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Features, pricing and Editor Score side by side — to help you pick the right image & design tool in 2026.
Quick verdict
On our Editor Score, GPT Image 2 and Microsoft Designer land almost level. Pick GPT Image 2 if you want reasoning-based image planning; choose Microsoft Designer for AI text-to-image generation. On pricing, Microsoft Designer is the one with a free or freemium plan, so it's the cheaper place to start.
| Pricing | Paid | Freemium |
| Free tier | ||
| Best for | reasoning-based image planning | AI text-to-image generation |
OpenAI flagship image model with reasoning
AI design app with built-in image generation
Choose GPT Image 2 if…
Choose Microsoft Designer if…
Your use case decides this one: GPT Image 2 leans into reasoning-based image planning, while Microsoft Designer is built for AI text-to-image generation. Weigh features and pricing for your workflow. Microsoft Designer is the lower-cost place to start thanks to its free or freemium plan; the other is worth a trial if its feature set fits better.
Neither is universally better — it depends on your budget and which features matter most. The side-by-side breakdown above shows where each one wins.
GPT Image 2 (paid) is best for reasoning-based image planning, while Microsoft Designer (freemium) is best for AI text-to-image generation. See the full feature and pricing comparison above.
Microsoft Designer has a free or freemium plan, so it's the cheaper way to start. For paid plans, check each tool's current pricing on its review page.
Microsoft Designer is usually the easier starting point thanks to a lower barrier to entry. Beginners should favour a free tier and a simple interface over raw power.
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Last updated August 2026. Comparisons are ranked by our Editor Score (features, value and pricing, blended with verified user reviews where a tool has them) — see our methodology.