Most people don’t need “the smartest model.” They need an AI image generator that follows instructions, spells correctly within the image, and survives edits. So you can create AI images fast. In 2026, the main chatbot choices are ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Copilot.
AI image generator showdown criteria that matter
Judge each tool on: instruction following, text-in-image, edit reliability, speed, and access (limits + watermarking). positions GPT Image 1.5 as its highest-quality image model with better instruction following; positions Gemini 3 Pro Image as its best for complex multi-turn generation and editing.
Real-world tests that separate useful from annoying
Text-in-image test: the ad
Job: 1080×1350 ad with a product visual + headline + short promo line.
OpenAI’s image docs call out “text rendering” and “detailed editing” as key strengths of GPT Image, and the latest ChatGPT Images release emphasizes precise edits and faster generation.
Google markets Nano Banana Pro around legible typography and publishes strict daily limits for it on free accounts.
Takeaway: For posters, menus, thumbnails, and infographics, start with ChatGPT or Gemini.
Product photo test: realism plus two edits
Job: Photoreal bottle, then (1) change label color and (2) swap background without losing lighting/reflections—classic AI photo generator work.
OpenAI says its current ChatGPT Images release keeps details intact during edits and is up to 4× faster than the previous version.
Microsoft’s targets photorealism and is being integrated into its Copilot experiences.
Takeaway: For “catalog-ish” assets with revisions, ChatGPT is the safer default; Microsoft is strong if your team already works in it.
Results and best picks by use case
- Best overall: ChatGPT (editing + instruction following; published API image pricing).
- Best Google-native: Gemini (published daily limits; SynthID watermarking plus a visible watermark on some tiers).
- Best Microsoft workflow: Copilot / Bing Image Creator ( uses Image Creator powered by DALL·E 3; Bing adds watermark + C2PA credentials).
- Most volatile: Grok ( touts Aurora, but image features on X were restricted to paid users after backlash).
Pricing and free limits to know before you commit
- ChatGPT: Free plan = limited image generation; paid plans include it. “Go” is positioned as 10× more image creation than Free.
- Gemini: Google publishes daily caps (and warns they may change).
- Copilot / Bing Image Creator: Free text-to-image generator access, but demand can throttle; outputs include a visible watermark + C2PA credentials.
- Grok: Image generation on X has been pushed behind a paywall.
If you build tools, OpenAI lists are deprecated in the API, with support ending in May 2026.
How to choose in five minutes
- Need readable text? ChatGPT or Gemini.
- Need heavy editing/versioning? ChatGPT.
- Want a free AI image generator for quick volume? Gemini’s non‑Pro model tiers usually stretch further.
- Live in Microsoft 365? Copilot.
FAQ
Which AI image generator is best for text inside images?
ChatGPT and Gemini both target typography and layout; also, factor in watermark rules for client deliverables.
Is there a truly free AI image generator with high limits?
Free tiers exist, but daily caps shift with demand. Gemini publishes daily limits; ChatGPT’s free plan is explicitly “limited.”
Can Microsoft Copilot create images for marketing?
Yes. Word uses Designer’s Image Creator (DALL·E 3), and Bing Image Creator outputs watermarked images that work for many ads and blogs.
Bottom line: for creators and small businesses in the field, ChatGPT is the best overall AI image generator. Gemini is the strongest Google-native alternative. Copilot wins when Microsoft 365 is already your home base. Grok is a specialist pick with unstable access.