Midjourney for Beginners: Make Beautiful AI Images (and Know What It Costs)

Prices and features checked October 14, 2026.

What is Midjourney?

Midjourney is an AI image and video maker from an independent company also called Midjourney. You type a description, and it creates artwork. You use it on the Midjourney website (midjourney.com) or through its Discord server.

People choose it when they care most about how good the image looks.

Key strengths

1. Focused on high-quality art. Midjourney's current default model is V8.2, released July 24, 2026, which the company says focuses on "aesthetics, image quality, and Personalization."
2. Edit with references. The new Edit Model can use up to four reference images and can edit, generate, inpaint (change part of a picture), and outpaint (extend it).
3. Your own style. Personalization and moodboards help Midjourney learn the look you like.
4. Images to short videos. You can turn an image into a 5-second video and extend it by 4 seconds at a time, up to about 21 seconds.
5. Clear commercial-use rules. Paid subscribers can use their images in "just about any way," but companies earning over $1 million a year must use the Pro or Mega plan.

Best use cases

How-to guides

1. How to make your first image

Who it's for: Total beginners.

Steps:

1. Go to midjourney.com.
2. Sign up and choose a paid plan. (There's no free plan.)
3. Click Create.
4. In the prompt bar at the top, describe your image.
5. Include four things: subject, style, lighting, and shape.
6. Press Enter. Midjourney makes a set of images.
7. Click the one you like to open it, then download it.

Copy-paste prompts:

cozy cabin in a snowy forest, watercolor painting, golden hour light --ar 3:2

Copy

portrait of an old fisherman smiling, cinematic photo, soft window light, shallow depth of field --ar 4:5

Copy

Pro tip: --ar sets the shape. --ar 1:1 is square, --ar 16:9 is wide, and --ar 9:16 is tall for phone screens.

Common mistake: Writing long sentences full of filler like "please make me a really nice picture of." Short, clear descriptions work better.

2. How to keep a consistent style

Who it's for: Small brands and creators who want every image to "look like them."

Steps:

1. Open Midjourney on the website.
2. Find Personalization in the prompt bar settings.
3. Follow the steps to rank images you like. This builds your profile.
4. Or create a moodboard by adding images that match your style.
5. Turn your profile or moodboard on before you make images.
6. Use the same profile for all your brand images.

Copy-paste prompts:

flat-lay of a coffee cup and notebook on a wooden desk, morning light, minimal style --ar 1:1

Copy

product photo of a handmade candle on a marble counter, soft natural light --ar 4:5

Copy

Pro tip: Midjourney says V8.2 personalization works much better on profiles with lots of ranked images. Spend 10 minutes ranking.

Common mistake: Changing your style settings every time. Pick one profile and stick to it for a whole project.

3. How to fix or extend part of an image

Who it's for: Designers and marketers who need small changes.

Steps:

1. Open the image in your Midjourney gallery.
2. Open the Editor (it uses the new Edit Model in V8.2).
3. Brush over the part you want to change.
4. Describe what should go there.
5. To make the picture bigger, use zoom out or pan to extend the edges.
6. Compare results, and keep the best one.

Copy-paste prompts (for the edit box):

replace the cloudy sky with a bright sunset

Copy

add a small brown dog sitting by the door

Copy

Pro tip: You can add up to four reference images to guide edits, per Midjourney's docs.

Common mistake: Editing an HD image and wondering why it got smaller. Midjourney says inpainting and outpainting on HD images downscale to SD. Upscale again after.

4. How to turn an image into a short video

Who it's for: Social media creators who want motion.

Steps:

1. On the Create page, pick or upload an image.
2. Switch the prompt bar to video mode.
3. Choose Animate Auto, or Manual to describe the motion.
4. Wait for your 5-second video.
5. To make it longer, use Extend (adds 4 seconds each time).
6. Download it when you're happy.

Copy-paste prompts (for Manual motion):

slow camera push-in, steam rising from the coffee cup

Copy

leaves gently falling, soft wind moving the trees

Copy

Pro tip: Keep motion simple. One movement looks more natural than five.

Common mistake: Expecting HD video on Basic. Midjourney's plan chart shows Basic gets SD video only. Standard and up get SD and HD.

5. How to make graphics for social media or products

Who it's for: Small business owners and side hustlers.

Steps:

1. Pick the right shape for your platform (--ar 1:1 for a square post, --ar 9:16 for Stories).
2. Describe the product or scene, plus your brand colors.
3. Use your Personalization profile for a consistent look.
4. Download the image.
5. Add your text and logo in a design app.
6. If your company earns more than $1 million a year, make sure you're on Pro or Mega.

Copy-paste prompts:

bright summer lemonade stand on a sunny street, cheerful illustration, yellow and teal colors --ar 1:1

Copy

elegant gift box with a gold ribbon on a dark green background, studio lighting --ar 9:16

Copy

Pro tip: Want your work hidden from the public gallery? Stealth Mode is only on Pro and Mega.

Common mistake: Using real brand logos or famous characters you don't own. Stick to your own brand and original ideas.

Free vs paid: which Midjourney plan should you get?

US prices, checked October 14, 2026. There's no free plan or standard free trial on midjourney.com.

Notes:

• Extra fast GPU time costs $4 per hour on every plan.
• Paying yearly saves 20%.
• Companies earning over $1 million a year must use Pro or Mega.

When is upgrading worth it?

• Start with Basic ($10) to learn. It's about 200 minutes of fast time a month.
• Move to Standard ($30) if you run out every month. Unlimited Relax-mode images is the big win.
• Choose Pro ($60) if you need Stealth Mode for private client work, or your business is over $1 million in revenue.
• Mega ($120) is for heavy, daily creators.

Not sure you'll use it? Try free image tools first in ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, or Meta AI. If you love making images, Midjourney is the step up.

Limitations, and when to use a different AI

• No free plan. For free images, use ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, or Meta AI.
• It's an image tool, not a chatbot. For writing, answers, and research, use ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity.
• Public by default below Pro. Your images can appear in the gallery unless you have Stealth Mode (Pro and Mega).
• Studying or notes? NotebookLM (Gemini Notebook).
• Office or Google Docs? Microsoft Copilot or Gemini.
• Free, all-purpose chat? DeepSeek (check privacy first).

FAQ

Is Midjourney free? No. Midjourney doesn't have a free plan, and there's no standard free trial on midjourney.com. Plans start at $10 a month, or $8 a month billed yearly.

Is Midjourney worth it? It's worth it if you make images often and care a lot about quality and style. If you only need a few pictures a month, free tools in ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, or Meta AI may be enough.

Midjourney vs ChatGPT for images: which is better? Midjourney is built only for images and video, with deep style controls. ChatGPT makes images inside a chat and can be free. Pick Midjourney for art-quality work, ChatGPT for quick, easy images.

Can Midjourney make videos? Yes. You can turn an image into a 5-second video and extend it 4 seconds at a time, up to about 21 seconds. Basic gets SD video; Standard and up get HD too.

Can I use Midjourney images for my business? Yes, if you've subscribed. Midjourney says paid users can use their images in "just about any way," but companies earning more than $1 million a year must be on Pro or Mega.