AI image generation in 2026 has a hidden divide: Chinese text rendering. International tools (Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion) produce beautiful images but struggle with Chinese characters. Chinese tools (通义万相, 文心一格, 即梦) render Chinese text naturally — a critical advantage for any Chinese-language content.
Sources: midjourney.com, tongyi.aliyun.com, yiyan.baidu.com, jimeng.jianying.com
Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Entry Paid | Image Quality | Chinese Text | Style Control | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midjourney V8.1 | ❌ Trials | $10/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Artistic, pro |
| DALL-E 3 | ✅ ChatGPT free | $20/mo Plus | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | General, quick |
| Stable Diffusion 3.5 | ✅ Free (OSS) | $0 (self-host) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Custom models |
| 通义万相 | ✅ Daily free | Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Chinese content |
| 文心一格 | ✅ 50/day | Free/¥59/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Baidu ecosystem |
| 即梦 | ✅ Daily | Free/¥69/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Short video assets |
| 可图 Koolai | ✅ Free | Free | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | Quick social |
Midjourney V8.1 — Best Image Quality
Pricing: Free trials → Basic $10/mo (200 mins) → Standard $30/mo → Pro $60/mo
Midjourney V8.1 is a stability-focused update with 3x faster HD mode at 3x cheaper. Image quality remains the gold standard in the industry — blind tests consistently favor Midjourney.
Strengths:
- Best image quality and artistic composition
- V8.1: HD mode faster and cheaper
- Prompt Shortener + updated Describe features
- Editing model (V8-based) coming soon
Weaknesses:
- Chinese text rendering is poor — characters are scrambled or wrong
- No free tier (limited trials only)
- Discord-only interface
Chinese limitation for Chinese users: If you need to generate product images with Chinese text (posters, ads, social media), Midjourney is not usable. Chinese characters in generated images are almost always garbled.
Best for: Artistic and professional imagery where Chinese text is not needed.
通义万相 (Tongyi Wanxiang) — Best Chinese Image
Pricing: Free (daily credits)
Alibaba's 通义万相 is the best Chinese AI image generator. It handles Chinese text naturally — posters, advertisements, and social media images with correct Chinese characters.
Strengths:
- Chinese text rendering: generates readable Chinese characters in images
- Free: daily free credits
- Alibaba Cloud integration: API access for business use
- Chinese aesthetic training: generates culturally appropriate imagery
- Style variety: realistic, anime, illustration
Weaknesses:
- Artistic quality behind Midjourney for non-Chinese imagery
- Fewer style options than Midjourney
- Slower iteration speed
Best for: Chinese content creators who need AI images with Chinese text. Social media advertising.
文心一格 (ERNIE-ViG) — Best Baidu Integration
Pricing: Free (50/day) → Pro ¥59/mo
Baidu's 文心一格 integrates with ERNIE Bot and Baidu's ecosystem. Strong at Chinese text rendering and Chinese cultural context.
Strengths:
- Chinese text rendering is accurate
- ERNIE Bot integration for prompt generation
- Good for Chinese business presentations
- 50 free images per day
Weaknesses:
- Image quality behind Midjourney
- Baidu ecosystem lock
- Fewer advanced features
Best for: Chinese business users, Baidu ecosystem. Internal presentations and marketing materials.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Midjourney V8.1 | DALL-E 3 | SD 3.5 | 通义万相 | 文心一格 | 即梦 | 可图 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Chinese text | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Style variety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Speed | Moderate | Fast | Fast | Fast | Moderate | Fast | Fast |
| Free tier | Trials | ✅ ChatGPT | ✅ OSS | ✅ Daily | ✅ 50/day | ✅ Daily | ✅ Free |
| API available | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Training own model | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Quick Decision Guide
| If you need... | Choose | Entry price |
|---|---|---|
| Best artistic quality, no Chinese text | Midjourney V8.1 | $10/mo |
| Free, general purpose | DALL-E 3 (ChatGPT) | $20/mo |
| Custom models, full control | Stable Diffusion 3.5 | $0 |
| Chinese text in images | 通义万相 | $0 |
| Baidu ecosystem + Chinese | 文心一格 | $0 |
| Social media assets + text | 即梦 | $0 |
Summary
For Chinese users who need Chinese text in images: 通义万相 is the best choice — free, accurate Chinese text rendering, and good image quality.
For artistic quality without Chinese text: Midjourney V8.1 remains unbeatable.
For developers who need custom models: Stable Diffusion 3.5 is still the most flexible option.
The compromise strategy: use 通义万相 for Chinese-text images and Midjourney for artistic work. Both are affordable enough to use together.
Pricing sourced from official websites as of May 2026.
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