Midjourney Review 2026: Pricing, Example Prompts & Honest Drawbacks
Erwin Berkouwer
Midjourney is de toonaangevende AI-beeldgenerator voor creatieve professionals die maximale esthetische kwaliteit zoeken. Het platform biedt plannen van $10 tot $120 per maand en genereert fotorealistische en artistieke beelden via tekstprompts. Er is geen gratis plan beschikbaar en de tool heeft een leercurve, maar levert resultaten die geen enkele concurrent evenaren.
Midjourney is the gold standard for AI image generation. Discover pricing (Basic $10 to Mega $120/month), copy-paste example prompts and honest drawbacks.
What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is an AI image generation tool considered the gold standard for creating visually stunning images with artificial intelligence. With nothing more than a text description — a "prompt" — Midjourney generates images ranging from photorealistic portraits to surrealist artworks, from architectural concepts to fantasy landscapes.
What sets Midjourney apart from competitors is its unrivalled aesthetic quality. The images have a distinctive artistic style that is often difficult to distinguish from the work of professional artists and photographers.
Concrete example prompts
Portrait photography (realistic)
What you type: `portrait of a Dutch woman, 35 years old, natural light, soft bokeh, Canon 85mm lens, professional headshot --ar 4:5 --style raw`
What you get back: A sharp, photorealistic portrait suitable for LinkedIn or a professional website.
Product visualisation for marketing
What you type: `minimalist skincare product flat lay, white marble background, soft shadows, pastel colors, commercial photography style --ar 1:1 --stylize 200`
What you get back: A professional product photo ready to use for social media or an online shop.
Concept art for a presentation
What you type: `modern sustainable office interior, biophilic design, natural wood, green plants, warm light, architectural render, photorealistic --ar 16:9 --quality 2`
What you get back: A compelling visualisation for a client presentation or pitch deck.
Social media visual
What you type: `cozy autumn cafe scene, warm golden hour light, steaming coffee cup, street visible through window, cinematic mood --ar 9:16 --style raw`
What you get back: An atmospheric Instagram Story or Reel thumbnail.
Pricing and plans
Midjourney has no free plan. With annual billing you receive a 20% discount.
| Plan | Price/month | Annual price/month | Fast GPU hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10 (~€9) | $8 (~€7) | 3.3 hrs/month | ~200 generations, no relaxed mode |
| Standard | $30 (~€28) | $24 (~€22) | 15 hrs/month | Unlimited relaxed, ideal for regular use |
| Pro | $60 (~€55) | $48 (~€44) | 30 hrs/month | Stealth mode, 12 parallel jobs |
| Mega | $120 (~€110) | $96 (~€88) | 60 hrs/month | For heavy professional users and studios |
Honest drawbacks
- No free plan — cheapest option is $10/month
- No public API for automated use
- Text in images is still not perfect
- Learning curve with advanced prompt techniques
- Web interface still in active development
Frequently asked questions
Is Midjourney free?
No. The cheapest plan is Basic at $10/month (~€9). There is no permanent free option.
Do I need Discord?
Midjourney has its own web interface at midjourney.com. Sign up via a Discord account, but generation can be done entirely through the website.
Can I use the images commercially?
Yes, on paid plans you have commercial rights. Always check the current licence terms at midjourney.com.
What is the difference between fast and relaxed?
Fast generates in 10–30 seconds. Relaxed is unlimited but has a queue (sometimes minutes). Standard and higher get both options.
Midjourney vs. DALL-E 3: which should I choose?
Choose Midjourney for maximum aesthetic quality. Choose DALL-E 3 if you want to start for free via ChatGPT or need text in your images.
Veelgestelde vragen
Korte, heldere antwoorden die je helpen sneller beslissen.
Is Midjourney gratis te gebruiken?
Nee. Het goedkoopste plan is Basic voor $10 per maand (~euro 9). Midjourney bood vroeger een gratis proefversie aan, maar die is al enige tijd afgeschaft.
Heb ik Discord nodig om Midjourney te gebruiken?
Niet meer. Midjourney heeft een eigen webinterface op midjourney.com. Je kunt aanmelden via je Discord-account, maar je hoeft Discord niet actief te gebruiken om afbeeldingen te genereren.
Kan ik Midjourney-afbeeldingen commercieel gebruiken?
Ja, op betaalde plannen (Basic en hoger) heb je commerciele rechten op de gegenereerde afbeeldingen. Controleer altijd de actuele licentievoorwaarden op midjourney.com.
Wat is het verschil tussen fast en relaxed genereren?
Fast GPU-modus genereert beelden in 10-30 seconden. Relaxed-modus is onbeperkt maar plaatst je in een wachtrij. Standard en hogere abonnementen bieden beide opties.
Midjourney vs. DALL-E 3: welke is beter?
Midjourney levert superieure esthetische kwaliteit en meer stijlcontrole. DALL-E 3 is beter in het nauwkeurig opvolgen van prompts, het weergeven van tekst in afbeeldingen, en is gratis beschikbaar via ChatGPT.
