Welcome to my Ideogram AI review for 2024.
If you’re thinking about trying Ideogram AI, I get it—it can feel like a lot to figure out. I’ve been there myself with all the questions:
"Is it worth it?", "How hard is it to learn?", "Is it better than Midjourney?", "Does it really handle text well?", "Are there other tools that do the same thing cheaper?"
Honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re just looking for straightforward answers.
And if you check forums, it’s often just a mix of people calling it “the best” or “a total waste of money.” Not very helpful.
That’s why I wanted to write this review with real experiences and honest opinions about Ideogram AI. I’ll be covering what I think it does well, where it falls short, and if it’s worth the price for you.
By the end, I hope you’ll have a good sense of whether it’s a tool that fits your needs or not.
In this guide, I’m going to cover:
- What’s new in Ideogram 2.0 and why it might matter to you
- How it handles text in images (spoiler: it’s pretty good!)
- What Ideogram does well and where it struggles
- Tips on deciding if you actually need it or if something else might work better
- How I use it in my workflow and what I love about it
Overview – What is Ideogram AI? Key Features, Pros and Cons, and Who’s It For?
What is Ideogram AI?
Ideogram AI 2.0 is your go-to tool for making images with text that actually looks good. Built by ex-Google researchers, this AI is packed with features that make it easy to create high-quality visuals with text that’s sharp and clear. If you need posters, banners, or social media graphics, this tool has you covered.
Here’s what you get with Ideogram:
- Accurate text that fits naturally into images (although, sometimes it still misses a letter or two, depending on the prompt).
- Multiple style options like Realistic, 3D, and Anime so you can match the look you’re going for
- A “Magic Prompt” tool that helps you create better prompts for even higher-quality images
- Mobile access with an iOS app (Android’s coming soon) so you can create on-the-go
- An API for developers to integrate Ideogram into other apps, making it great for bigger projects
What really sets Ideogram apart is how well it handles text inside images, which most AI tools struggle with.
If you’re looking to create professional, detailed images with clear text, Ideogram AI 2.0 is definitely worth checking out.
Ideogram AI Pros and Cons
Pros
- Accurate Text in Images: Ideogram does a solid job with text, making it easy to read in images—great for posters, banners, and graphics.
- Flexible Style Choices: You get different styles like Realistic, 3D, and Anime, so you can match the look you’re going for.
- Easy to Use: The platform is simple to navigate, making it approachable for both beginners and experienced users.
- Remix Feature: The “Remix” tool lets you describe and mimic an existing image, helping you create variations based on a specific look or theme.
- Pricing Options: With a free plan and a few paid options, there’s flexibility for different budgets.
Cons
- Occasional Text Errors: Sometimes the AI still makes minor mistakes with text, like missing a letter or two, depending on the prompt.
- Limited Free Plan: The free version has basic features, but you’ll need a paid plan for higher-quality downloads and faster processing.
- Credit-Based System: Instead of a simple monthly fee, Ideogram uses credits for image generation, which may feel less straightforward.
- iOS Only: The mobile app is currently only on iOS, so Android users will have to wait.
Overall, Ideogram AI is a strong tool for making AI images with text, with added flexibility from features like “Remix.” There are a few quirks, but it’s still a great option for creative projects.
Who is Ideogram AI a Good Fit For?
Ideogram AI is perfect for:
- Content creators and social media managers needing eye-catching images with clear text
- Graphic designers working on projects that require custom styles, like Realistic, 3D, or Anime
- Small businesses looking for an easy way to create branded graphics without hiring a designer
- Developers wanting to integrate image generation into their apps using the Ideogram API
For me personally, the $20 plan is a game-changer, especially with the Remix feature. It’s made my Pinterest workflow so much faster.
Creating a collage pin with text used to take me 10 minutes or more, and now it’s under a minute.
And at $20—just a fraction of what I’d pay for MidJourney—it’s honestly hard not to think, "It’s stupid NOT to use Ideogram for images at this point."
My Favorite Ideogram AI Features
Change and Improve Your Images
One of the best things about Ideogram AI is the Remix tool. This feature lets you take any image you already have and make changes to it so it looks exactly how you want.
You start with an image, then use the “Image Weight” slider to control how much of the original image style you want to keep versus what you want to change.
It’s super handy for taking designs you like and adjusting them just enough to make them fit new ideas or creative directions without having to start from scratch every time.
Here’s how it works in action: say you find an image with the right style and some text you like, but you need it to look slightly different for your own article.
You can upload that image into Ideogram, and it will “describe” or analyze the key features of the image.
Then, you can make adjustments or even ask ChatGPT to help tweak the prompt to better match your style.
Drop that prompt back into Ideogram, hit create, and you’ve got a new image that’s customized for your needs.
Let’s check out the result!
However, as you can see, the images looks similar, but in some images, the text appears a bit off.
For these cases, I usually use Canva to fix the text, but this doesn’t happen often.
2. Multiple Style Choices to Customize Image Look
One of my favorite things about Ideogram AI is the variety of styles you can choose to match the exact look you want.
Whether you’re going for a Realistic look, a creative Anime vibe, or a sharp 3D feel, Ideogram has style options that make it super easy to get the right aesthetic for any project.
With the latest version (2.0, released in August 2024), these style choices have only gotten better, giving you more control over how your images turn out.
