Best free AI for graphics and images?

There is no single best free option, but the Gemini app with Nano Banana 2 and ChatGPT Free are the simplest places to start, since both include image creation at no cost. Neither publishes a fixed number of free images, and free tiers usually come with lower limits or slower queues than paid plans.

• Gemini app: Nano Banana 2 is available on every plan, including the free one. Limits are based on compute and reset every 5 hours up to a weekly cap. Plus gets 2x and Pro 4x.
• ChatGPT Free: limited image creation, with the limit and reset time shown in the app.
• Ideogram: 30 credits per week for accounts that sign in with Google, Apple or Microsoft, but images made on the free plan are public.
• Krea: 100 compute units per day, refilled daily, with several models including Krea 3, FLUX, Nano Banana 2.1, GPT Image and Ideogram.
• Adobe Firefly and Microsoft Copilot: both offer free generations. Firefly has a limited daily number, while Copilot's limits may vary by location and demand.

For quality, OpenAI's GPT Image 2.5 models hold the top places on the Arena text-to-image leaderboard of 26 October 2026, and Google's Nano Banana 2.1 is fifth. For occasional images, start with Gemini or ChatGPT. For text in images or posters, try Ideogram. Check each service's terms before any commercial use.