Image generationDocumented overviewLast checked Oct 31, 2026
Web app, API and MCP connector for generating and editing images (and video) from text prompts, with a focus on text rendering inside images.
Our take: Use Ideogram when you need images with readable text, logos or transparent-background PNGs, and want a free weekly credit allowance to try it before paying.
Main limitation: Free images are public, free credits require a Google, Apple or Microsoft sign-in, and unused monthly credits do not roll over.
Use Ideogram when you need images with readable text, logos or transparent-background PNGs, and want a free weekly credit allowance to try it before paying. Based on the vendor's documentation, not on a hands-on test.
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Prices checked Oct 31, 2026 on the official US pricing page. Official pricing ↗ Prices and limits change often.
Free plan: 30 credits per week, requires a Google, Apple or Microsoft sign-in; everything generated is public.
Not stated
Ideogram · web
Free
For: Trying the platform
Includes
Limits
checked Oct 31, 2026 source (opens in a new tab)
Ideogram · web
$20/mo
$15 per month billed yearly ($180 per year)
For: Individual creators
Includes
Limits
checked Oct 31, 2026 source (opens in a new tab)
Ideogram · web
$60/mo
$42 per month billed yearly ($504 per year)
For: Heavy users and batch work
Includes
Limits
checked Oct 31, 2026 source (opens in a new tab)
Ideogram · web
$30/mo per user per month
$20 per user per month billed yearly ($240 per user per year)
For: Teams
Includes
Limits
checked Oct 31, 2026 source (opens in a new tab)
Ideogram · web
Custom pricing
For: Organizations
Includes
Limits
checked Oct 31, 2026 source (opens in a new tab)
Credits cost $0.01 each; one-time presets are $10, $20, $50 or $100, custom $1 to $300, and purchased credits expire 365 days after purchase. Video, premium partner models and some edits need a paid plan or purchased credits.
Prices are in US dollars, before tax.
Ideogram is an image generation service at ideogram.ai. Its own Ideogram models (4.5, 4.0, 3.0 and transparent-background variants) run alongside partner models such as GPT Image and Nano Banana. The docs also describe a Studio for partial edits, extending images, adding text and layers, upscaling, background and object removal, batch generation from a spreadsheet, custom models trained on your images, video generation, an API and an MCP connector for Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor.
You provide
You get back
Scenarios are worked out by our editors from the documentation; the actual result depends on your input and plan.
Renders text inside images, controlled by prompts or JSON Produces posters and ads without adding text afterward
Offers several own models; 4.5 accepts up to 5 reference images, 4.0 supports very wide aspect ratios, 3.0 has style presets and negative prompts Lets you pick a model for editing, banners or brand graphics
Ideogram 4.0 Transparent and 3.0 Transparent create images with no background Gives stickers, icons and clip art without manual cutout
Partial edits, extending images, adding text and layers, upscaling, background and object removal Edits an image without leaving the app
Generates up to 500 prompts from a spreadsheet Saves repeated manual runs
Trains models on a brand, product or style and offers partner models (GPT Image, Nano Banana) Keeps a consistent look across outputs
Exposes image and video endpoints and connects to Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor Automates generation from code or assistants
A vertical poster for a neighborhood bake sale, bold hand-lettered title reading 'Saturday Bake Sale', warm yellow background, simple flat illustration of a cake.
Ideogram has no public API in its official documentation. Default rate limit is 10 in-flight requests; keys are created in Settings under API. API documentation ↗
Summarized from the vendor's current policies; this is not legal advice and a vendor's badge is not an independent audit.
Terms: Ideogram does not claim ownership of User Input or User Output. Generated images may be publicly displayed with account handle and profile picture.
Privacy policy lists training the models that power the Services among uses of collected information; it does not state an opt-out.
Kept as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes in the Privacy Policy; no fixed period stated.
Terms section 2.1 allows commercial use of outputs; Ideogram disclaims liability for it.
Free and legacy Basic images are public; Plus, Pro, Team and Enterprise images are private until published.
"Better suited" is based on documented features and pricing, not on a head-to-head test.
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| Midjourney | — | — | Compare | |
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| ChatGPT | — | — |
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30 credits per week, only with a Google, Apple or Microsoft sign-in. Email and password accounts get none.
source (opens in a new tab)No. On Free, everything generated is public. Plus, Pro, Team and Enterprise images stay private until you publish them.
source (opens in a new tab)On Plus, Pro and Team, Ideogram models continue in a slower queue with no limit. Custom models, partner models, reference-image generations, edits and upscales still need credits.
source (opens in a new tab)Unused monthly credits do not roll over. Purchased credits expire 365 days after purchase.
source (opens in a new tab)Ideogram does not offer refunds on subscription payments. Cancel at least 5 days before renewal to stop the next charge.
source (opens in a new tab)The Terms of Service section 2.1 allows commercial use of outputs, while disclaiming liability. Read the Terms before selling designs.
source (opens in a new tab)Yes, the docs say MCP works with assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor, signing in with your Ideogram account.
source (opens in a new tab)Not verified: Per-model and per-operation credit costs; API per-unit prices in dollars (shown only inside the account); Whether prompts and images are excluded from training (no opt-out stated); Watermark rules; Official pricing page contents (HTTP 403); Free trial for paid plans; Basic plan ($8/month) is legacy and no longer sold to new subscribers, per the official docs.
Every fact about Ideogram above comes from the 9 official pages listed here, last compared on Oct 31, 2026; we have not run Ideogram ourselves, so it has no editorial score. How we check and re-check pages.
Article updated Oct 31, 2026; prices checked Oct 31, 2026. Outbound links to vendors are plain links; we do not earn commissions. How we review · Report an error
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