DALL-E 3 is OpenAI's AI image generator, now being retired in 2026 in favor of GPT Image models. See pricing, history, and what's replacing it.
Category
AI Image Generation
Pricing
Freemium, from Free (ChatGPT); from $0.04/image (API, DALL-E 3, being phased out)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2015
Headquarters
San Francisco, California, United States
Free PlanWeb AppiOSAndroidAPIAIFreemium
Overview
DALL-E is OpenAI's family of text-to-image AI models, starting with the original DALL-E (announced January 2021), DALL-E 2 (launched April 2022), and DALL-E 3 (released in ChatGPT in October 2023).
As of 2026, DALL-E 3 is being formally retired: OpenAI is removing it from the API on May 12, 2026, and ChatGPT's default image generation has already shifted to the newer GPT Image model line.
Key Features
DALL-E 3's main strengths were tight conversational integration with ChatGPT, strong adherence to complex multi-object prompts, and comparatively reliable rendering of legible text inside generated images.
It was accessible through ChatGPT Plus/Enterprise subscriptions, a limited ChatGPT free tier, and a pay-per-image API, though all API access is being phased out in favor of GPT Image 1 and GPT Image 1.5.
Pricing
DALL-E 3 image generation was included in ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) and Enterprise plans, with a small daily free-tier allowance, while API pricing ran from about $0.04/image (standard) to $0.08-$0.12/image (HD/higher resolution).
With DALL-E 3's API retirement on May 12, 2026, OpenAI's GPT Image 1.5 (from about $0.03/image) is now the primary supported and forward-looking pricing reference for OpenAI image generation.
Key Features
Text-to-image generation — Generates original images from natural-language text prompts.
In-image text rendering — Renders legible text within generated images more reliably than many earlier-generation competitors.
API access for developers — Offered programmatic image generation for third-party applications, priced per image (being phased out for DALL-E 3).
Multiple resolution/quality tiers — Supported standard and HD quality outputs at varying resolutions and price points.
Prompt adherence to complex scenes — Handled multi-object, multi-attribute prompts with comparatively strong accuracy for its era.
Integration with ChatGPT's free and paid tiers — Available to ChatGPT Plus/Enterprise subscribers, with limited daily generations for free-tier users.
Succeeded by GPT Image models — OpenAI's GPT Image 1 and GPT Image 1.5 now serve as the actively maintained successors as DALL-E 3 is retired.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Deep, conversational integration with ChatGPT made iterative image editing simple for non-technical users.
Strong historical reputation for prompt accuracy and legible in-image text versus older competitors.
Accessible to a huge existing user base through ChatGPT's free and paid tiers.
OpenAI provides a clear, actively supported successor (GPT Image) for continuity.
Cons
DALL-E 3 is being retired from the API on May 12, 2026, requiring developers to migrate.
No longer OpenAI's default or most capable image model as of 2026; GPT Image models have superseded it.
Free-tier ChatGPT image generation is limited to a small number of images per day.
Newer competitors like Flux and Midjourney are frequently cited as matching or beating DALL-E 3 on quality and price.
Pricing
ChatGPT Free Free N/A
ChatGPT Plus $20/month monthly
API (legacy DALL-E 3, retiring May 2026) From $0.04/image pay-per-image
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DALL-E 3 still available in 2026?
It is being phased out. OpenAI is removing DALL-E 3 from its API on May 12, 2026, and ChatGPT's default image generation already shifted to the newer GPT Image model line in December 2025.
What replaced DALL-E 3?
OpenAI's GPT Image 1 and GPT Image 1.5 models are the actively maintained successors, offering improved quality and, in some cases, lower per-image API pricing.
How much does DALL-E 3 cost via the API?
Historically, standard 1024x1024 images cost about $0.04 each, with HD or higher-resolution outputs priced between roughly $0.08 and $0.12 per image, though this access is being retired.
Can I still generate images for free with DALL-E-branded tools?
ChatGPT's free tier includes a small daily allowance of AI-generated images (typically a few per day), though these are now generated by GPT Image models rather than DALL-E 3 specifically.
Who created DALL-E?
DALL-E was created by OpenAI, the AI research company founded in San Francisco in December 2015, with the original DALL-E announced in January 2021.
What are DALL-E's main competitors?
Midjourney, Stability AI's Stable Diffusion, Google's Imagen/Gemini image generation, Adobe Firefly, and the open-weight Flux model family are its most commonly cited competitors.