FLUX vs Leonardo.Ai

FLUX

FLUX is the practical choice when you want one vendor that covers both the hosted API and weights you can run yourself: the [klein] models are cheap enough for bulk generation, [pro] and [max] handle editing and high-resolution work, and the same family now extends to video. Per-megapixel billing is transparent once you remember that resolution rounds up, so a 1080p frame is charged as three megapixels. The open-weight licences are the part to read carefully: non-commercial use is free, but commercial self-hosting is a paid licence with monthly image caps, and the price for it is only visible after you sign in.

Pros

• +Published per-image and per-megapixel prices across the whole lineup, from $0.014 an image for [klein] 4B (15 October 2026)
• +Same model family available hosted and as self-hostable weights, including fine-tuning and LoRA rights on paid licences
• +Editing, inpainting, outpainting, try-on, eraser and video upscaling tools alongside generation
• +Named legal entity, registered address and managing directors on the imprint

Cons

• −Megapixel rounding inflates the cost of common resolutions such as 1920x1080, billed as 3 MP
• −Commercial self-hosting licences list image caps and domain limits but no public price
• −The pricing calculator on the main site shows a single unlabelled $0.048 figure until a model is selected
• −No consumer app or mobile client

Leonardo.Ai

Leonardo is the generator to pick when you need control over the model rather than one house style, and it is the only major one with a real API and custom training. Token accounting is the tax you pay for that flexibility.

Pros

• +Large library of fine-tuned model presets instead of a single opinionated model
• +Custom model training on your own images is available without an enterprise contract
• +A genuine documented API, which the obvious competitor still does not have
• +Free tier of 150 daily tokens is enough to evaluate properly

Cons

• −Token costs differ by model, resolution and feature, so per-image cost is hard to predict
• −150 free tokens go in roughly ten generations
• −Concurrency and queue position are tier-gated, so cheap plans wait
• −Roadmap now serves Canva's product priorities, not standalone power users

Is FLUX cheaper than Leonardo.Ai?

They charge in different units, so there is no like-for-like answer: FLUX starts at $0.014/image, Leonardo.Ai at $8.33/mo. Entry price is the lowest paid plan as we last verified it.

Does FLUX or Leonardo.Ai have a free tier?

Both: FLUX has a free tier, and Leonardo.Ai has a free tier.

Which has a public API, FLUX or Leonardo.Ai?

Both ship a public API, so either can be built on; the fact table above shows the platforms each one runs on.