The flexibility in style lets you create images that stand out, no matter the purpose, and is perfect for content creators and designers who want their visuals to fit their brand or project style.
Control Over Color Palettes for Consistency
This version of Ideogram allows users to pick specific color palettes, giving more control over the visual feel of the image. Whether you need colors to align with branding, personal preferences, or specific themes, Ideogram’s color palette options help make images feel more cohesive and on-brand.
Magic Prompt Tool for Better Prompt Suggestions
One of the most useful features in Ideogram 2.0 is the Magic Prompt tool.
It takes any basic prompt you type in and adds details to make your image even better, automatically expanding and refining what you started with.
This tool is a huge help when you’re trying to describe something specific but don’t want to spend forever figuring out the perfect wording.
I’ll show you how the results change when you turn this feature on and off!
When "Magic Prompt" is on!
"Magic Prompt" is off!
You can notice the difference, can't you?
With Magic Prompt on, the images just pop—they’re more vivid, detailed, and colorful.
When it’s off, the images look kind of plain and just don’t have that “wow” factor.
Magic Prompt adds life and depth to an image, taking a simple idea and making it stand out.
It’s a huge help when you want eye-catching visuals without spending forever tweaking prompts.
Mobile Access Through iOS App, with Android Coming Soon
One of the best updates with Ideogram 2.0 is the new iOS app, letting you create images right from your phone.
Now you don’t need to be tied to your desktop—you can generate unique images wherever you are, which is super convenient for those of us always on the go.
An Android app is in the works too, so soon even more users will be able to access all the tools and features Ideogram offers from their mobile devices.
API Integration for Developers to Use in Other Applications
The new API in Ideogram 2.0 is a huge plus for developers.
It lets you plug Ideogram’s image generation tools directly into your own apps or software, so businesses and devs can use Ideogram’s features as part of larger projects or workflows.
This makes it much more than just an image tool; it’s a flexible piece of tech that can fit into whatever you’re building.
I’m using Make.com right now, but unfortunately, I can’t connect directly to Ideogram yet—I have to use HTTP requests to make it work.
It’s a bit of extra setup, but hopefully, they’ll add more direct integration options in the future to make things even smoother.
Negative Prompting
Negative Prompting is one of those handy features that gives you extra control over your images.
Sometimes you know exactly what you don’t want in a design—maybe you’re trying to avoid a certain color, object, or style element.
With Negative Prompting, you can simply add what you want to exclude from the image, and Ideogram will keep it out of the final result.
I usually use this when I’m writing a recipe article but don’t want any hands in the images.
It makes it so much easier to get an image that matches your vision without unwanted distractions. It’s perfect for when you need precise control over the look and feel of your image.
Ideogram AI Pricing Plans
Ideogram 2.0 now has a range of pricing plans to fit different creative needs, whether you’re just starting out or going pro:
Free Plan ($0/month)
Bring your ideas to life – at no cost.
What You Get:
- 10 slow credits per day (up to 40 images)
- 2 canvases
- Access to the community gallery
- Download compressed JPGs
- The “Describe” feature turns images into text
Basic Plan ($8/month)
The Basic plan fills the gap between Free and Plus with more features and quicker access to images.
Now, for $8/month (billed annually), you get:
- 400 priority credits/month (up to 1,600 images)
- 100 slow credits per day
- Unlimited canvases
- Download high-quality PNGs
- Access to Magic Fill & Extend for easy editing
Plus Plan ($20/month): Great for Creative Flexibility
This plan unlocks premium features for those who want more creative control, including:
- 1,000 priority credits/month (up to 4,000 images)
- Unlimited slow credits
- Private generation and image deletion
- Custom color palettes
Pro Plan ($60/month): Made for High-Volume Production
Perfect for those working at scale with Ideogram:
- 3,000 priority credits/month (up to 12,000 images)
- Unlimited slow credits
- Bulk generation (CSV coming soon)
Starting small and upgrading as you need more features is a smart move, but if you’re a power user, Pro is designed for maximum flexibility.
Possible Alternatives to Ideogram AI
1. Midjourney
Midjourney is super popular for creating stunning, high-quality images. It’s great if you want realistic or artsy visuals and don’t need exact text placement.
Compared to Ideogram, it’s a bit less precise with text, but it produces beautiful images that stand out.
If you just need amazing visuals and don’t mind playing around with prompts, Midjourney is a strong choice.
2. Leonardo AI
Leonardo AI (Read my review here) is perfect if you’re into creating digital art, game assets, or concept visuals.
It’s really flexible with styles and customization, which makes it great for unique projects.
However, it’s not as strong with text as Ideogram. If you want text to look clear in your images, Ideogram’s better for that.
But for creative art and detailed images, Leonardo AI is a solid option.
Final Verdict: Is Ideogram AI Worth It?
If you need an AI tool that handles text in images and gives you tons of style options, Ideogram AI is totally worth checking out.
It’s one of the few tools that actually makes text look clear and readable, which so many other AI tools struggle with.
The Remix feature is super useful for making quick changes, and the Magic Prompt tool adds a creative boost to basic prompts.
And honestly, at just $20 for the Plus plan, it’s a NO_BRAINER.
You get a ton of value for the price, so if you’re a designer, content creator, or just want quality images without a lot of hassle, Ideogram AI is a solid pick.