DALL-E 3, the latest version of OpenAI’s ground-breaking generative AI visual art platform, was just announced with groundbreaking features, including ChatGPT integration. While the announcement is quite powerful, we decided to put it in a ring to see how it will be performing.
You’ll initially explore their performance in various aspects like user-friendliness, consistency, visual style, realism, features, community engagement, cost, and beyond. Following that, you’ll delve into a side-by-side image comparison with the same prompt, getting a clearer understanding. This comparison will shed more light on each option’s strengths and unique qualities.
Prepare to embark on an exhilarating journey through the boundless realms of AI-powered creativity as we pit two digital maestros against each other in an electrifying showdown! In one corner, we have the iconic Midjourney, a name that has become synonymous with mind-bending visual imagination. In the other corner, a new challenger with the potential to redefine the AI artistry landscape – DALLE-3! Buckle up, because this clash of AI titans is about to take you on a rollercoaster ride through the future of creativity!
Comparison: DALL-E 3 vs Midjourney
Beyond the artistic flair, here is a quick look for the DALL-E 3 vs Midjourney comparison:
| Feature | DALL-E 3 | Midjourney |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Easier, more user-friendly interface | Steeper learning curve, text-based interface |
| Prompt consistency | Excellent, often captures nuances and intent | Good, but can sometimes misinterpret prompts |
| Image style | Clean, detailed, and sometimes photorealistic | More artistic, painterly, sometimes surreal |
| Realism | It can be highly realistic but sometimes produces unnatural-looking results | Generally more realistic, consistent with natural textures and lighting |
| Creative freedom | Limited by safety filters, cannot generate certain content (people, trademarked logos) | More freedom generates almost any type of content with user discretion |
| Features | A simpler set of features focused on generating images | More advanced features, including style transfer, upscaling, and text-to-image variations |
| Community | Active community | A larger active community thanks to its nature on Discord |
| Cost | Pay-per-generation (credits), included in ChatGPT Plus and has free access through Microsoft Bing AI Image Creator | Only Subscription-based pricing, no permanent free plan, only seasonal offers |
| Ethics | Focuses on preventing harmful content creation | Although has strict measures, mostly relies on users to follow terms of service |
DALL-E 3 was released to ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Enterprise users in October, OpenAI has already released some DALL-E 3 creations with their prompt. So, we put the same prompts to Midjourney and see what happens. So, let’s start this fight!
Round 1: Finding the Universe
- Prompt: “An illustration of a human heart made of translucent glass, standing on a pedestal amidst a stormy sea. Rays of sunlight pierce the clouds, illuminating the heart, revealing a tiny universe within. The quote ‘Find the universe within you’ is etched in bold letters across the horizon.”
We have to mention first, as you can see, writing is not Midjourney’s strong side. Because of that, AI tools like Ideogram that are capable of generating images with writing are popular nowadays.
The DALL-E 3 image is very peaceful and serene, and it evokes a sense of connection to the universe. Also, the Midjourney image is more whimsical and playful. However, we have a writing mistake there. Despite their differences, both images are visually appealing and thought-provoking. They both invite us to reflect on our place in the world and our connection to something larger than ourselves.
- The decision: DALL-E 3 wins this round with its flawless generation.
Round 2: Where is the best place to watch the sunset?
- Prompt: “A modern architectural building with large glass windows, situated on a cliff overlooking a serene ocean at sunset.”
Despite their differences, both images are beautiful and evocative. They both capture the essence of living in close proximity to nature. Although we have a clear view of the sunset at DALLE-3, we have to admit that Midjourney’s “sunset vibing” is worth the mention.
- The decision: Midjourney wins.
Round 3: Hail the potato kings!
- Prompt: “Tiny potato kings wearing majestic crowns, sitting on thrones, overseeing their vast potato kingdom filled with potato subjects and potato castles.”
Both generations have failed at the same topic. According to the prompt, we need to have multiple thrones. But, in DALL-E 3 generation, there is no throne while in Midjourney image we have at least one.
- The decision: Although DALL-E 3 potatoes are much more like potatoes, we can see at least everything mentioned in the Midjourney image. So, Midjourney wins.
