in August 2024. Functioning as a chatbot akin to ChatGPT and other counterparts, Grok is adept at leveraging publicly sourced internet data in conjunction with X user data, rendering its knowledge up to the latter months of 2024. Distinguished by its direct integration with the X social media platform, Grok possesses real-time access to information, a capability that may engender erroneous responses due to its content sources.
Grok 2 boasts a revolutionary facet absent in other chatbots – the capability for image generation. Leveraging the Flux.1 model from Black Forrest Labs, Grok-2 caused ripples upon its introduction in August 2024 owing to its unprecedented image creation capacities devoid of safety precautions, potentially resulting in the generation of copyrighted, violent, or contentious imagery.
What is Midjourney, and what can it do?
Midjourney stands as a stalwart in the realm of AI image generators, sharing space alongside Dall-E and Stable Diffusion in pioneering the AI revolution. While lacking a chatbot component akin to Grok, Midjourney excels in translating natural language prompts into captivating images, accessible through a Discord bot or the company’s web editor.
Encompassing an array of stylistic motifs ranging from cartoonish animation to photorealistic portrayals, Midjourney’s prowess was immortalized in the "Pope in a puffy jacket" meme of 2024. Through continuous evolutions culminating in version 6.1 released in late July 2024, Midjourney has garnered acclaim, adorning the covers of esteemed publications and clinching accolades in digital art competitions.
In contrast to Grok, Midjourney, commencing from version 5, integrates an AI-based content moderation framework offering more nuanced discretion. Straying from the antiquated prohibitions on sensitive themes, the revised moderation system affords a degree of flexibility in content generation, permitting images previously unattainable, albeit within contextual constraints.
Which is better for you?
In the quest for an AI image generation platform, Midjourney emerges as the undisputed frontrunner. Provided copyright compliance and factual accuracy supersedes the allure of disruptive capabilities, the need to subsidize Elon Musk’s social media endeavor with a monthly $7 contribution remains superfluous.
