DALL-E 3 Free vs Paid: Comparing Microsoft and ChatGPT Image Creation
Table of Contents
- Introducing DALL-E 3: AI Image Generation
- Comparing Features: Free vs Paid DALL-E 3
- Which DALL-E 3 Version Should You Use?
- Conclusion
Introducing DALL-E 3: AI Image Generation
DALL-E 3 is a revolutionary new AI system that can generate incredibly realistic images and art from natural language descriptions. Developed by Anthropic, DALL-E 3 builds on top of DALL-E 2 and introduces new capabilities like improved image quality, better object permanence, and more control over image generation.
There are currently two main ways to access DALL-E 3 — through Microsoft's free online image creator using Bing, or through a paid ChatGPT Plus subscription. Both provide access to DALL-E 3's image generation capabilities, but there are some key differences in features and use cases.
What is DALL-E 3?
DALL-E 3 is the latest iteration of Anthropic's autoregressive image model, which uses a technique called diffusion to reverse image encodings into realistic images. It's able to create original, highly realistic artwork and photos of anything you describe in natural language. DALL-E 3 improves on previous versions with higher resolution, better coherence, and more control. The AI has been trained on billions of image-text pairs from the internet, allowing it to generate new images that match text descriptions. DALL-E 3 is especially skilled at creating creative variations and combinations of concepts in art styles like paintings, drawings, and digital art.
Microsoft vs ChatGPT Versions
Microsoft provides free access to DALL-E 3 through an integration with Bing Image Creator. This allows anyone to test out DALL-E 3 for free without needing a ChatGPT subscription. However, the free Bing version has limitations on image sizes, formats, and commercial use rights. The paid ChatGPT Plus subscription provides full access to DALL-E 3 without the restrictions of the Bing integration. ChatGPT Plus allows you to generate images in different sizes and aspect ratios, provides more control over prompts, and gives you commercial rights to use the images you create.
Comparing Features: Free vs Paid DALL-E 3
While both the free Bing and paid ChatGPT versions provide access to DALL-E 3, there are some notable differences in capabilities between the tiers that are important to understand before deciding which is right for your needs.
Image Prompting
The Bing version has a simple text prompt box where you enter a description. ChatGPT Plus allows conversational prompting where the AI assists with prompt formulation. ChatGPT also automatically rewords prompts before sending to DALL-E 3, which can help generate more variety but reduces control.
Number of Images Generated
Bing usually provides a grid of 4 images per prompt. ChatGPT Plus currently generates 2 images at a time, down from 4 originally. So Bing provides more instant options to choose from per prompt.
Image Aspect Ratios
The Bing version is limited to square 1:1 images of 1024x1024 pixels. ChatGPT Plus can generate square, widescreen, or portrait aspect ratios on request through conversational prompting.
Commercial Use
Images created with the free Bing tool cannot be used commercially. ChatGPT Plus images can be used commercially or sold if desired, as you have full rights.
Which DALL-E 3 Version Should You Use?
For most personal hobby use, Bing’s free DALL-E 3 access should have plenty of capability. The image quality is the same as what ChatGPT Plus offers. But for professional, commercial use or maximum flexibility, the $20/month ChatGPT Plus subscription unlocks full DALL-E 3 powers.
Conclusion
In summary, while both Microsoft’s integration with Bing and ChatGPT Plus subscriptions provide access to DALL-E 3’s revolutionary AI image generation, important factors like image rights, formats, and prompting controls differ. Evaluate both options against your specific needs to decide if free or paid access works best.
FAQ
Q: Is the Microsoft DALL-E 3 version completely free to use?
A: Yes, the Microsoft DALL-E 3 through Bing Image Creator is free to use, but has limitations like no commercial use and fewer features.
Q: What does the ChatGPT DALL-E 3 subscription cost?
A: The ChatGPT DALL-E 3 access requires a paid ChatGPT Plus subscription which costs $20 per month.
Q: Can you sell images made with Microsoft DALL-E 3?
A: No, Microsoft's terms state that images created through their free DALL-E 3 platform cannot be used commercially or for sale.
Q: What image aspect ratios are available in each version?
A: The Microsoft version only allows square 1024x1024 images. ChatGPT supports square, 16:9 widescreen and 9:16 vertical.
Q: Which version gives you more control over image prompts?
A: ChatGPT's paid DALL-E 3 allows greater prompt control, though requires more knowledge, while Microsoft's interprets prompts more automatically.