Quick Answer
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NightCafe pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $49.99 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: Yes
  • Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
  • Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training

NightCafe offers 5 pricing tiers: Free, AI Beginner, AI Hobbyist, AI Enthusiast, AI Artist. Standard paid plans include Free at $0/month, AI Beginner at $5.99/month, AI Hobbyist at $9.99/month. The AI Beginner plan is beginners exploring ai art with occasional use.

Compared to other ai image generators software, NightCafe is positioned at the budget-friendly price point.

Last verified: February 2026 | Sources: 8 pricing pages and reviews

NightCafe is an AI art generator platform that allows users to create stunning images using multiple AI models including Stable Diffusion, DALL-E 3, Ideogram, and Google Imagen. Founded as NightCafe Studio, the platform has become one of the most accessible AI image generators with a generous free tier and flexible credit-based pricing model.

NightCafe pricing operates on a credit system where each image generation consumes credits. The platform offers a free tier with 5-10 daily credits (up to 3,650 credits annually at no cost), making it one of the most generous free offerings in the AI image generation space. Paid plans range from $5.99/month for casual users to $49.99/month for professional artists, with annual billing providing 20% savings. Unlike competitors like Midjourney ($10-60/month) and DALL-E ($20/month via ChatGPT Plus), NightCafe's credit system provides more flexibility and affordability for variable usage patterns.

All NightCafe Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Free dailyCredits: 5-10 creditsresolution: Thumbnail quality Free Free 0 Casual users experimenting with AI art generation
AI Beginner monthlyCredits: 100 credits (150 first month) $5.99 /month $4.79 /monthSave 20% Beginners exploring AI art with occasional use
AI Hobbyist monthlyCredits: 200 credits (300 first month) $9.99 /month $7.99 /monthSave 20% Regular users creating AI art multiple times per week
AI Enthusiast monthlyCredits: 500 credits (750 first month) $19.99 /month $15.99 /monthSave 20% Enthusiasts and semi-professional creators with high volume needs
AI Artist monthlyCredits: 1,400 credits (2,100 first month) $49.99 /month $39.99 /monthSave 20% Professional artists and agencies with extensive AI art generation needs
View all features by plan

Free

  • 5 free credits daily for logging in
  • 5 additional credits daily for daily challenge participation
  • Access to basic AI models (Stable Diffusion)
  • Thumbnail resolution images
  • Single image per generation
  • Community features
  • Credits never expire

AI Beginner

  • 100 credits per month (150 in first month)
  • Access to all AI models including DALL-E 3, Ideogram, Google Imagen
  • Higher resolution outputs
  • Multiple images per generation
  • Priority generation queue
  • No watermarks
  • Commercial use rights
  • Enhanced upscaling tools

AI Hobbyist

  • 200 credits per month (300 in first month)
  • All AI Beginner features
  • Access to premium AI models
  • Video generation models (Kling, Seedance, Google Veo 3)
  • Advanced control features
  • Faster generation times
  • Lower cost per credit for top-ups

AI Enthusiast

  • 500 credits per month (750 in first month)
  • All AI Hobbyist features
  • Highest priority in generation queue
  • Maximum resolution outputs (up to 64 megapixels)
  • Advanced editing tools
  • Best value for cost per credit
  • Bulk generation capabilities

AI Artist

  • 1,400 credits per month (2,100 in first month)
  • All AI Enthusiast features
  • Professional-grade outputs
  • Lowest cost per credit (~$0.04/credit)
  • Maximum concurrent generations
  • Premium support
  • Early access to new features and models
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Hidden Costs to Budget For

Watch for 8 hidden costs
  • Credit top-ups: $4.79-$79.99 for additional credits beyond monthly allocation (100-1,700 credits)
  • Print services: Starting at $48 per print, varies by size and material
  • High-resolution upscaling: Requires additional credits per image enhancement
  • Advanced AI models: Premium models like DALL-E 3 and video generators consume more credits per generation
  • Failed generations: Credits are consumed even if the output is unusable, with no refunds
  • Control Net and add-on features: Advanced settings increase credit cost per generation
  • Multiple image variants: Selecting 4 images per prompt costs 4 credits instead of 1
  • Video generation: Video models consume significantly more credits than static images
Tip

Ask your NightCafe sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How much does NightCafe cost?

