Is Midjourney Free for Everyone? The Current Truth About Trials, Prices, and niji・journey

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No—not if you mean ongoing image generation on the main Midjourney website or in Discord. As of August 10, 2026, Midjourney’s official documentation says there is no free trial on midjourney.com or Discord. The only standing free trial identified in Midjourney’s documentation is through the separate niji・journey mobile app, which offers eligible new mobile users 20 free generation attempts.

The widely repeated claim that “Midjourney is now free for everyone” refers to a temporary web promotion from August 2024—not a permanent free tier.

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The short answer

“Free” can mean several different things here. Midjourney currently allows people to create accounts and browse its web experience, but that does not mean they can generate images indefinitely without paying.

Claim	Current verdict
Anyone can create a Midjourney account	Yes. Sign-up is available through Google or Discord.
Anyone can browse the Midjourney website	Generally yes, subject to account and service availability.
Anyone can generate images indefinitely for free on midjourney.com	No. The main service requires a subscription before image generation.
Anyone can generate a limited number of images through an official Midjourney-related app	Yes, in a limited sense. Eligible new users can try niji・journey on iOS or Android for 20 free generation attempts.

Midjourney’s current getting-started guide tells new users to subscribe before creating their first image on the main service. Its Discord quick-start guide gives the same basic message for image generation in Discord.

Why people think Midjourney became free

The headline was based on a real event, but it was easy to overstate. In August 2024, Midjourney announced that its web experience was open to everyone and temporarily activated a free trial. Contemporary coverage described the allowance as approximately 25 image generations.

Midjourney’s own announcement, The web is open to all!, described broader access to the web experience. It did not promise a permanent free plan. Secondary reports and community updates indicated that the promotion ended within days—around August 25 or 26, 2024—but that timing should be treated as contemporaneous reporting rather than an officially published permanent end date. Digital Trends reported on the approximately 25-image trial, while Tom’s Hardware Italia reported on the trial ending within days.

Date	What happened	What it means
August 21, 2024	Midjourney announced broad access to its web experience and temporary free trials.	The website became broadly accessible; this was not a permanent free tier.
August 22, 2024	News coverage described approximately 25 free image generations.	“Free for everyone” referred to a capped promotion.
August 23, 2024	Midjourney published its official web-opening announcement.	“Open to all” described access at that time, not indefinite free generation.
Around August 25–26, 2024	Secondary reports said the temporary web trial had ended.	The promotion was short-lived.
August 10, 2026	Midjourney’s current help page says there is no trial on the website or Discord.	The 2024 headline is stale when presented as current news.

What is actually free today?

1. The main Midjourney website: account access, but no free generation trial

You can visit midjourney.com, create an account, and explore the service. But the current onboarding flow requires a subscription before you can create your first image. Being able to log in or browse the Explore area is not the same as receiving free GPU time.

Midjourney’s official Free Trials page explicitly says that no free trial is available on the main website.

2. Discord: no current free trial

Discord was the way many older tutorials introduced Midjourney. That does not make it a free route today. Midjourney’s current documentation says that a subscription is required before generating in Discord, and its Free Trials page says there is no Discord trial.

3. niji・journey mobile: the limited official free option

The current official free option is the niji・journey mobile app, available through the official App Store or Google Play listings, subject to local availability.

According to niji・journey’s trial guidance, eligible new users receive 20 free image or art generations. After that allowance is exhausted, the app requires a subscription to continue generating.

There are several important qualifications:

• The trial is for new users, not a permanent allowance for every account.
• It is available through the mobile app, not as a free plan for the main Midjourney website.
• Users should download the app from an official app store and keep their operating system and store software updated.
• Users running the app through an emulator are not eligible for the free trial.
• Availability can depend on the relevant App Store or Google Play listing and the user’s location.

niji・journey is not simply the full Midjourney service with the price removed. It is an anime-oriented image-generation app developed through a collaboration between Spellbrush and Midjourney. Its mobile-app introduction explains that separate product focus.

Does 20 generations mean 20 finished images?

