Decision Support · Side-by-side

DeviantArt DreamUp vs Midjourney. Side by side.

Compare pricing, strengths, and use cases so it is easier to pick the right fit.

Browse alternatives Browse workflows

Change tools

Comparison Ready

DeviantArt DreamUp

Midjourney

Best overall

Midjourney wins for anyone who prioritizes stunning image quality and is willing to learn a Discord-based workflow, while DeviantArt DreamUp is the better choice for beginners who want a simple, free way to generate images directly in a browser. The single biggest difference is that Midjourney produces far more artistic and detailed results, but DreamUp is far easier to start using with zero setup.

DeviantArt DreamUp

Freemium with 4 paid plans starting at $6.67/mo #63 of 3,826 Web

Midjourney

#163 of 3,826 Web

Scores at a glance

DeviantArt DreamUpMidjourneyPractical Versatility

Onboarding Ease

Ecosystem Fit

Market Value

Choose DeviantArt DreamUp if

You want to generate AI art for free right now without signing up for anything new
You already use DeviantArt and want to share your creations with that community
You're a beginner who wants a simple text box and a 'generate' button — no commands to learn
You're an artist who wants to opt out of having your work used for AI training

Choose Midjourney if

You need high-quality images for a professional project, like a book cover or marketing material
You're willing to learn Discord and spend time mastering prompts for the best results
You want to edit specific parts of an image (inpainting) or blend multiple images together
You don't mind paying a subscription fee for top-tier AI image generation

Key differences

DreamUp is free to start; Midjourney has no free tier at all
DreamUp runs in a browser; Midjourney requires Discord (or a beta web interface)
Midjourney produces far higher quality, more artistic images than DreamUp
DreamUp is much easier for beginners — just type and click; Midjourney needs command learning
DreamUp integrates with DeviantArt for sharing and selling; Midjourney has no built-in community platform
Midjourney offers advanced editing (inpainting, outpainting, style references); DreamUp is basic text-to-image

Facts side by side

	DeviantArt DreamUp	Midjourney
Free plan
Mobile app
API access

DeviantArt DreamUp: strengths & weaknesses

Free to try with 10 prompts per week — no credit card needed
Works entirely in your web browser, no extra software or accounts required
Built into DeviantArt, so you can share and sell your art in the same place
Includes ethical opt-out for artists who don't want their work used for training
Image quality is noticeably lower than Midjourney — less detail and artistic flair
Limited customization: you can't tweak advanced parameters like aspect ratio or style strength
No mobile app, so you're stuck on a desktop or tablet browser
Subscription required for more than 10 free prompts per week, and plans start at $6.67/month

Midjourney: strengths & weaknesses

Industry-leading image quality — photorealistic, artistic, and highly detailed
Advanced features like inpainting, outpainting, image blending, and style references
Active community and frequent updates with new model versions and tools
Commercial use allowed on all paid plans
No free tier — you must pay to generate anything
Requires Discord to use, which is confusing for people who don't know the app
Steep learning curve: you need to learn commands like --ar, --sref, and --cref
No mobile app and no API, so you can't integrate it into other tools

Common questions

Is DeviantArt DreamUp better than Midjourney for beginners?

Yes, DreamUp is much better for beginners because you just type a prompt and click 'Dream' in your browser — no Discord, no commands, and you get 10 free prompts per week.

Can I use Midjourney on my phone?

Not directly — Midjourney has no mobile app. You can use the Discord mobile app to generate images, but the experience is clunky and not designed for touch.

Which tool is better for making professional-looking art?

Midjourney is significantly better for professional-quality art. Its images are more detailed, artistic, and photorealistic than DreamUp's.

Do I need to pay for DreamUp?

No, you get 10 free prompts per week. If you want more, subscriptions start at $6.67/month. Midjourney has no free option — you must pay for a plan.

Can I sell images I make with these tools?

Yes, both allow commercial use. DreamUp lets you sell through DeviantArt directly; Midjourney allows commercial use on all paid plans.

DreamUp is the easy, free entry point for casual AI art; Midjourney is the powerful, paid tool for stunning results.

If you're just curious and want to try AI art for free, start with DreamUp — it's simple and you'll get results in seconds. But if you're serious about creating stunning, professional-quality images and don't mind learning a new tool, Midjourney is worth the investment.

Visit DeviantArt DreamUp Visit Midjourney

Detail pages: DeviantArt DreamUp · Midjourney

DeviantArt DreamUp

Midjourney

Free plan

Mobile app

API access