NightCafe offers a free tier with 5-10 daily credits. Paid plans range from $5.99/month (AI Beginner with 100 credits) to $49.99/month (AI Artist with 1,400 credits). Annual billing provides 20% savings. Credit packs can also be purchased individually from $4.79 for 100 credits up to $79.99 for 1,700 credits.

02 Does NightCafe have a free plan?

Yes, NightCafe offers a generous free tier where users receive 5 credits daily for logging in and 5 additional credits for participating in daily challenges. Credits never expire and roll over, allowing free users to accumulate up to 10 credits per day (3,650 credits per year) without paying.

03 Do NightCafe credits expire?

No, NightCafe credits never expire and always roll over to the next month. Both purchased credits and subscription credits can be used at any time in the future, making it flexible for users with variable usage patterns.

04 How many credits does one image cost?

Basic image generation costs 1 credit per image. However, costs increase with advanced features: selecting 4 image variants costs 4 credits, using Control Net or premium AI models increases costs, and high-resolution enhancements require additional credits. Video generations consume significantly more credits than static images.

05 Can I use NightCafe images commercially?

Yes, you can use NightCafe creations for commercial purposes, provided you didn't use any copyrighted images in the creation process. In jurisdictions where NightCafe is deemed the copyright holder, they transfer copyright ownership to you. However, you must own or have permission for any original assets used in style transfer or as source images.

06 What happens if I use all my monthly credits?

If you exhaust your monthly credits, you can purchase additional credit packs starting at $4.79 for 100 credits. PRO subscribers get discounted rates on credit top-ups based on their subscription tier. Alternatively, you can wait until your next billing cycle when your monthly credits replenish.

07 Is annual billing cheaper than monthly?

Yes, annual billing saves approximately 20% compared to monthly billing. For example, AI Hobbyist costs $9.99/month when billed monthly but only $7.99/month when billed annually. Annual plans also offer 3 months free (12 months for the price of 10) and include 12 bonus video generations.

08 How does NightCafe compare to Midjourney pricing?

NightCafe is significantly more affordable than Midjourney. NightCafe starts at $5.99/month with a free tier available, while Midjourney starts at $10/month with no free trial. NightCafe also offers access to multiple AI models including Stable Diffusion, DALL-E, and others, providing more versatility at a lower price point.

09 What AI models can I access with NightCafe?

Free users have access to basic Stable Diffusion models. PRO subscribers (all paid tiers) get access to 50+ AI models including Stable Diffusion variants, DALL-E 3, Ideogram, Google Imagen, and video generation models like Kling, Seedance, and Google Veo 3. Different models consume varying amounts of credits per generation.

10 Can I get refunds for bad image results?

No, NightCafe does not offer refunds for unsatisfactory results. Credits are consumed when a generation is initiated, regardless of output quality. This is a common pain point mentioned in user reviews. It's recommended to start with lower-cost settings when testing new prompts.

11 How can I earn free credits on NightCafe?

Free credits can be earned by: logging in daily (5 credits), participating in daily challenges (5 credits), maintaining a 5-day creation streak (25 credits every 5 days), liking 25 community creations (5 credits), and participating in community features. Power users can accumulate 200-300 free credits monthly.

12 Does NightCafe offer discounts or promotions?

Yes, NightCafe offers quarterly billing (10% discount) and annual billing (33% discount, essentially 3 months free). The platform historically offers its best subscription deals during the holiday shopping season in late November/early December. Educational and nonprofit discounts are not prominently advertised.