Ideogram
Cappy’s Quick Take
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | An AI image generator best known for putting accurate, readable text into images |
| Pricing | Freemium · Plus $15/month · Pro $42/month · Team $20/user/month (annual billing) |
| Free plan | Yes, 30 credits a week, with public images |
| Works with | Web app and iOS app, plus an API for developers |
| Best for | Anyone making posters, logos, ads and social graphics with text |
| Cappy Score | 4.3/5 |
What is Ideogram?
Ideogram is an AI image generator best known for typography. Many image tools struggle with words, but Ideogram can place readable text into posters, logos, ads, thumbnails and social graphics.
Beyond text, it creates photos, illustrations and designs, and it includes tools to edit images, upscale them and make videos. Pro adds batch generation for creating many images at once.
Everything runs on credits. When monthly credits run out on a paid plan, you can keep generating with Ideogram’s own models in a slower queue.
Key features
- Text in images: create posters, logos and ads with readable lettering.
- Magic Prompt: expand a short idea into a detailed prompt automatically.
- Editing and upscaling: edit parts of an image and upscale your results.
- Private generation: keep new images private on Plus and above.
- Batch generation: create many images at once from a spreadsheet (Pro).
- Unlimited slow queue: keep using Ideogram models after credits run out on paid plans.
Pricing plans
| Plan | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Trying Ideogram with 30 credits a week |
| Plus | $15/month billed annually ($180/year), or $20 billed monthly | Regular users who want 2,400 credits a month and private images |
| Pro | $42/month billed annually ($504/year), or $60 billed monthly | Heavy users who need 7,500 credits and batch generation |
| Team | $20/user/month billed annually, or $30 billed monthly (2 users minimum) | Teams that need central billing, with 3,600 credits per user |
| Enterprise | Custom | Organizations with custom agreements |
Which plan should you pick? Start on Free. Plus on annual billing is right for most people: private images, plenty of credits and an unlimited slow queue. Choose Pro only if you need batch generation or very high volume.
Ideogram free plan: what you get
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credits | 30 a week |
| Sign-in | Google, Apple or Microsoft only (email accounts get no free credits) |
| Privacy | All images are public |
| When credits run out | Wait for next week or buy credits |
The catch: Everything you create on the free plan is public, and you only get free credits if you sign in with Google, Apple or Microsoft.
Who is Ideogram for?
- Marketers: create ads and social graphics with headlines.
- Small businesses: design posters, flyers and simple logos.
- Designers: mock up typography ideas quickly.
- Content creators: make thumbnails with readable text.
Consider something else if you need vector files you can edit, or you never need text in your images.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Excellent at readable text in images
- Free weekly credits
- Unlimited slow queue on paid plans
- Batch generation on Pro
Cons
- Free images are public
- Monthly credits don’t roll over
- Edits, upscales and outside models still need credits
- Older Basic plan is no longer sold
Ideogram alternatives
| Tool | Why consider it |
|---|---|
| Recraft | Vector graphics and editable logos |
| Midjourney | Highly artistic, polished images |
| Adobe Firefly | Built for commercial use and works with Adobe apps |
| Leonardo.ai | Many AI models and free daily tokens |
How to get started with Ideogram
- Sign up free with Google, Apple or Microsoft to get weekly credits.
- Type a prompt, putting any text you want in the image in quotes.
- Pick a style and aspect ratio, then generate.
- Edit, upscale or download the result you like.
Tip: Keep the text you want in the image short and put it in quotation marks in your prompt. Short headlines come out cleaner than long sentences.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ideogram free?
Yes. Free accounts get 30 credits a week when they sign in with Google, Apple or Microsoft. Images on the free plan are public.
How much does Ideogram cost?
Plus costs $20 and Pro $60 a month, or $15 and $42 a month billed annually. Team costs $30 per user a month, or $20 billed annually.
Do Ideogram credits roll over?
No. Monthly plan credits reset on each renewal date. Credits you buy separately are used after your monthly credits.
What happens when my Ideogram credits run out?
On Plus, Pro and Team, you can keep generating with Ideogram’s models in a slower queue. Edits, upscales and outside models still need credits.