Round 4: The porcelain lady
- Prompt: “A middle-aged woman of Asian descent, her dark hair streaked with silver, appears fractured and splintered, intricately embedded within a sea of broken porcelain. The porcelain glistens with splatter paint patterns in a harmonious blend of glossy and matte blues, greens, oranges, and reds, capturing her dance in a surreal juxtaposition of movement and stillness. Her skin tone, a light hue like the porcelain, adds an almost mystical quality to her form.”
The Midjourney generation’s realism is at peak level at we love it! However, we can’t say that there is “a sea of broken porcelain” in that image. While in DALL-E 3 generation, we clearly understand the porcelain touch.
- The decision: DALL-E 3 wins.
Round 5: Let’s dance!
- Prompt: “A 2D animation of a folk music band composed of anthropomorphic autumn leaves, each playing traditional bluegrass instruments, amidst a rustic forest setting dappled with the soft light of a harvest moon.”
We have a clear winner there. Although Midjourney’s generation is well presented, there are no autumn leaves to make music.
- The decision: DALL-E 3 wins.
Round 6: The chair
- Prompt: “Photo of a lychee-inspired spherical chair, with a bumpy white exterior and plush interior, set against a tropical wallpaper.”
Yes, you probably would choose Midjourney if you want to set it as wallpaper. However, in this comparison, prompt accuracy matters.
- The decision: DALL-E 3 wins.
Round 7: Dancer’s desire
- Prompt: “In front of a deep black backdrop, a figure of middle years, her Tongan skin rich and glowing, is captured mid-twirl, her curly hair flowing like a storm behind her. Her attire resembles a whirlwind of marble and porcelain fragments. Illuminated by the gleam of scattered porcelain shards, creating a dreamlike atmosphere, the dancer manages to appear fragmented, yet maintains a harmonious and fluid form.”
DALL-E 3 almost got knocked out despite its admirable effort! In the Midjourney image, we can see every prompt detail, but better.
- The decision: Midjourney wins.
Round 8: Let’s go to the beach and find the “right” hermit
- Prompt: “Close-up photograph of a hermit crab nestled in wet sand, with sea foam nearby and the details of its shell and texture of the sand accentuated.”
In the end, we have to make a close call. Both of the images are well-represented and parallel to the prompt. To decide fairly, we have to admit that we Googled the hermit crab, and it seems like DALL-E 3’s biology is better than the Midjourney. The DALL-E 3 image has an appearance more similar to the real hermit.
- The decision: DALL-E 3 wins.
DALL-E 3: 5, Midjourney: 3
So, we have a winner! Although all of the Midjourney generations were well represented and visually rich, the DALL-E 3 generations were more accurate to the prompt. Because of that, DALL-E 3 deserves the win.
However, we have to mention that these DALL-E 3 generations are specially prepared for the announcement, and they are most likely the best version of themself. While we generated Midjourney images, we took the first versions, to be fair. So, for a final decision, we need to wait for the DALL-E 3’s final release and test it again!
So, is DALL-E 3 as good as Midjourney?
The assessment of whether DALL-E 3 is as good as Midjourney depends on what you looking for. In the comparison based on prompt-generated images, DALL-E 3 won in terms of prompt accuracy, securing victories in five out of eight rounds.
DALL-E 3 demonstrated strengths in generating realistic, accurate images aligned closely with the specified prompts. Its integration with ChatGPT adds a layer of versatility, allowing users to combine language and visual creativity seamlessly.
On the other hand, Midjourney, an established player in the AI art scene, showcased its strengths in creating whimsical and imaginative visuals. While it may not have consistently matched the prompt details as accurately as DALL-E 3, it won in terms of aesthetic appeal and capturing certain nuances. However, it’s worth noting that the comparison used specific prompts and criteria, and different evaluations may arise based on alternative scenarios or criteria.
Ultimately, the evaluation depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the user. If prompt accuracy and simplicity are prioritized, DALL-E 3 may be considered superior based on the provided comparison. However, if a more advanced features and visually rich output is desired, Midjourney might be preferred.
What is the best free AI art generator?
AI-powered art generators were free, each with unique strengths and styles. Some popular ones included:
We reviewed all! Check out them and find the perfect fit for you!
Special thanks to Kerem Gülen for generating Midjourney images for this article.
Featured image credit: Google DeepMind/Pexels
