Exploring artificial intelligence to create images, videos, and audio may seem intimidating at first. The good news is that you don't need to commit to expensive subscriptions right away; there are free tools that already offer sufficient quality to test ideas, experiment with creative flows, and even deliver consistent results.

These free versions work like a creative laboratory; you understand how the technology behaves, learn to master prompts, and discover in which stages of the process it can really speed up your work. Only later, if it makes sense, is it worth considering the investment in paid plans.

In this article, we have gathered 18 free AI tools that can help you experiment before taking the next step.

Free AI Tools for Image

1. ChatGPT (GPT-4o Image Generation)

ChatGPT is not just for text: in the free version, the GPT-4o model already allows you to create images from prompts, with monthly limits. For those interested, DALL·E 3 is still available as a separate GPT, but is not the current standard.

It stands out for its ease of use; simply write a prompt and in seconds you have an image ready. It's great for quick ideation, moodboards, and presentation drafts.

✅ Pros:

• Native in ChatGPT free

• Simple experience, no need for another platform

• Good for conceptual illustrations

⛔ Cons:

• Monthly limits on the free plan

• Less flexible than dedicated models (like Flux or Leonardo)

In practice, ChatGPT works as a visual prototyping shortcut, especially for those who already use the tool in their daily lives.

Playback image: DALL·E 3

Free version: GPT-4o generates images with monthly limits.
Paid version: ChatGPT Plus, with more credits and expanded access.

2. Luma AI – Dream Machine

Luma AI became known for its video models, but in the free plan, it only offers image generation. Even so, the quality is impressive.

The interface works almost like an interactive brainstorm: you write a prompt, receive images, and can iterate with suggestions from the platform itself. This helps unlock visual ideas in design and audio-visual projects.

✅ Pros:

• High photographic quality

• Interface that encourages experimentation

• Good for mockups and moodboards

⛔ Cons:

• Very limited free credits

• Video generation only in the paid plan

For those looking for impactful visual references at the start of projects, it is a great option.

Playback image: Lumalabs

Free version: images only, with weekly credits.
Paid version: from $9.99/month, unlocking video up to 1080p.

3. Leonardo AI

The Leonardo AI is one of the most complete platforms for concept art, games, and digital design. It offers a wide range of styles and ready-made models, allowing the generation of consistent images, from stylized illustrations to photorealistic results.

✅ Pros:

• Large library of models and presets

• Consistent outputs for concept art

• Active and creative community

⛔ Cons:

• Less intuitive interface for beginners

• Higher learning curve than competitors

In practice, it is excellent for character and scenery studies. It requires more testing but rewards with high visual quality.

Playback image: leonardo.ai

Free version: about 150 tokens/day (number of images varies by the cost of each generation).
Paid version: plans starting at $10/month.

4. Flux

The Flux from Black Forest Labs has been catching attention for its consistency in sequential images.

It stands out in portraits and editorial photography, maintaining style and coherence in variations. It is available on different platforms, including the FLUX Official Playground, Replicate, and even as open weights on Hugging Face.

✅ Pros:

• Good visual consistency

• Editorial and photorealistic quality

• Active community

⛔ Cons:

• Limited free credits

• Requires practice in prompting

For art directors and product designers, it is a high-value tool already in the free version. Ideal for campaigns, mockups, and visual essays that require consistency.

Playback image: Flux-ai.io 

Free version: daily credits on partner platforms.

Paid version: variable plans by platform.

5. Recraft

The Recraft focuses on graphic design and vectors, unlike most generators that prioritize photorealism.

It is great for creating icons, logos, and flat illustrations, ready for social media and visual identities. The difference is it allows exporting in vector (SVG), a rare feature in the AI world.

✅ Pros:

• Export in PNG and SVG

• Focus on graphic design

• Low learning curve

⛔ Cons:

• Premium styles restricted in free

• Free plan with daily credits (not unlimited)

In practice, it quickly resolves demands for graphic assets for digital campaigns.

