Category
Image Generation APIs pricing
Image Generation APIs split into three camps: hyperscale foundation-model platforms (OpenAI, Google) with Stripe-tier docs and proven uptime; aggregator/inference platforms (Replicate, fal.ai) that wrap hundreds of open models behind one API and compete on DX and breadth; and model-maker first-party APIs (Black Forest Labs/FLUX, Stability AI, Ideogram) where the API is a direct channel to a specific model family. When comparing, weigh documentation and developer experience most heavily (30%), then reliability/SLA maturity (25%) and SDK/ecosystem breadth (25%), and finally how fast a developer or agent can self-serve a working key with transparent pricing and free credits (20%). Pricing is broadly per-image or per-megapixel ($0.003 cheap open models up to ~$0.10-0.25 for top quality); free tiers range from $20 credit (fal) down to none on the API (Ideogram).
| API | Billed by | Free tier | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
 OpenAI Images (gpt-image) Image Generation APIs | Per token (~$0.02-0.25/image) | No free tier | Jun 27, 2026 |
 Google Imagen / Gemini Image Image Generation APIs | Per image / per token ($0.02-0.15) | Free tier or trial | Jun 27, 2026 |
 fal.ai Image Generation APIs | Per image / per megapixel ($0.003-0.04) | Free tier or trial | Jun 27, 2026 |
 Replicate Image Generation APIs | Per image / GPU-second ($0.003-0.04) | No free tier | Jun 27, 2026 |
 Stability AI Image Generation APIs | Per image, credit-based ($0.03-0.08) | Free tier or trial | Jun 27, 2026 |
 Black Forest Labs (FLUX) Image Generation APIs | Per megapixel, credit-based ($0.015-0.07/MP) | No free tier | Jun 27, 2026 |
 Ideogram Image Generation APIs | Per image ($0.03-0.10) | No free tier | Jun 27, 2026 |