InvokeAI
Free self-hosted creative engine and web UI for image generation
- #10 of 11 in best AI image generators
- Free and open source
- Free to use
- Open source
- WindowsmacOSLinux
Ranked 10 of 11 in best AI image generators
Apache-2.0 self-hosted image engine with a web interface, layers, node workflows and a model manager for checkpoints, LoRAs and ControlNets. It needs local hardware, and it gives less node-level control than ComfyUI here.
Best for Self-hosted image editing with layers and a web UI
About InvokeAI
InvokeAI describes itself as a free and open-source creative engine for AI image generation. The site says it is self-hosted, fully customizable and Apache 2.0 licensed. Its web UI lets each layer be manipulated on its own, so a scene can be composed from separate parts, and node-based workflows are available for more advanced pipelines.
The model manager handles checkpoints, LoRAs, textual inversions and ControlNets, according to the site. The repository lists Apache-2.0 and other licenses, and its topics include inpainting, outpainting and img2img, with Windows, Linux and macOS named. The installation needs compatible local hardware. Users who want a finer node editor may compare ComfyUI, also in this ranking.
Key features
- Self-hosted web UI
- Layers and inpainting
- Node-based workflows
- Model manager
- ControlNet support
Strengths
- Apache-2.0 license for the core project
- Layers can be edited separately
- Model manager for checkpoints and LoRAs
Limits
- Needs compatible local hardware to run
- Node workflows add complexity for simple jobs
Where InvokeAI ranks
How InvokeAI compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Made by | Main output | API access | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#7 Playground | 81.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | Web | Playground | Templates and images | On request, top plan | Paid plans |
#8 ComfyUI | 80.5 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinux | Comfy Org | Images from open-source diffusion models | Yes, API and backend | GPL-3.0 software; model licenses vary |
#9 Black Forest Labs | 79.0 | Pay as you go | WebSelf-hosted | Black Forest Labs | Image models through API | Yes | Some weights non-commercial |
| #10InvokeAI | 77.0 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinux | Invoke | Images with layers and inpainting | Not listed | Apache-2.0 core; check model licenses |
#11 Stability AI | 72.5 | Contact for pricing | WebSelf-hosted | Stability AI | Image, audio, video and 3D models | Yes | Enterprise licensing |
The full comparison table for best AI image generators has all 11 products.
Questions about InvokeAI
- Is InvokeAI free?
- InvokeAI can be used without paying: Free and open source; you supply compatible hardware. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is InvokeAI open source?
- Yes. InvokeAI publishes its source code under the Apache-2.0 license.
- Which platforms does InvokeAI support?
- InvokeAI is available on: Windows, macOS, Linux.
- What is InvokeAI best for?
- Self-hosted image editing with layers and a web UI. In our ranking of AI image generators it is number 10 of 11 with a score of 77.0.
- What are the best alternatives to InvokeAI?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Midjourney, Krea, Recraft, ChatGPT.
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