Text-to-image AI models generate images from textual descriptions, and their popularity often reflects user preference and tool integration. Based on recent research and user engagement, here are the top 10 models, ordered by popularity, as of March 2025.
Key Points
- Research suggests Recraft V3 is the most popular text-to-image AI model, based on user preferences.
- It seems likely that models like Midjourney v6.1 and Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large are widely used due to their tool integrations.
- The evidence leans toward Imagen 3 (v002) and FLUX1.1 [pro] being popular for their high-quality outputs.
- An unexpected detail is the inclusion of Playground v3 (beta), which excels in graphic design tasks.
Top 10 Models by Popularity
The following table lists the top 10 text-to-image AI models, ordered by their ELO scores from the Artificial Analysis leaderboard, indicating user preference and inferred popularity:
| Rank | Model | ELO Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recraft V3 | 1138 |
| 2 | Reve Image (Halfmoon) | 1132 |
| 3 | Imagen 3 (v002) | 1112 |
| 4 | FLUX1.1 [pro] | 1111 |
| 5 | Midjourney v6.1 | 1077 |
| 6 | FLUX.1 [dev] | 1074 |
| 7 | Ideogram v2 | 1072 |
| 8 | Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large | 1059 |
| 9 | FLUX.1 [schnell] | 1032 |
| 10 | Playground v3 (beta) | 1029 |
Detailed Model Insights
Each model has unique strengths, contributing to its popularity:
- Recraft V3: Leads with an ELO of 1138, known for high aesthetic quality and professional-grade text generation, making it ideal for design tasks (Swiftask.ai: Top text-to-image AI models).
- Reve Image (Halfmoon): Close behind at 1132, noted for photorealism, though less discussed in mainstream tools.
- Imagen 3 (v002): At 1112, Google’s model excels in realistic outputs, used in Gemini for text-to-image generation (How to use Google Gemini to create images from text | Tom’s Guide).
- FLUX1.1 [pro]: Scores 1111, from Black Forest Labs, praised for diverse and high-quality outputs, popular among developers (9meters.com: Top Text-to-Image Models of 2025).
- Midjourney v6.1: At 1077, a proprietary model known for photorealism and granular control, widely used in creative communities (Tom’s Guide: Best AI Image Generators of 2025).
- FLUX.1 [dev]: Scores 1074, a variant of FLUX, offering fast generation with good quality.
- Ideogram v2: At 1072, excels in text rendering within images, popular for graphic design and branding (9meters.com: Top Text-to-Image Models of 2025).
- Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: At 1059, an open-source model with widespread use, supported by Hugging Face and various tools (Hugging Face Models).
- FLUX.1 [schnell]: Scores 1032, known for speed, appealing to users needing quick generation.
- Playground v3 (beta): At 1029, a newer model from Playground AI, noted for graphic design and complex prompt understanding, an unexpected inclusion for its niche strengths (Playground V3: Your Design Canvas | Medium).
Supporting Data and Tools
These models are often integrated into platforms, enhancing their popularity. For instance, Midjourney v6.1 is the default for Midjourney users, while Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large is accessible via Hugging Face and tools like Leonardo. The following table highlights key tools and their associated models:
| Tool | Primary Model Used | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Midjourney | Midjourney v6.1 | Proprietary, known for photorealism, popular in creative communities |
| Leonardo | Phoenix (e.g., 1.0 Ultra) | Custom model, evolved from Stable Diffusion, offers video mode |
| Ideogram | Ideogram v2 | Excels in text rendering, integrated into Tess AI |
| Google Gemini | Imagen 3 (v002) | Used for text-to-image in Gemini, high-quality outputs |
| OpenAI | DALL-E 3 HD | Not in top 10, but notable for text-on-image capabilities |
| Stable Diffusion | Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large | Open-source, widely used, high adaptability |
| Adobe Firefly | Firefly model | Ethical training data, popular in professional design |
| NightCafe | Likely Stable Diffusion | Community support, range of model choices |
| Freepik | Mystic model | Easy UI, sketch enhancement, popular for casual users |
| Luma Labs | Photon model | Collaboration tool, image-to-video conversion |
This table, derived from recent analyses, shows how tool popularity boosts model usage (Tom’s Guide: Best AI Image Generators of 2025).
Conclusion
This analysis provides a forward-looking view of text-to-image AI model popularity, emphasizing user preferences and tool integrations. Models like Recraft V3 and Midjourney v6.1 are likely to remain dominant, while niche models like Playground v3 (beta) indicate evolving user needs, shaping the future of AI-generated visuals.