Playback image: recraft.ai 

Free version: daily credits.
Paid version: unlocks premium styles.

6. Freepik AI Image Generator

The Freepik, one of the largest image banks in the world, launched its own AI image generator. It stands out for offering editorial and commercial visuals.

✅ Pros:

• Free daily credits

• Easy integration with other resources on the platform

• Good for social media visuals

⛔ Cons:

• Limits/licensing vary by plan

• Watermark may or may not appear, depending on the tool

It works well as a fast alternative to traditional stock images when you need something unique.

Playback image: Freepik

Free version: daily credits with usage restrictions.

Paid version: removes limitations and unlocks high resolution.

7. Krea AI

The Krea is one of the most intuitive tools for generating images in real-time. As you type the prompt, the image forms before your eyes.

✅ Pros:

• Generation in real-time

• Fluid experience for quick testing

• Ideal for visual brainstorming

⛔ Cons:

• Limited daily credits

• Possibility of watermark

It is excellent for those who need speed and visual experimentation, especially in ideation and fashion processes.

Playback image: Juani Barreiro on Krea.ai

Free version: daily credits, with a possibility of watermark.
Paid version: export in high quality.

8. Stable Diffusion

The Stable Diffusion is the most used open-source model in the world. On Playground AI, it is possible to use it for free, but the limits vary according to resource and usage window, not being a fixed number.

✅ Pros:

• Great variety of styles (from realism to digital art)

• Active community that shares models and prompts

⛔ Cons:

• Results may vary depending on the model

• Requires more knowledge in prompt engineering

Ideal for those who want control and variety. It works for both commercial images and conceptual art.

Playback image: Stable Diffusion

Free version: variable limits per resource/window.
Paid version: unlocks more credits and higher resolution.

Free AI Tools for Video

1. Runway

The Runway has established itself as one of the most important tools in the AI video ecosystem. It is not limited to transforming text into video: it also works as a generative editor, allowing you to manipulate and reinvent existing footage.

The highlights are its latest models. The Runway Gen-4 ensures visual consistency of characters, objects, and scenes, uniting reference images and text prompts to give the creator more creative control over style, narrative, and camera movement.

Meanwhile, Aleph is geared towards advanced generative editing, allowing precise modifications of scenes: insert or remove elements, change lighting, alter camera angles, and even recreate the visual style while maintaining cinematic coherence.

✅ Pros:

• Exclusive models like Gen-4 and Aleph

• Robust educational content (Runway Academy)

• Consistent and high-quality results

⛔ Cons:

• Requires a learning curve to master prompts

• Credits are consumed quickly on the free plan

In practice, the Act Two feature expands the possibilities even further: you record a real actor and transfer the performance to a digital character, preserving facial expressions and hand movements with realism.

Free version: 125 initial credits; usage and resolution vary by model.
Paid version: starting at $15/month.

2. LTX Studio

The LTX Studio from Lightricks was designed for pre-production and storytelling. It guides creators from genre, characters, and scenes to detailed scenes with individual prompts.

✅ Pros:

• Control scene by scene, rare in the market

• Exports pitch decks as well as videos

• Ideal for short, conceptual narratives

⛔ Cons:

• Slow rendering

• More complexity for beginners

In practice, it works almost like an interactive cinematic draft, excellent for visualizing shorts, commercials, or even feature pitches.

Free version: available for personal use (credit allocation varies).
Paid version: starting at $15/month.

3. Pika Labs

The Pika Labs gained popularity for allowing images to be transformed into animated clips in seconds.

✅ Pros:

• Intuitive and fast interface

• Focused on social media

• Ideal for quick experiments

⛔ Cons:

• Reduced video time

• Watermark on the free plan

It is a practical tool for validating visual ideas and producing short clips for TikTok or Reels.

Free version: monthly credits with watermark.
Paid version: removes watermark and increases credits.

