How To Use Midjourney in 2025: Prompts & Way More

Want AI art that pops but not sure how to use Midjourney? This guide covers everything — from joining Midjourney to prompts, as well as alternatives.If you’ve ever seen an AI-generated stunner image and thought, “Wow, that’s insane, but also… how?” — welcome to Midjourney. 

Learning how to use Midjourney feels a little like a secret society you weren’t invited to, but we’re breaking down the process so you can start generating AI art in minutes.

And, we’ll also do you a solid and point you in the direction of a totally free alternative — because we care. 

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What is Midjourney?
• How to join Midjourney
• How to use commands
• How to write effective prompts 
• Tips to get the best results 
• Common Midjourney issues 
• FAQs

What is Midjourney?

Midjourney is a text-to-image AI art generator that turns your mental garble into pure visual gold. 

Somehow, it just knows what you mean when you type "a cat wearing a medieval suit of armor, cinematic lighting, trending on ArtStation."

Unlike Stable Diffusion, which is more about realism and tech-heavy customization, Midjourney leans into stylized, artistic, and surreal images. It’s the AI equivalent of an indie filmmaker who only shoots in neon lighting and loves dramatic shadows. (A.k.a, Nicolas Winding Refn.)

Unlike most AI tools, Midjourney first started out running through Discord — no standalone app, no complicated installations, just you, a chatroom, and an AI that’s ready to do its thing.

And if that sounds weirdly specific, don’t worry, it’s basically just typing commands and getting sick images in return. Now there’s also a browser UI version at midjourney.com if Discord isn’t your jam.

Why do people use Midjourney?

• To make banger AI art with zero effort: You type, Midjourney paints. It’s unfairly simple. 
• To create next-level social media content: Want viral visuals for TikTok, Twitter, or Instagram? Midjourney has that a e s t h e t i c vibe going for it.
• To ditch boring stock images: Nobody wants another generic business handshake photo. Midjourney can make original marketing visuals that actually look the part. 

To generate concept art, mood boards, or sci-fi landscapes: Whether you’re a designer, writer, or just someone who wants a cyberpunk Shrek, Midjourney delivers.

How to join Midjourney on Discord

So, you’re ready to hop into Midjourney and start generating AI art? Cool, but first, you have to actually get in.

Here’s how to get started:

• Create a Discord account: If you don’t already have Discord, head to discord.com and sign up. It’s free, it’s easy, and it unlocks your access to Midjourney’s AI magic.
• Join the Midjourney server: Once your Discord is set up, go to Midjourney’s official server and click Join. Boom, you’re in.
• Start a subscription: As of now, Midjourney does not offer a free trial. To start creating, you'll need to subscribe. Plans start at $10/month and go up to $120/month or more depending on how much of a GPU hog you are.
  
  Basic gives you 3.3 hr/month of fast GPU usage, and Mega goes up to 60. How many images is that? It depends on quality, but we can ballpark the Basic plan as around 200 images/month.  
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  ‍**Please note that pricing is subject to change, so for the latest fees, please go directly to the official Midjourney pricing pages.
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• Access the bot: After joining, you’ll see different chat channels. Look for the “Newcomer” rooms — that’s where you’ll test things out before going full AI artist mode.

Midjourney doesn’t have a complicated setup process, but the Discord format can feel a little chaotic at first. Don’t stress — once you get past the "Why is everyone typing commands" phase, it’s smooth sailing.

Prefer a browser experience?

If Discord isn’t your thang, Midjourney offers a web-based interface that's super user-friendly:

• Visit the Midjourney website: Go to midjourney.com and log in with your Discord or Google account.
• Use the Imagine Bar: At the top of most pages, you'll find the "Imagine" bar. Type your creative prompt into this bar and hit enter. Midjourney will proceed to work its magic. 

Explore and edit your creations: Once your images are generated, navigate to the "Create" tab to view them. Clicking on an image opens additional tools like Upscale, Reframe, and Repaint, which lets you play around even more.

How to use Midjourney commands

Now that you’re in, it’s time to actually generate some art. Midjourney works through commands, which might sound techy, but don’t worry — it’s basically just telling the bot what you want, and it does the rest.

Here’s what you need to know

The /imagine command: This is the main command you’ll use to generate images. Type /imagine followed by your prompt, and Midjourney will turn it into le art.

Upscaling and variations: 

Once Midjourney generates four image options, you can refine them using:

• U1–U4: Upscales a specific image to a higher resolution.
• V1–V4: Generates variations based on a selected image.

Other useful commands:

• /info: Shows your current subscription details and remaining Fast GPU time.
• /help: Gives you a quick guide to using Midjourney’s features.
• /blend: Combines two or more images into one seamless result.
• /settings: Lets you tweak different generation settings like style and quality.
• /prefer: Saves custom parameters so you don’t have to type them every time.
• /private and /public: Switch between private and public generations (requires a Pro plan or higher).

How to write effective prompts for Midjourney

A good prompt can mean the difference between “holy crap, that’s stunning” and “why does this AI think all cats have spider legs?” Midjourney isn’t a mind reader — it works best when you give it clear, descriptive prompts.