Not necessarily. The official niji help pages use terms such as “generations” and “art generations.” A generation attempt may involve an app job that produces multiple images or supports later edits. Unless the app’s current interface defines the counter more precisely, the safest interpretation is:

Eligible new users receive 20 free generation attempts in the niji・journey mobile app.

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Do not assume that the allowance means 20 prompts, 20 final images, or 80 images. The exact counting behavior can depend on the app’s current workflow.

4. Free Fast GPU rewards: available only to subscribers

Midjourney also has a way for users to earn bonus Fast GPU time by rating images. This is not a free account or a free trial.

Midjourney says that the top 2,000 members who rate the most images each day can receive one free hour of Fast GPU time. However, the awarded time:

• Requires an active subscription to use;
• Expires after 30 days; and
• May occasionally be supplemented by survey rewards.

In other words, image-rating rewards can reduce the cost or extend the value of a paid plan, but they do not let a non-subscriber use Midjourney indefinitely. See Midjourney’s explanation of free Fast time.

How to try niji・journey without paying

1. Use a compatible iOS or Android device.
2. Download the official niji・journey app from the App Store or Google Play.
3. Create or sign in to an account that qualifies as a new user.
4. Open the Imagine tab.
5. Enter a prompt describing the image you want to create.
6. Tap the magic-wand generate button.
7. Check the app’s remaining trial-generation count before using the next attempt.
8. When the free allowance ends, select Subscribe from the user profile if you want to continue.

The official niji・journey creation guide identifies the Imagine tab, prompt field, and magic-wand button as the basic generation route. Its trial-exhaustion guide confirms that a subscription is required after the free generations run out.

How to use the main Midjourney service

If you want the main Midjourney experience rather than the niji mobile app, the least expensive legitimate route is the Basic plan at the listed price of $10 per month.

1. Go to midjourney.com and select Sign Up.
2. Choose Continue with Google or Continue with Discord.
3. Open your account’s Manage Subscription page.
4. Select a plan.
5. Check whether the billing selector is set to monthly or annual.
6. Complete checkout through Stripe.
7. Open the Create page and use the Imagine bar.

Midjourney’s subscription guide says annual billing is selected by default in the subscription flow. If you only want to test the service for a short time, actively select the monthly tab before checking out.

Current Midjourney prices and plan differences

The following are Midjourney’s listed prices and plan features as of August 10, 2026. Prices may change, and checkout totals can vary with applicable taxes or payment-related charges in your jurisdiction.

Plan	Monthly price	Annual price (paid upfront)	Fast GPU time	Relax access
Basic	$10/month	$96/year (equivalent to $8/month)	200 minutes per month (about 3.3 hours)	None for images
Standard	$30/month	$288/year (equivalent to $24/month)	15 hours per month	Unlimited image generations
Pro	$60/month	$576/year (equivalent to $48/month)	30 hours per month	Unlimited images and SD video
Mega	$120/month	$1,152/year (equivalent to $96/month)	60 hours per month	Unlimited images and SD video

All four plans are subscriptions. Midjourney lists extra GPU time at $4 per hour across the plans. Annual billing provides a 20% discount compared with paying monthly for 12 months, but the annual amount is charged upfront. See the current Midjourney plan comparison before subscribing.

“Unlimited” needs to be read carefully. On the Standard, Pro, and Mega plans, it refers to unlimited image generation in Relax Mode, not unlimited high-priority Fast GPU time. Pro and Mega also include Stealth Mode, subject to Midjourney’s shared-space limitations.

Which plan makes sense for an artist or painter?

• Basic: Best for occasional experiments, prompt testing, mood boards, reference ideas, or a small personal project. It provides 200 minutes of Fast GPU time but no unlimited image generation in Relax Mode.
• Standard: Usually the better fit for frequent visual development, especially when you expect to generate many variations and can tolerate Relax Mode’s slower queue.
• Pro: Suited to users who need more Fast time, Stealth Mode, or higher concurrency, including professional workflows where privacy matters.
• Mega: Intended for heavy production use and the largest Fast GPU allocation.