4. Kling AI

The Kling AI from Kuaishou impresses with its realistic quality in 5-second clips. Its differentiators are the camera simulation and character movements.

✅ Pros:

• Convincing camera movements

• Above-average realistic visuals

• Good for quick narratives

⛔ Cons:

• Short clips on free

• Chinese interface may hinder usability

Free version: generates short clips and duration/quality varies by version.
Paid version: plans extend time and quality.

5. HeyGen

The HeyGen specializes in talking digital avatars, great for training and corporate videos.

✅ Pros:

• Variety of avatars and voices

• Automatic translation for 170 languages

• User-friendly interface

⛔ Cons:

• Interactivity only in paid plans

• On large screens, expressions seem artificial

Free version: 3 non-interactive videos of up to 3 minutes.
Paid version: starting at $29/month.

6. revid.ai

The revid.ai started as a clip generator for TikTok, but became a repurpose platform for social networks.

✅ Pros:

• Extensive library of templates

• Free suite of tools for social media

• Focus on scale and posting frequency

⛔ Cons:

• Results vary in quality

• Outputs are not very sophisticated

It is useful for those who need to maintain high publication frequency quickly.

Free version: limited access to templates and tools.
Paid version: starting at $39/month.

7. InVideo AI

The InVideo AI transforms prompts into complete videos, assembling script, stock footage, narration, and subtitles.

✅ Pros:

• From prompt to final video in minutes

• Uses integrated media and audio banks
  Ideal for beginners without editing experience

⛔ Cons:

• Outputs seem generic

• Watermark on the free plan

In practice, it works as a factory for institutional and digital marketing clips.

Free version: 10 minutes of video/week, 1 AI credit/week, and 4 exports with watermark. No full generative features in free.
Paid version: starting at $35/month.

Free AI Tool for Audio

1. ElevenLabs

The ElevenLabs is a benchmark in realistic voice generation, used in advertising, games, and narratives. Its differential lies in the naturalness of intonations and accents, which sound close to human speech.

✅ Pros:

• Very realistic voices

• Support for dozens of languages

• Professional standard used in the market

⛔ Cons:

• Low character limit on free

• May sound artificial in very long speeches

It is perfect for dubbing digital avatars, narration of videos, and audio prototypes.

Free version: 10,000 characters/month.
Paid version: starting at $5/month.

2. Murf AI

The Murf AI is one of the best-known solutions for synthetic voice for narratives and presentations. It allows creating narrations in dozens of languages with natural voices.

✅ Pros:

• Diverse library of voices

• Simple interface

• Good for presentations, e-learning, and explanatory videos

⛔ Cons:

• Watermark on free

• Low minute limit

It is useful for those who need quick voice for prototypes or corporate presentations.

 Free version: Murf Studio trial (10 min, no download); Murf Dub (downloads with watermark).
Paid version: plans starting at $19/month.

3. Play.ht

The Play.ht focuses on natural voice generation and podcasting with AI. It is used to create audiobooks, podcasts, and long-form content in multiple languages.

✅ Pros:

• Support for dozens of voices and languages

• Ideal for long narratives

• Exports in MP3 and WAV

⛔ Cons:

• Less realistic than ElevenLabs in short voices

• Character limit on free

It works well as a solution for those who want to create audio content at scale, whether for marketing or education.

Free version: ~12.5k characters/month.
Paid version: plans starting at $19/month.

Conclusion

The free AI tools already allow you to create images, videos, and even audio narratives with quality. They are the perfect way to test without commitment, whether for building a moodboard, creating quick clips for social media, or prototyping campaign ideas.

The key is to experiment: use the free credits to learn, discover limits, and understand how each platform can fit into your creative flow.

In the end, AI does not replace your creative vision, but it expands your reach. And starting with the free options is the best way to learn to drive this new tool with freedom and confidence.

👉 Keep reading: Nano-Banana: the mysterious AI model that is surprising creatives