Softwr

Social Media & Content · head to head

DALL-E vs Stable Diffusion

DALL-E logo

DALL-E

Social Media & Content

OpenAI's advanced image generation model

From
$0.04/per-image
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stable Diffusion logo

Stable Diffusion

AI Tools

Open-source AI image generation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Stable Diffusion has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DALL-E dALL-E 3 API pricing as captured 6 January 2024 ranged from $0.040 per Standard 1024x1024 image up to $0.120 per HD widescreen image; DALL-E 2 was cheaper at $0.016 to $0.020 per image depending on resolution; Stable Diffusion generated images have lower resolution and quality at non-standard dimensions
  • They diverge on capability: DALL-E covers Prompt refinement, Stable Diffusion covers Image-to-image.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DALL-E and Stable Diffusion actually diverge.

Attributes where DALL-E and Stable Diffusion differ
AttributeDALL-EStable Diffusion
Starting price$0.04/per-imageFree
Pricing modelusage-basedUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, ChatgptWeb, Local (GPU-based), Cloud APIs
CategorySocial Media & ContentAI Tools
Founded20152019

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in DALL-E

  • Prompt refinement
  • Multiple aspect ratios
  • HD quality
  • OpenAI API
  • ChatGPT integration
  • Chatgpt support

Only in Stable Diffusion

  • Image-to-image
  • Inpainting
  • LoRA support
  • ComfyUI
  • Automatic1111
  • Multiple UIs
  • Local support

Both cover

  • Text-to-image
  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DALL-E

  • ai tools management
  • Workflow automation
  • Reporting

Stable Diffusion

  • ai tools management
  • Workflow automation
  • Reporting

Both are used for ai tools management, workflow automation, reporting, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DALL-E

  • DALL-E 3 API pricing as captured 6 January 2024 ranged from $0.040 per Standard 1024x1024 image up to $0.120 per HD widescreen image; DALL-E 2 was cheaper at $0.016 to $0.020 per image depending on resolution

Stable Diffusion

  • Generated images have lower resolution and quality at non-standard dimensions
  • Struggles with complex multi-object prompts and text generation
  • Poor rendering of human hands, limbs, and faces due to training data limitations
  • Trained primarily on English-language descriptions, reinforcing Western cultural bias
  • Requires significant GPU computational resources for local deployment

Pricing, plan by plan

DALL-E

$0.04/per-image
  • Standard$0.04/per-image
    • 1024x1024 resolution
  • HD$0.08/per-image
    • HD quality
    • 1792x1024 resolution

Stable Diffusion

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Stable Diffusion review.

Which should you pick?

Choose DALL-E if

  • You need prompt refinement.
  • You work on Web, Api, Chatgpt.
  • You also want multiple aspect ratios.
DALL-E review

Choose Stable Diffusion if

  • You need image-to-image.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Local (GPU-based), Cloud APIs.
  • You also want inpainting.
Stable Diffusion review

Questions people ask

Is DALL-E or Stable Diffusion better?
Neither clearly leads. DALL-E starts at $0.04/per-image and Stable Diffusion at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DALL-E or Stable Diffusion?
Stable Diffusion has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $0.04/per-image for DALL-E and Free for Stable Diffusion.
Does DALL-E or Stable Diffusion run on more platforms?
DALL-E runs on Web, Api, Chatgpt. Stable Diffusion runs on Web, Local (GPU-based), Cloud APIs.
Can I use Stable Diffusion for free?
Yes. Stable Diffusion has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DALL-E starts at $0.04/per-image.
What is DALL-E best used for?
DALL-E is most often used for ai tools management, workflow automation, reporting.
What can DALL-E do that Stable Diffusion cannot?
DALL-E covers Prompt refinement, Multiple aspect ratios, HD quality, OpenAI API. Stable Diffusion covers Image-to-image, Inpainting, LoRA support, ComfyUI. Both handle Text-to-image, Web support, Api support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stable Diffusion: Is Stable Diffusion truly free and open-source?

Yes. Stable Diffusion is released under the CreativeML Open RAIL-M license, allowing free use for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, and the code is open-source on GitHub.

Source
Stable Diffusion: Can I use Stable Diffusion commercially for free?

Yes, if your organization has less than $1M annual revenue. Organizations exceeding $1M annually must obtain an Enterprise License from Stability AI.

Source
Stable Diffusion: What are Stable Diffusion's image resolution limitations?

The base model was trained on 512x512 pixel images, and image quality degrades noticeably when deviating from this resolution. Newer models like SDXL support higher resolutions.

Source
Stable Diffusion: Can I run Stable Diffusion locally on my computer?

Yes. Stable Diffusion is open-source and can run locally on compatible hardware, though it requires a GPU for reasonable performance.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on DALL-E

More on Stable Diffusion

Keep looking

Other head to heads