How to Create Images with AI for Free: Tools, Prompts and Step-by-Step Guide
Learn to create images with artificial intelligence for free: the best tools, how to write effective prompts, ready-to-use templates and practical tips.
5 min read
Visual creativity without spending a euro
Creating images with artificial intelligence is no longer a luxury reserved for design professionals. In 2026 there are several free tools that generate stunning images from a simple text description.
Whether you need an image for a social media post, a presentation, a blog or just for fun, in this guide you will learn to use the best free tools and to write prompts that deliver professional-quality results.
Best free tools for creating images with AI
Bing Image Creator (Microsoft)
Powered by OpenAI's powerful DALL·E model, Bing Image Creator generates high-quality images from text descriptions. It is completely free with a Microsoft account.
Advantages: High quality, easy to use, direct access from Bing. Ideal for: Beginners, realistic and creative images.
Canva AI
Canva integrates AI image generation into its design editor. Ideal if you need to create an image and put it directly into a post, a card or a presentation.
Advantages: Design integration, templates, commercial use allowed. Ideal for: Social media, marketing materials, presentations.
Leonardo AI
Very popular among artists and content creators. It offers a free plan with daily credits that renew. It allows very fine control of style, lighting and composition.
Advantages: Detailed control, artistic style, prompt community. Ideal for: Concept art, characters, specific visual styles.
Gemini (Google)
Google's AI also generates images, though in a more basic way. Integrated into the chat, you can ask it to create images directly in the conversation.
Advantages: No additional registration (uses your Google account), integrated in chat. Ideal for: Quick use, simple images, visual prototypes.
How to write effective prompts for images
An effective image prompt follows a clear structure. It is not enough to write "a cat." You need to give visual details that guide the model.
The perfect prompt formula
[Subject] + [Artistic style] + [Lighting] + [Composition] + [Color/Mood]
Generic vs. optimized prompt example
| Generic prompt | Optimized prompt |
|---|---|
| "A cat" | "A stray cat sitting on a window sill at sunset, watercolor style, warm orange lighting, centered composition, golden and blue tones, detail in the eyes" |
| "A city" | "Futuristic city skyline at night, cyberpunk style, light rain, blue and pink neon reflected in puddles, aerial perspective, high definition" |
| "A forest" | "Enchanted forest at dawn, fantasy style, rays of light filtering through trees, soft fog, green and golden colors, magical atmosphere, digital illustration style" |
Prompt template you can reuse
Copy this template and modify the fields in brackets:
[Main subject description], [artistic style: watercolor / photorealistic / pixel art / digital illustration / oil painting], [lighting: natural / dramatic / soft / sunset / neon], [composition: close-up / panoramic / top-down / backlit], [color palette: warm / cool / monochromatic / vibrant], [mood: epic / calm / mysterious / cheerful]
Completed example: "An astronaut walking on Mars, photorealistic style, dramatic lighting with long shadows, top-down composition, warm orange and red color palette, epic and lonely atmosphere."
Prompt examples before and after
Example 1: For an Instagram post
- Before: "Generate a nice image"
- After: "Generate a square image of specialty coffee with a latte art cup, minimalist style, soft natural window light, brown and cream tones, cozy atmosphere, ideal for Instagram."
Example 2: For a blog
- Before: "Technology image"
- After: "Create an image of a computer screen showing code, viewed from behind of a person, blue screen lighting, cinematic style, depth of field, futuristic tone."
Example 3: For a presentation
- Before: "Presentation background"
- After: "Abstract background for corporate presentation, dark blue to turquoise gradient, subtle geometric shapes, modern and professional style, 16:9, high resolution."
Free tool comparison
| Tool | Quality | Free credits | Commercial use | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bing Image Creator | High | Generous (daily) | Yes | Very easy |
| Canva AI | Medium-High | Limited (daily) | Yes | Easy (with editor) |
| Leonardo AI | Very High | 150 tokens/day | Yes (with attribution) | Medium |
| Gemini | Medium | Unlimited (basic) | Check terms | Very easy |
Legal and usage limitations
Before using AI-generated images, keep in mind:
- Copyright: In many jurisdictions, AI-generated images have uncertain legal status. Check the legislation in your country.
- Terms of service: Each tool has its own rules about commercial use. Read the terms before using an image to sell or publish.
- Brands and people: Do not generate images that reproduce registered trademarks, logos or real people without authorization.
- Transparency: In professional contexts, it is good practice to indicate that an image has been generated with AI.
- Sensitive data: Do not upload photos of people without their consent to AI tools.
Verdict
Creating images with AI for free in 2026 is easier and more accessible than ever. With tools like Bing Image Creator, Leonardo AI and Canva, you can generate professional-quality visual content without spending anything. The key is learning to write good prompts: with the subject + style + light + composition formula, you will get results that impress. Start today, experiment with different styles and make AI your favorite creative tool.
Want to go beyond images? Discover the best AI tools for generating images in 2026 or check out the best free AI tools to boost your creativity. If you want to start from scratch, do not miss our beginner's guide to generative AI.
Author's opinion
Creating images with AI has gone from being a tech toy to a serious creative tool in 2026. I have seen freelance designers use Bing Image Creator to generate sketches in seconds, teachers create visual material tailored to their classes and entrepreneurs produce social media content without hiring a designer. Accessibility has changed the game.
That said, the quality of the result depends enormously on the prompt. The difference between a generic and a stunning image is in the details: style, light, composition, colors. My advice is not to settle for your first prompt. Iterate, experiment and save the prompts that give you the best results. Each generator has its strengths, so try at least two or three before deciding which one is yours.
Álvaro Cimadevilla
Founder, writer and testing lead
Frequently asked questions
Where can I create images with AI for free?
The best free options in 2026 are Bing Image Creator (powered by DALL·E), Canva AI with daily credits, Leonardo AI with a free plan and Google's Gemini for basic generation. All allow you to create images without paying anything.
How do I write a good image prompt?
A good image prompt describes the subject, the artistic style, the lighting, the composition and the color. For example: 'A stray cat at sunset, watercolor style, warm lighting, close composition'. Include as many visual details as you can.
Can I use the images commercially?
It depends on the tool. Bing Image Creator and Canva allow commercial use on their free plans. Leonardo AI and other generators have specific policies. Always review the terms of service before using an AI-generated image for commercial purposes.
Which free tool gives the best results?
Bing Image Creator and Leonardo AI usually offer the best visual quality on free plans. Canva AI is better if you need to integrate the image into a design. The choice depends on your specific need and the style you are looking for.
Cited sources
- Microsoft — Bing Image Creator (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Canva — AI Tools (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Leonardo AI (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Google — Gemini (accessed 2026-09-01)
Author at IA España
Álvaro Cimadevilla
Founder, writer and testing lead
Founder of IA España. Writes every article on the site and personally verifies prices, figures and features before publishing them.