For a short test, monthly Basic is the cheapest way to access the main service. For regular image exploration, compare the cost of Basic plus extra GPU time with Standard’s Relax access. Do not choose a higher plan merely because its headline says “unlimited”; determine whether you need unlimited Relax images, Fast time, video, privacy, or concurrency.

Billing warnings: avoid an unwanted charge

Midjourney subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled. Monthly subscriptions recur each month; annual subscriptions are paid upfront and recur annually unless canceled.

Before confirming payment:

1. Check the selected billing tab. Annual billing is selected by default in the subscription flow.
2. Confirm the exact price and renewal interval.
3. Save a screenshot or receipt showing the plan and renewal date.
4. If you only want a brief test, choose monthly billing rather than paying for a year upfront.
5. Cancel through Manage Subscription before the next renewal date if you do not want another charge.

Cancellation generally prevents future charges after the current subscription period, but it normally does not end access immediately. Midjourney’s terms also state that the current paid period is generally not refunded. Check the current subscription guidance and Terms of Service for the latest conditions.

Account and login problems for returning users

If you used Midjourney in the past, sign in with the same method you used before:

• If your old work is linked to Discord, choose Continue with Discord.
• Google and Discord logins can represent separate Midjourney accounts when used independently.
• Starting a new subscription through Google does not necessarily connect it to image history associated with an older Discord account.
• You may be able to add another login method later through account settings, subject to Midjourney’s account-linking rules.

If your old Discord history appears to have disappeared, do not immediately create another account. First review Midjourney’s login and account-connection instructions.

Privacy: free does not mean private

Do not assume that a trial image is private. Midjourney’s terms say content is publicly viewable and remixable by default when posted in a public setting. Stealth Mode is limited to the Pro and Mega plans, and content created in shared or open spaces may remain visible to people in those spaces even when Stealth is enabled.

For that reason, avoid using a free trial or low-tier account for confidential client material, unreleased products, private photographs, or sensitive personal data unless you have checked the applicable privacy and visibility controls first.

Stealth Mode is a privacy feature, not a universal guarantee that no one can ever see an image. Review the current Terms of Service and the plan comparison before using Midjourney for sensitive work.

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Can you use free-trial images commercially?

This question needs more care than a simple yes or no.

Midjourney’s current terms say that users own assets they create to the fullest extent possible under applicable law. The terms also impose a special requirement on companies with more than $1 million in gross annual revenue: those companies must use a Pro or Mega plan to own their assets under Midjourney’s terms. Midjourney says users can continue using their images after canceling or downgrading.

However, platform permission is not the same as guaranteed copyright protection. Copyright treatment for AI-generated work varies by jurisdiction, and the niji support material describes commercial-use rights in terms of subscribers. Therefore, users should not make an unqualified assumption that every image created solely during a free niji trial is cleared for every commercial purpose.

For important client or business work:

• Read the current Midjourney and niji terms that apply to the product you used.
• Make sure you have the necessary rights to upload reference images and other inputs.
• Remember that upscaling another user’s image does not make the resulting work yours under Midjourney’s terms.
• Obtain legal advice if ownership, licensing, or copyright protection is commercially important.

The relevant references are Midjourney’s Terms of Service and niji・journey’s commercial-use guidance.

Common mistakes when looking for free Midjourney access

Following a stale 2024 article

Articles that still promise “25 free images” are usually describing the temporary August 2024 web promotion. The current official Free Trials page—not an old news article—should be the reference for present availability.

Confusing account access with image generation

Signing up, browsing the site, and seeing other artists’ work do not prove that your account has free generation credits. The main service currently requires a subscription before your first image.

Confusing niji・journey with the main Midjourney service

niji・journey’s free allowance is mobile-only, limited, and associated with an anime-focused product. It is not an unrestricted free version of Midjourney’s main website.

Assuming the allowance resets every day

The 20-generation niji trial is not a daily free quota. Once the eligible trial allowance is used, continued generation requires a subscription.

Using an emulator

niji・journey’s trial guidance says emulator users are not eligible. Use a supported iOS or Android device and the official store listing.

