DALL-E 3 vs Midjourney vs FLUX.1
The original heavyweight matchup: OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, Midjourney’s flagship v7 and the open-weights FLUX.1 [dev] that runs on your own GPU.
Verdict
Midjourney v7 wins outright on quality; FLUX.1 [dev] is the rational API/self-host choice; DALL-E 3 only makes sense inside ChatGPT.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| # | Model | Arena Elo | Gen Speed | Cost / Image | Resolutions | License |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | DALL-E 3 HD OpenAI | 1160 | 7.5s | $0.080 | 1024x1024, 1024x1792 | Proprietary |
| 6 | Midjourney v7 Midjourney | 1245 | 4.8s | $0.024 | 1024x1024, 2048x2048, Custom AR | Proprietary |
| 10 | FLUX.1 [dev] Black Forest Labs | 1215 | 2.1s | $0.012 | 1024x1024, 1536x1536 | Open Weights |
Model-by-Model
DALL-E 3 HD — OpenAI
Midjourney v7 at 1245 Elo clearly outclasses DALL-E 3 (1160) and edges FLUX.1 [dev] (1215) — still the strongest of this trio on aesthetics.
Midjourney v7 — Midjourney
FLUX.1 [dev] is the standout for self-hosting: open weights, 2.1s generation and an effective $0.012/image on API — the only model here you can run privately.
FLUX.1 [dev] — Black Forest Labs
DALL-E 3 HD lags on Elo (1160) and price ($0.08/image, 7.5s) — it survives mainly through ChatGPT integration rather than standalone value.
FAQ
Is DALL-E 3 still worth it in 2026?
As a standalone API, no — it is slower (7.5s) and pricier ($0.08/image) than every modern alternative while scoring 85 Elo below Midjourney v7. Its value lives in being bundled with ChatGPT.
Which can I run locally?
Only FLUX.1 [dev] — it ships open weights and runs on a 24GB consumer GPU. Midjourney and DALL-E are closed hosted services.
Which is fastest?
FLUX.1 [dev] at ~2.1s per image, versus 4.8s for Midjourney v7 and 7.5s for DALL-E 3 HD.