What it is
Midjourney is one of the original text-to-image models, and one that still maintains a competitive edge due to its strength in aesthetics. Originally only accessible through Discord, it now has a strong web interface with a bevy of options available to users.
Since 2025, Midjourney has also been able to generate video, albeit in a limited capacity and with a model that does not feature audio.
Midjourney’s core strength has always been its unique aesthetic look — which in recent years has waned on some users, while others still feel it is the best image generator on the planet.
Why it keeps coming up
This is one of the few image tools that gets covered with every new version — not just as a comparison entry, but because Midjourney has long been an entry point for those coming into AI-generated content.
For years now, there has been an endless debate about Midjourney being cooked or not cooked, and I have always found the passionate debate between both sides extremely fascinating.
No matter how you feel about Midjourney, you feel that way strongly.
Where it sits
For years, Midjourney was the reference point against which every new image tool was measured. In recent years, this may have changed a bit, but to me Midjourney continuously remains in my stack as a starting point and inspiration engine.
Critics very quickly point out a lack of innovation that has recently plagued Midjourney — although behind the scenes, they seem to be working towards some interesting areas, like hardware, potentially.
For where it sits currently: the Midjourney faithful will remain the Midjourney faithful. And there is always the possibility of them roaring back into the top spot within an update or two.