Expecting image-rating rewards to replace a subscription

Free Fast time earned from rating images requires an active subscription and expires after 30 days.

Entering payment details on an unofficial “free Midjourney” website

Use midjourney.com, docs.midjourney.com, or the official niji・journey app listings. Do not assume a third-party site offering a “free Midjourney trial” is affiliated with Midjourney. A 2025 WIPO domain decision involving a domain that purported to offer a free Midjourney trial illustrates why brand-based offers should be checked carefully.

Free alternatives if you need ongoing image generation

If your requirement is “generate images without subscribing to Midjourney,” the answer is to compare other providers—not to look for a hidden Midjourney free tier.

ChatGPT Free

OpenAI’s Free Tier FAQ says free users can create images, with separate rate limits that may be stricter than paid plans. OpenAI’s image-generation guidance provides additional details. This is not Midjourney access, and the workflow, visual style, privacy terms, and usage limits differ.

Adobe Firefly Free

Adobe offers limited generative credits or complimentary generations on free access, with the amount and feature eligibility subject to change. Its Generative Credits FAQ explains the difference between free allowances and paid-plan credits.

When comparing alternatives, check:

• Whether the free access is recurring or one-time;
• The number and type of generations included;
• Whether images carry watermarks;
• Resolution and upscaling limits;
• Commercial-use rules;
• Whether prompts and outputs are public by default;
• Whether a credit card is required;
• Whether limits reset daily, monthly, or unpredictably;
• Support for image editing, reference images, and consistent characters; and
• Availability in your country and on your device.

None of these alternatives should be assumed to produce the same results or offer the same terms as Midjourney.

A practical decision guide

Your goal	Best answer
Try the main Midjourney service without paying	There is no current official website or Discord trial.
Try a related Midjourney product free	Use the niji・journey mobile trial if you are an eligible new user.
Use the main service occasionally	Choose the Basic plan.
Generate frequently without counting every image	Consider Standard for unlimited image generations in Relax Mode.
Keep creations more private	Consider Pro or Mega for Stealth Mode, while checking shared-space limitations.
Earn bonus GPU time	Rate images, but remember that an active subscription is required.
Generate indefinitely without a Midjourney subscription	Compare another provider with a published free tier and review its separate limits and terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Midjourney free on Discord?

No. As of August 10, 2026, Midjourney’s official Free Trials page says there is no free trial on Discord. A subscription is required before generating images there.

Is the old 25-image Midjourney trial still available?

No. The approximately 25-image allowance belonged to a temporary web promotion in August 2024. It should not be confused with the current policy.

Can I try the main Midjourney model for free?

Not through the current main website or Discord onboarding flow. The official standing trial identified in Midjourney’s documentation is the separate niji・journey mobile trial for eligible new users.

Does rating images let me use Midjourney for free?

No. The top image raters may receive one hour of Fast GPU time, but Midjourney says an active subscription is required to use the reward, and it expires after 30 days.

Does niji・journey work on desktop?

The free trial described by niji・journey is mobile-only through the official iOS or Android app. Emulator users are not eligible for the trial.

Can I use images from the free niji trial commercially?

Do not assume an automatic yes. Review the current niji and Midjourney terms, especially because niji’s commercial-use guidance refers to subscribers. Commercial-use permission also does not guarantee copyright protection in every jurisdiction.

Why did my old Discord image history disappear?

You may have signed in through a different account. Try the same login method you used previously—especially Continue with Discord for older Discord-linked work—before creating another account.

Are free-trial creations private?

Do not assume they are. Midjourney’s terms describe content as publicly viewable and remixable by default in public settings. Privacy controls and their limitations should be checked before uploading sensitive material.

The Bottom Line

Midjourney is not free for everyone in the continuing, unlimited sense. The main website and Discord require a subscription, with the Basic plan listed at $10 per month. The legitimate free option is a limited niji・journey mobile trial offering 20 generation attempts to eligible new users. Treat the 2024 “free for everyone” headline as historical, check billing before subscribing, and do not assume trial creations are private or automatically protected for commercial use.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.