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Ideogram vs PNGMaker

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors. Ideogram starts at $8, PNGMaker at $15.90. Both have a free tier. Only Ideogram ships a public API.

IdeogramText-to-image model that gets words inside the picture rightPNGMakerText prompt in, transparent-background PNG out, at 1K to 4K in a handful of illustration styles.

Side by side

FactIdeogramPNGMaker
CategoryText-to-Image GeneratorsIcons, Stickers & Illustrations
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at$8 month$15.90 month
Public APIYesNo
PlatformsWeb, API, iOSWeb
CompanyIdeogram AIPNGMaker
Launched20222024
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 6, 2026

What our research says

Ideogram

If the image needs words in it, this is still the model that spells them correctly, and that single capability is worth more than a broader feature list to anyone making posters or packaging — everything else about it is merely competitive.

Pros

  • Text rendering remains the best in the category and is the whole reason to choose it
  • Documented API at docs.ideogram.ai for integration
  • Style presets, region editing and character consistency round it out beyond a bare generator
  • Entry tier at about $8 is cheap next to Midjourney

Cons

  • Credit costs vary by model and quality setting, so plan sizes are hard to translate into images
  • Free tier is a weekly trickle rather than anything usable
  • The pricing page is bot-protected, making prices hard to confirm independently
  • Priority credits are monthly and the queue is genuinely slow without them

PNGMaker

Narrow on purpose and better for it - generating a genuine alpha channel rather than a white box you have to key out saves a real step for anyone making slides, stickers or overlays. Ten free credits a day makes it usable without paying. The vendor is anonymous, the terms dodge naming a jurisdiction, and there is no API, so it stays a manual tool.

Pros

  • Outputs a real transparent alpha channel, not a white background to remove later
  • Resolution up to 4K with a choice of five aspect ratios
  • Style presets covering kawaii, 3D cartoon, flat illustration and pixel art
  • Commercial use permitted and a privacy toggle on generations
  • Ten free credits every day rather than a one-off trial

Cons

  • No company name, address or jurisdiction anywhere on the site
  • Terms say only that disputes follow the law wherever it operates, without naming where
  • No API, batch mode or integration with design tools
  • Credit-to-image ratio (about 6 credits per PNG) makes the entry plan roughly 200 images

Which one fits

Choose Ideogram if you need

  • Posters, packaging, book covers and anything with legible text in frame
  • Logo and wordmark exploration before a designer takes over
  • Developers wanting text rendering through an API

Choose PNGMaker if you need

  • Slide decks, sticker packs and video overlays that need cut-out art
  • Designers wanting quick illustration assets without background removal
  • Light users who can live on ten free credits a day

More comparisons

All Ideogram alternatives →Browse all Text-to-Image Generators →