Prompt structure:

• Subject: Be specific. Instead of just “a robot,” try “An evil-looking Rosey the Robot with glowing red eyes ready for battle.”
• Style: Want a cyberpunk look? A Studio Ghibli feel? A 90s anime aesthetic? Make it so.
• Details: Add lighting, camera angles, and artistic terms like “highly detailed,” “cinematic lighting,” or “ultra-HD.”
• Mood & atmosphere: “Dark and moody” gives a totally different result than “bright and whimsical.”

Examples of solid prompts:

• “A magical forest filled with glowing plants, fantasy style, highly detailed, dark atmosphere.”
• “A futuristic city skyline, cyberpunk theme, neon lights, ultra-detailed, wide-angle view.”

Pro tip: Midjourney thrives on careful prompts. Play around with different styles and descriptions until you find the perfect formula for your vision.

Tips to get the best results with Midjourney

Midjourney makes stunning images, but if you want consistently fire results instead of weird AI trip-ups, keep these tips in mind.

Play around with prompts:

• AI loves variety. If your image isn’t hitting right, tweak the wording. Try different styles, angles, or artistic references. Instead of "a knight in armor," try "a medieval knight in ornate golden armor, dramatic lighting, 4K resolution."

Use descriptive language:

• The more details you provide, the better the output. Don’t just say "a forest."  (cue the The Cure song) Say, "an enchanted emerald-green forest, glowing mushrooms, ethereal fog."
• Words like "hyper-realistic," "digital painting," or "cinematic still" can guide the AI’s style.

Leverage upscaling and variations:

• Upscaling: Gives you better resolution and adds more detail to your chosen image.
• Variations: Creates similar images based on the one you picked and lets you refine your vision.

Follow community trends:

• The Midjourney Discord, Reddit, and AI art forums are filled with creative geniuses sharing their best prompt formulas. Learn from them, copy them (with credit), and GiT GuD. 

Common Midjourney issues and how to troubleshoot them

Even the best AI tools have their oops moments. If Midjourney isn’t giving you what you expected, here’s how to fix the most common issues.

Blurry or low-quality images:

• The biggest culprit is a vague prompt. AI needs details. Instead of "a landscape," go for "a breathtaking alpine landscape with snow-capped mountains, golden-hour lighting, and crisp detail."
• Remember to use upscaling to get that extra sharpness and resolution. The U1–U4 buttons help refine and enlarge images.
• Try parameters like “--hd” for higher-quality outputs. 

Output not matching the desired style:

• Be explicit about the art style, lighting, and mood. Saying "fantasy cityscape" is fine, but "a Gainaxi-inspired fantasy city with floating islands and golden sunset lighting" gives Midjourney way more to work with.
• Use negative prompts with --no to exclude unwanted elements. Example: "an Armored Core skyline, neon lights, ultra-detailed – no fog, no text."
• Experiment with stylized settings by adding parameters like “--style 4b” to guide Midjourney toward specific aesthetics.

Running out of juice:

• Midjourney isn’t free — there’s no trial, and every image costs GPU time. If you're on the Basic Plan ($10/month), you get around 200 images per month before running out.
• Switch to Relax Mode if you're on the Standard ($30/month), Pro ($60/month), or Mega ($120/month) plans. Relax Mode gives more image generations at a lower priority, meaning your images take longer but don’t burn through those all-too-valuable fast GPU hours.
• Use /info to track how much GPU time you have left so you don’t run out mid-project.

FAQs

Is Midjourney free to use?

Nope. Midjourney no longer offers a free trial, so you’ll need a paid subscription to generate images. Plans start at $10/month for the Basic plan, which gives you around 200 images per month, while higher-tier plans offer more Fast GPU time and Relax Mode for unlimited generations.

Can I use Midjourney commercially?

Yes, but with some limits. If you’re on the Basic or Standard Plan, you can use your images commercially only if your company makes less than $1 million in revenue per year. If you’re earning more than that, you need the Pro Plan ($60/month) for full commercial rights.

What are Midjourney’s subscription plans?

• Basic Plan ($10/month): ~200 images per month.
• Standard Plan ($30/month): 15 Fast GPU hours + unlimited Relax Mode generations.
• Pro Plan ($60/month): 30 Fast GPU hours + unlimited Relax Mode + Stealth Mode.
• Mega Plan ($120/month): 60 Fast GPU hours + all Pro perks.

Can I run Midjourney locally?

No, Midjourney doesn’t run on your local machine — it’s cloud-based and works entirely through Discord or its web interface. If you want something you can run locally instead of Midjourney, check out Stable Diffusion, which lets you generate AI art on your own hardware (if you meet the minimum requirements). 

Discover how simple Weights is instead!

Learning how to use Midjourney can be great, but let’s be real — it’s not exactly free or flexible. If you’re tired of Discord commands, credit limits, or paywalls, Weights is the no-nonsense alternative you’ve been looking for.

Check it out: 

• Free & unlimited: No subscriptions, no weird “trial” nonsense — generate as many AI images as you want in different styles for f r e e. 
• More than just images: Weights lets you create AI voices, videos, and even train your own models. It’s an all-in-one creative playground. 
• No setup stress: No complicated installations or waiting lists. Just open your browser and start creating.
• Built for community: Share your art, explore trending images, and get inspired by other creators.

Start creating with Weights today and see how easy AI creativity can be.