Best AI Generator for Mac - 10 Powerful Tools

10 min. read

Published on December 14, 2023

published on December 14, 2023

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Looking for the best AI art generator for Mac?

MacBooks and iMac are powerful computing machines that come with superior CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine for AI and ML projects. So, if you’re on a Mac, you can use the following generators to get artistic inspiration or copyright-free artwork.

Best AI Generator Apps for Mac

AI Art Generators	Specialty Features	AI Model	Platform	Pricing (Individual)
Stable Diffusion XL	Negative prompt	SDXL 1.0	Browser	Free trial US 9.00/ month
Adobe Firefly	Generative Fill	Firefly Image 2 Model	Browser	US 4.99/ month Free with Creative Cloud All Apps US 59.99/ month
DALL·E 2	AI image generation frame	DALL-E V2	Browser	Free credits US 15 for 115 credits
Plugger AI	Image to animation video	Edge AI	Browser	Free trial US 29.90/ month
Fotor	Image-to-image generation	Fotor text to art AI	Browser and Desktop	Free trial US 8.99/ month
BlueWillow	Refine images with prompts	Stable Diffusion BlueWillow v4 Google Imgen DALL-E	Browser	Free
Canva AI Image Generator	Change image style with text prompts	Magic Media Text to Image	Browser	Free up to 3 images US 14.99/ month
Playground	Image style searching with text prompts	Playground AI	Browser	Free trial US 15/ month
Bing-Microsoft Designer	100+ languages to prompt the AI engine	DALL-E 3	Browser	Free
GIMP	Allows programming languages like Python, C++, Scheme, etc., to prompt the AI editor	Open source GNU Image Manipulation Program	Desktop	Free

The above list only shows the top 10 generators from the 23 tools I tested. During my research, I considered the following:

No Nonsense UI: The user interface should be simple so anyone can use the tool.
Efficient AI Generation: Many art generators will take you through endless clicks and surveys. I excluded those here.
Affordability: You can start creating AI art without a credit or debit card using any of these apps.
Data Privacy: I’ve only chosen reputed platforms that don’t steal or sell your ideas or private prompts.
Compatibility: I’ve chosen AI art generators that support Safari and Chrome.
Platform: I’ve listed more web apps over desktop apps.
Offline Usage: I’ve also picked desktop apps so you can use them without the internet.

Stable D iffusion XL

Stable Diffusion XL is an upgraded version of the Stable Diffusion deep learning AI model. It uses the diffusion probabilistic models to create unique images from a source image.

Stability AI also included the text-to-image model. Of course, you can upload a source image so that the AI art generator can create sample art based on it.

The XL edition includes three advanced modifications to the text or image prompts. You can now choose an art style from 15 pre-configured modes like Anime, Photographic, Digital Art, 3D Model, etc.

You can also change the image size or aspect ratio in the prompt console. If you need to, you can exclude styles or content from the generated image by defining Negative prompts.

Pros:

Fast and realistic generative AI images
Photo mode for AI art that resembles real-life photographs
API access for image generation on your app or websites

Cons:

Limited free trial
Post-processing editing features are limited

Adobe Firefly

Looking to create AI art similar to a source image? Adobe Firefly is your best bet. Adobe has recently upgraded this generator with its in-house text-to-art and diffusion AI Firefly Image 2 Model.

It can now readily access your Mac hardware resources to generate artwork faster than before. It also makes use of the built-in Apple Neural Engine to process prompts and refinement faster.

In Adobe Firefly, you can incorporate prompt suggestions provided by the tool. You can also refine the Model version, Aspect ratio, Content type, Color and tone, Lighting, Composition, and Exclude items.

Pros:

The free trial has many features
Utilizes local hardware and software resources for faster processing
The AI image editor has intermediate editing features

Cons:

Cluttered user interface
Intermediate learning curve

DALL·E 2

DALL·E 2 is an upgrade over its text-to-image and image-to-image predecessor developed by Open AI. It can now create realistic images from natural language prompts much faster and more convincingly.

You can also use this AI to refine the generated image using a text prompt. Simply highlight a part of the image with the Generation frame and send the prompt. These refinements include replacing an item or character on the image or placing the character on a different background.

Pros:

Makes complex editing of AI artwork seamless using text prompts
Free background removal
Pan and zoom features

Cons:

Lacks useful image post-processing tools
The free version takes a while to generate the final output
The generation frame is a little bit clunky

Plugger AI

Plugger AI is a bundle of AI graphics design, video production, and sound generation. This is a great combination if you need unique still images and multimedia for social media, online ads, and YouTube streaming.

The generative AI works with both text and image prompts. Also, you can link to other art and create matching images.

Moreover, you can extract art styles and instruct the Plugger AI engine to use it for a unique illustration.

It comes with a customizable editing interface where you can choose image aspect ratio, Seed for image-to-image or image theme extraction, and Duration indicator for video and audio.

Pros:

Image style management through text prompts
Attach source image using URLs
Convert images to animation

Cons:

Slower processing speed than top-rated AI art generators
Limited free trial features for unregistered users

Fotor

Fotor is an editor that excels in AI image generation and professional post-processing.

