What to Look for in the Best AI Image Generator: 7 Expert Tips Before You Choose

The buzz around AI image generators is well-earned. These tools have transformed how creators, marketers, and entrepreneurs produce visual content. But with the explosion of platforms promising mind-blowing results, the challenge isn’t finding an AI image generator—it’s finding the right one.

You may have already seen our breakdown of the best AI image generators, where we reviewed the top platforms in the space. If you're still unsure which tool suits your needs, this article offers a practical lens: what to actually look for when evaluating an AI image generator.

Below are the 7 most important things to consider before picking your go-to AI art tool.

1. Image Quality and Style Variety

You can have the most powerful features in the world, but if the final image looks awkward, blurry, or overly robotic—it’s useless. Quality is king when it comes to AI-generated visuals. You’re not just looking for images that match your prompt—you want ones that look polished enough to publish.

That means:

• Crisp resolution with sharp lines and clean textures
• Accurate anatomy and proportions, especially with faces, hands, and text
• Stylistic range—can the tool adapt to photorealism, digital painting, sketch, or abstract art?

Some platforms excel here. Midjourney is widely known for producing artistically rich, high-impact visuals with deep shadows and texture. If you're going for that moody, cinematic look, it's hard to beat. Meanwhile, DALL·E by OpenAI is one of the most consistent tools for balancing prompt accuracy with clean, usable image quality—ideal for marketers, educators, or anyone needing coherent visuals across different styles.

✅ Tip: Look for platforms that showcase public galleries or recent generations. This gives you a real-world sense of quality, not just handpicked marketing examples.

💡 Want side-by-side comparisons? We break down exactly how tools like Midjourney and DALL·E stack up in our full Best AI Image Generator guide.

2. Prompt Understanding and Customization Depth

In AI image generation, the output is only as strong as the prompt you give it. But here’s the catch: not all platforms understand prompts the same way. Some will take your detailed request and give you something spot-on. Others… might ignore half of what you asked for.

If you care about getting exactly what’s in your head onto the screen, you’ll want a platform that offers deep prompt understanding and customization.

Ask yourself:

• Can it interpret nuanced prompts? The best platforms don’t just look for keywords—they understand relationships, styles, and emotional tone. If you ask for “a surreal sunset over a futuristic Tokyo skyline, painted in the style of van Gogh,” you should get something that actually resembles that.
• Can you adjust image parameters? Being able to change things like aspect ratio, rendering style, detail level, and style weight can dramatically improve control and reduce time spent regenerating. Want a cinematic 16:9 wallpaper or a square Instagram post? A good tool lets you define that up front.
• Does it support negative prompts? This is a power feature that lets you tell the AI what not to include. For example, if you want a portrait “without text” or a forest scene “without people,” a negative prompt can help filter out unwanted elements.

Platforms like Leonardo.Ai and Stable Diffusion give you that granular control—making them a top choice for designers, marketers, and creators who want to fine-tune their results. On the other hand, tools like Craiyon or Wombo prioritize simplicity, which may be better for casual use or quick inspiration.

💡 Pro Tip: If you're running creative A/B tests (like generating variations of an ad image), being able to slightly tweak prompts while controlling output settings is a massive advantage—and a time-saver.

3. Speed and Accessibility

When it comes to creative work, momentum is everything. Whether you're brainstorming campaign visuals, working through a client revision live on a Zoom call, or building social content on a tight deadline—speed matters. If your AI image generator takes too long to render results, the flow of ideas can grind to a halt.

Here’s what to consider:

• How long does it take to generate an image? Some platforms deliver outputs in under 10 seconds, while others may take 1–2 minutes, especially during peak hours. That might sound minor, but when you’re iterating through multiple prompt variations, every second adds up.
• Do you need to download or install anything? Tools that work directly in your browser (like Canva AI) are ideal for speed and ease. Others, like Stable Diffusion, often require local setup or third-party integrations, which may not be ideal for non-technical users or teams that need agility.
• Is it mobile-friendly? If you’re a social media manager, freelancer, or marketer on the go, having mobile access to generate or tweak images on the fly can be a major time-saver. While many tools are still best on desktop, some like Adobe Firefly are increasingly optimizing for tablet and mobile use.
• Is the interface intuitive? A sleek UI matters more than people realize. Clunky dashboards and buried settings can slow you down even if the generation itself is fast. Look for platforms that let you edit, regenerate, and export all in one flow.

💡 Real-world tip: If you frequently need images as part of larger marketing assets—like blog thumbnails, ad creatives, or presentation slides—consider using a platform that integrates generation with design. Canva AI shines here because it merges image creation with full design capabilities in one interface.

Ultimately, speed isn’t just about render time—it’s about how quickly you can go from idea to asset without technical headaches.

4. Commercial Usage Rights

Just because an image was generated by AI doesn’t automatically mean you can use it however you want. This is one of the most overlooked—but legally critical—aspects of working with AI image generators, especially if you're planning to use the visuals in marketing campaigns, product packaging, client deliverables, or anything revenue-generating.

Before hitting “Download,” ask yourself:

• Is the image royalty-free? Some platforms allow full use of generated images without fees, while others restrict usage or require attribution.
• Can I use this image commercially? For example, will you get in trouble for putting it on a T-shirt or inside a paid ad campaign? Not all tools grant commercial rights out of the box.
• Does the platform retain ownership? Certain platforms claim joint ownership or reserve the right to use your generated images in their own marketing or datasets.

Take Jasper Art and NightCafe—two tools we featured in our AI image generator roundup—both of which provide clear licensing that supports commercial use. On the flip side, some freemium tools include vague or restricted usage terms hidden in the fine print.

💡 Pro Tip: Always check the licensing page of the platform before investing time into generating images—especially if your project has public or commercial exposure. It’s the difference between confidently publishing your creative or facing a takedown notice later. For example, NightCafe and Jasper Art clearly outline usage rights, which is one reason we featured them in our main best AI image generator guide.

5. Cost and Credit Systems

AI generation often operates on a credit or tiered model. Some platforms seem affordable—until you realize how quickly you burn through credits.

Look for:

• Transparent pricing
• Unlimited generation plans
• Free trials or starter credits
• Refund policies if outputs fail

📌 Pro Tip: Freemium models like those from Dream by Wombo offer a low-risk way to test the waters before investing heavily.

6. Community and Prompt Inspiration

Stuck for ideas? A strong user community can spark creativity and help you learn what prompts lead to the best outputs.

Platforms like Playground AI and Artbreeder shine here, offering public galleries, community forums, and prompt templates to get you started.

🎯 If you're just beginning, start on platforms that show what’s possible. It reduces the learning curve dramatically.

7. Integrations and Workflow Compatibility

Do you want to:

• Export images to Photoshop?
• Add them directly into a marketing campaign?
• Use them in presentations, product mockups, or landing pages?

The best AI image generator will integrate cleanly into your workflow. Canva AI, for instance, lets you insert AI visuals directly into designs without leaving the platform.

💡 If your focus is content marketing, look for generators with one-click export to platforms like HubSpot, Webflow, or social media tools.

Final Thoughts: There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Winner

Choosing the best AI image generator depends on your use case, not just the hype.

Before you commit, explore our full breakdown of the top AI image generators. Use the insights in this article to guide your testing.

With the right tool, you’ll create scroll-stopping images that elevate your brand without breaking the bank—or your workflow.