Last updated: 2026-09-26
What changed
- · Pricing change Leonardo.Ai renames pricing tiers to Essential, Premium, and Ultimate source
Leonardo.Ai is an AI platform for image, video, and 3D asset generation, used by over 1.2 million creators for game assets and product concepts. It centers on the proprietary Phoenix model plus third-party models like Veo 3 and Kling, with UV-mapped texture output built for Unity and Unreal Engine.
About Leonardo.Ai
Leonardo.Ai launched in 2022 as a generative AI platform for images, video, and 3D textures, built around its proprietary Phoenix model alongside third-party models such as Flux, Veo 3, Sora 2, and Kling. The company raised a $31 million Series A in 2023, then Canva acquired it in July 2024; it still operates as an independent product with that backing.
The platform pairs a full web editor with team collaboration tools, so studios can share prompts, custom-trained models, and canvas projects across a workspace instead of working solo. Token-based pricing spans a free daily allowance through paid plans, and the API bills pay-as-you-go for developers who want to embed generation directly into their own products.
Pricing
Free tier includes 150 daily tokens. Paid individual plans: Essential $12/month ($10 annual), Premium $30/month ($24 annual), Ultimate $60/month ($48 annual) -- Leonardo renamed the Apprentice/Artisan/Maestro line to Essential/Premium/Ultimate in 2026, prices and token allowances unchanged. All provide monthly token allowances (8,500-60,000 tokens) plus unlimited relaxed generation.
API pricing is pay-as-you-go with $5 free credits to start. Team plans: Team Starter $72/month (3-seat minimum, 75,000 shared tokens), Team Growth $144/month (3-seat minimum, 180,000 shared tokens).
| Tier | Monthly price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 150 tokens daily (resets every 24 hours), limited concurrency, slower generation queues |
| API (Pay-As-You-Go) | Free | Pay-as-you-go model, $5 free credits on signup, variable cost per image based on model/resolution, real-time cost tracking |
| Essential | $12/mo | 8,500 tokens/month, token rollover bank (3-month retention), unlimited relaxed generation, fast generation |
| Premium | $30/mo | 25,000 tokens/month, token rollover bank, unlimited relaxed generation, private mode, faster concurrency |
| Ultimate | $60/mo | 60,000 tokens/month, token rollover bank, unlimited relaxed generation, private mode, maximum concurrency |
Key Features
- Phoenix Model: Proprietary foundational model developed in-house with exceptional prompt adherence, text rendering, and photorealistic output up to 5MP+ resolution
- Multi-Model Support: Access to 10+ proprietary models -- including Phoenix plus the newer Lucid Origin and Lucid Realism foundation models -- alongside third-party integrations such as Flux, Ideogram, Veo 3, Kling, Sora 2, and Nano Banana with different specialized outputs
- Custom Model Training: Fine-tune personal AI models with 10-20 images to create consistent styles and aesthetic concepts with full control over output
- 3D Texture Generation: Generate UV-mapped albedo, normal, and roughness maps directly from text prompts for Unity and Unreal Engine integration
- Video Generation: Create AI-generated videos with Motion models and third-party models including text-to-video and image-to-video capabilities
- Unified Canvas: Real-time editing with inpainting, outpainting, and composite workflows; live preview while sketching with AI
Pros
- Exceptional prompt adherence with the Phoenix model, especially for text rendering inside images
- Free tier resets daily with full feature access, not a locked-down trial
- Custom model fine-tuning gives more style control than most single-model competitors
- 3D texture generation is rare among mainstream image platforms
- Transparent, real-time API cost tracking with no hidden per-call fees
- Web-based unified canvas works without needing a Discord bot to generate
Cons
- Token system complexity and unpredictable costs for high-volume users
- Video generation is extremely token-intensive compared to still images
- Third-party model quality is inconsistent across vendors on the platform
- Learning curve for advanced features like custom model training
- Premium plans required for private image mode and commercial ownership rights
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you pay for Leonardo.Ai?
Leonardo.Ai's free tier includes 150 tokens per day. Paid individual plans run Essential at $12/month, Premium at $30/month, and Ultimate at $60/month, each cheaper on an annual bill, with monthly token allowances between 8,500 and 60,000 plus unlimited relaxed generation. The API bills pay-as-you-go and starts with $5 in free credits. Two seat-based team plans, each with a 3-seat minimum, add a shared token pool on top of the individual allowances.
Does Leonardo.Ai have a free plan?
Yes. The free tier gives 150 tokens daily, resetting every 24 hours, with limited concurrency and slower generation queues. Video generation drains tokens far faster than images, so the free tier suits light image experimentation more than regular video work. Private image mode and commercial ownership rights require a paid plan.
What are Leonardo.Ai's closest competitors?
Midjourney offers a single, tightly tuned aesthetic model for anyone who does not need video or 3D output. Adobe Firefly covers teams needing IP-indemnified, commercially safe images generated inside Photoshop and Illustrator. Freepik bundles a large stock asset library alongside multiple image models rather than one proprietary model line.
Leonardo.Ai or Midjourney: which should you pick?
Midjourney runs a single proprietary image model with no free tier, while Leonardo.Ai gives a free daily token allowance and access to several models including its own Phoenix plus Flux, Veo 3, and Kling. Leonardo.Ai also generates video and 3D textures, which Midjourney does not. Midjourney holds the larger community; Leonardo.Ai answers with custom model training for consistent styles.
What does it take to start using Leonardo.Ai?
A free account, which opens the daily token allowance with no payment required. Pick a model such as Phoenix or one of the Flux variants, enter a prompt in the unified canvas, and refine with inpainting or outpainting. Teams that outgrow the free allowance move to a paid plan for faster queues and private generation.
Top Alternatives
- Midjourney: Midjourney offers one polished aesthetic model; Leonardo.Ai adds video generation, 3D textures, and a free daily allowance.
- Adobe Firefly: Adobe Firefly generates with IP indemnification inside Photoshop and Illustrator, while Leonardo.Ai trains custom models and outputs 3D textures for game engines.
- Freepik: Freepik bundles a large stock asset library across multiple image models; Leonardo.Ai counters with its proprietary Phoenix model and fine-tuned custom training.
Hokai guides covering Leonardo.Ai
- Best AI Tools for Graphic Designers in 2026: Six AI design tools compared by job: Canva, Recraft, Photoroom, Leonardo.Ai, Adobe Firefly and Midjourney, with plans re-read on 8 Nov 2026 so you pick by job.
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- Adobe Firefly or Gencraft: A 2026 Pricing and Feature Comparison: Adobe Firefly runs $9.99-$199.99/month with IP indemnification; Gencraft tops out at $19.99/month for hobbyists. A verified 2026 cost and feature breakdown.
- Stability AI vs Topaz Photo AI: Different Jobs, Not Rivals: Stability AI generates images for 2.5-8 cents each. Topaz Photo costs $199-599 a year to fix real photos. Checked 8 Nov 2026: which job needs which tool.