You can produce realistic images using the Fotor AI model. It takes both texts and images as prompts. Then, you can choose from a range of graphics designing tools like Crop, Resize, Vector Shapes, Text Overlays, Background Editing With AI, Face Editor, and more.

Moreover, you can generate both photographs and illustrations. For products, portraits, and imaginary characters you can use the photograph style. For abstract art, fantasy scenes, etc., you can use the illustration theme.

Pros:

A complete AI artwork creator and editing package
Choose from different AI models
Credit-based usage for occasional users

Cons:

The web app is resource-intensive and requires high-end devices
The desktop app takes longer to download, install, and load

Blue W illow

BlueWillow is one of the best AI art creators if you’re still learning graphic design. The tool is linked with the LimeWire content authoring, mastering, and publishing platform.

So, you can easily take your AI images to the public for quick engagement or brand promotion. To master prompting the AI engine, you must visit its Prompt Glossary.

On the LimeWire editor, you can choose the type of AI image production model you want: Stable Diffusion, BlueWillow v4, Google Imgen, and DALL-E. Also, there are separate sections for positive prompts and negative prompts.

Furthermore, you can adjust Image Dimensions, Prompt Guidance, Quality & Details, and Number of Images.

Pros:

Quick learning guides for novice designers
AI prompt training resources
Lightweight user interface
Completely free for commercial usage

Cons:

The user interface is cluttered with unnecessary elements

Canva AI Image Generator

Canva AI is a smart choice if you’ve been already using Canva to produce images for social media, websites, blogs, and online advertisements.

You can use its AI image generator to create art defined by text. You can also use source images to match the artistic style in the output image. There are different AI models you can choose from, like DALL-E, Magic Media, Stable Diffusion, etc.

Canva AI also enables you to generate unique patterned images. These are copy-right free so you can freely use them in any publication, commercial or non-commercial.

Moreover, you can apply usual refinements with tools like Effects, Adjust, Crop, Animate, and more.

Pros:

Offers multiple generative AI engines
The AI image editor has the usual tools from Canva for post-processing
Intuitive and user-friendly UI

Cons:

The free edition is truly limited
No option to match artwork style from a source image

Playground

Playground is a popular AI art generator for Mac accessible via Chrome and Safari browsers. It offers an elaborate image management tool. You can access previously generated images in the Board view. When you need to generate new AI art, you can go to the Canvas view.

The AI tool is suitable for text-to-image, image-to-image, and in-painting to produce realistic graphic designs. There’s also a library of artistic styles in the Filter library.

Playground allows you to choose from Stable Diffusion XL and Playground v2 AI models as well. Finally, you can use image post-processing tools like Image Dimensions, Prompt Guidance, Seed, Quality & Details, Sampler, etc.

Pros:

A large library of artistic filters
Elaborate AI image Board and Canvas interface
Many customizations to choose from

Cons:

Intermediate learning curve
Resource-heavy web app
Limited to 500 images per day

Bing-Microsoft Designer

Bing Image Creator by Microsoft Designer uses the most advanced generative AI engine developed by Open AI – DALL·E 3. You can type instructions to generate AI artwork in 100 different languages. It’s also capable of processing much lengthier prompts than common AI art generators.

If the processing takes longer than usual, you can use Bing Image Creator Boosts. When you run out of Boosts, you can redeem Microsoft 365 reward points.

For post-processing, you can export the image to Microsoft Designer with a single click. The Designer has standard image editing tools like Crop, Remove Background, Quick Lasso Select, Opacity, and more.

Pros:

Image rendering is faster compared to other AI generators
Free Boosts and Microsoft Reward redemptions
Advanced image editing interface with free access

Cons:

No option for image-to-image AI artwork generation
You can’t choose an artistic theme from an image or a library
Super slow image rendering when you run out of Boosts

GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)

Since most AI artwork generators offer little image post-processing features, you need a powerful editor. You can use GIMP for this purpose. It comes with advanced AI-based image manipulation features like background removal, advanced overlays, Wrap Transform, Fuzzy Selection, and more.

Since GIMP is open source, you don’t need to pay licensing fees even for images on commercial platforms.

Pros:

Offline editing of AI artwork using Mac hardware resources
Open source code for advanced development of desktop or web apps
Free-to-use and share images for commercial reasons
User-friendly interface
Virtually no learning curve

Cons:

The Mac app takes a long time to download and install
Dated and less-intuitive user interface

How To Use an AI Generator on Mac?

Below, I’ll demonstrate how to use an AI art generator on a Mac with BlueWillow.

Open the app/website.
Sign up for a free account to save your artwork for future reference.

Once you’re in the AI image creator tool, look for the Text or Image prompt field.
For Text prompts, you need to type the exact instructions for the AI engine.
For Image prompts, first, you need to upload a source image and then write down the text prompts.

If there’s a Negative Prompt field, write down the elements you don’t want in the output image.
Some tools come with a Prompt Guidance slider. Slide to the right to instruct the AI engine to create an image as close as possible to the input prompts.