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Image Generation comparison

Adobe Firefly vs Stable Diffusion (Stability AI)

Our pick: Adobe Firefly scores 9.0/10 against 8.6/10 for Stable Diffusion (Stability AI). Here's how they differ and which one fits your needs.

Adobe Firefly

Commercially safe generative AI built into Adobe apps

9.0/10From $9.99/moOur pick
Visit Adobe Firefly
VS

Stable Diffusion (Stability AI)

Open-weight image models you can run and fine-tune

8.6/10Open source
Visit Stable Diffusion (Stability AI)

At a glance

Adobe FireflyStable Diffusion (Stability AI)
Our score9.0/108.6/10
Best forDesigners, Marketing teams, EnterprisesDevelopers, Technical artists, Researchers
TypeText-to-imageOpen-source models
PricingFree planOpen source
Starting price$9.99/moFree
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Mac, WindowsAPI, Windows, Linux, Mac
Launched20232022

Key features

Adobe Firefly

  • Text-to-image
  • Generative Fill and Expand
  • Text-to-vector in Illustrator
  • Partner models (third-party)
  • Content Credentials

Stable Diffusion (Stability AI)

  • Open model weights
  • Local or self-hosted use
  • Fine-tuning and LoRAs
  • Developer API
  • Image, 3D and audio models

Adobe Firefly: pros and cons

Pros

  • Designed for commercial use with IP indemnity on enterprise plans
  • Deep integration with Creative Cloud
  • Strong editing and inpainting tools

Cons

  • Generative credits run out quickly
  • Output can look less distinctive than Midjourney

Stable Diffusion (Stability AI): pros and cons

Pros

  • Free to run locally on your own GPU
  • Huge ecosystem of community models and tools
  • Full control over output and privacy

Cons

  • Requires technical setup to run locally
  • Licence terms vary by model and company size

Verdict: Adobe Firefly or Stable Diffusion (Stability AI)?

Choose Adobe Firefly if you're designers or marketing teams or enterprises and value designed for commercial use with IP indemnity on enterprise plans.

Choose Stable Diffusion (Stability AI) if you're developers or technical artists or researchers and value free to run locally on your own GPU.

Overall we rate Adobe Firefly slightly higher. Both are worth trying, and at least one has a free plan or trial. See all Image Generation tools for more options.

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