Leonardo AI Review (2026): 150 Free Tokens a Day and a Vague Meter

Leonardo is the image generator people try when Midjourney feels too closed. It has a free plan, a clean interface and its own models. This Leonardo AI review checks what the free tier really gives you, what each paid plan costs and where the token system gets confusing.

The product has also changed owners and names. Canva bought the company in 2024. Since then, the old Apprentice, Artisan and Maestro plans have become Essential, Premium and Ultimate. As a result, many articles still quote plans that no longer exist.

So the testing behind this Leonardo AI review followed three questions. First, is it really free? Second, how far do the tokens go? Finally, is it better than Midjourney for your kind of work?

So, what is Leonardo AI? It is a generative AI platform for images, video and design that runs in the browser and in mobile apps. You type a prompt, pick a model and spend tokens on each result. You may also see the name written as Leonardo.Ai, which is the official spelling.

Unlike a pure hub, it builds its own models. Phoenix is the flagship, and the Lucid Origin and Lucid Realism models sit beside it. In addition, the platform now hosts outside models for both images and video, so one account covers many engines.

Who owns Leonardo AI? Canva does. J.J. Fiasson, Jachin Bhasme and Chris Gillis founded the startup in Sydney in 2022. Canva then acquired it in July 2024, as TechCrunch reported. At that point it had more than 19 million registered users, and Canva said it would keep running independently.

Three groups get the most from it, and each uses a different corner of the product.

Game artists and concept designers use it for assets, characters and textures in a steady style. Meanwhile, marketers and small brands make product visuals and social posts. Finally, hobbyists like the free daily tokens, because they can learn without paying.

However, it is a weaker fit for people who need private work on a zero budget. Free creations are public. Likewise, anyone who wants one fixed price per image will find the token math hard to plan.

Four parts of the product do most of the work. Each one spends tokens at a different speed, so here is what to expect from them.

Leonardo AI image generation starts with a prompt and a model. Phoenix handles prompts with text and detail well, while the Lucid models lean toward realistic photos. Presets then set the style, so beginners get a usable picture quickly.

Can you upload images to Leonardo AI? Yes. The image to image feature takes your own picture as a starting point. In addition, image reference lets you guide style, character or composition. You can also add a negative prompt to remove things you do not want.

The canvas editor covers the fixes most images need. You can inpaint a region, extend the frame and remove a background. Realtime Canvas goes further, because it turns a rough sketch into a finished image while you draw.

What is Flow State in Leonardo AI? It is a mode built for fast idea hunting. You type one prompt and the tool keeps producing variations to pick from. However, Flow State always spends tokens, even on plans with unlimited relaxed generation.

Yes, Leonardo AI creates videos. Its own Motion 2.0 model animates a still image or a prompt into a short clip. The platform also lists outside video models, including Hailuo and Wan on the pricing page.

Video is where tokens disappear, though. One independent pricing analysis found that a single eight second clip on a premium video model costs about as much as 300 basic images. Therefore treat video as an occasional extra unless you are on the Ultimate plan.

Paid plans let you train personal AI models on your own images. That is useful for a brand style or a recurring character. Essential includes 10 personal models, Premium includes 20 and Ultimate includes 50.

There is also a Leonardo AI app for iOS and Android, and the homepage links to both stores. One subscription covers every platform. Meanwhile, developers can use a pay as you go API whose credit does not expire.

In daily use, the platform is strongest as a guided studio. The presets, the editor and the model picker sit in one place, so a beginner reaches a good image faster than on most rivals.

However, the token math needs attention. The price of a generation changes with the model and the settings. According to one independent pricing analysis, the company publishes no full cost table per model. In other words, you often learn the price by clicking.

The free plan shows this clearly. It gives 150 fast tokens a day, which sounds generous. On heavier models, though, that same analysis estimates about 10 images. The free Token Bank also holds only 150, so nothing builds up.

For this Leonardo AI review, the rollover rule was the best surprise. Paid plans move unused tokens into a Token Bank. The bank holds up to three months of allowance, for example 25,500 on Essential. Therefore a quiet month is not wasted.

User feedback is more mixed. Third-party write-ups point to Trustpilot complaints about renewals and partial refunds. The sample is small, and these are individual accounts. Still, save a screenshot when you cancel.

Leonardo AI pricing has four solo plans and two team plans. Every price in this Leonardo AI review comes from the official pricing page on the monthly toggle, and all of them exclude tax.

Is Leonardo AI free? Yes, the Free plan costs nothing and refills 150 fast tokens every day. However, free creations are public, quality settings are basic and you get one personal collection.

How much is Leonardo AI when you pay? Essential is the entry point at $12 a month. It makes your work private, unlocks enhanced quality and allows two generations at once. In addition, it lets you buy top-up tokens.

Premium is the plan most regular users should compare first. It adds unlimited image generation at a relaxed pace on selected models, such as Phoenix and Lucid Origin. Meanwhile, Ultimate extends that relaxed mode to selected video models, including Motion 2.0.

Annual billing takes up to 20% off, according to the pricing page. Still, start monthly. One full month shows how fast your own prompts burn tokens.

Finally, read the unlimited footnote. Relaxed generations can slow down when demand is high. Premium outside models are not covered, so they keep spending tokens.

Is Leonardo AI better than Midjourney? It depends on what you value. This is the comparison most image makers ask about, and the two products solve different problems.

Midjourney is one model family with one recognisable look. It is still the benchmark for artistic images. However, it has no free tier, and its plans start at about $10 a month.

Leonardo, by contrast, wins on access and control. It has a free plan, an editor, model training and video in one place. So choose Midjourney when the picture itself is the product. Instead, choose Leonardo when you want tools around the picture. Our guide to the best AI image generators from text lists both with current prices.

Yes, Leonardo is a legitimate product from an established company. Canva owns it, and the team of about 120 people joined Canva with the deal. Before that, the startup had raised more than $38 million.

Is Leonardo AI safe? For normal creative work, yes. The company says Phoenix was trained on licensed, synthetic and publicly available data. In addition, the official developer guide states that adult content is blocked by default.

Two caveats stand. First, everything you make on the Free plan is public, so never upload private photos there. Second, sources disagree about commercial rights on free images. Therefore read the current terms before you sell anything made without a paid plan.

Krea AI is the closest match for live work. It gathers many models and reacts while you draw, much like Realtime Canvas.

Krea suits designers who iterate quickly, while Leonardo offers more training options. Our Krea AI review covers its free tier.

Canva AI is the sister product, and it is the easier pick for finished designs. You generate an image and drop it straight into a post, a deck or a flyer.

However, it gives far less control over models and settings. Our Canva AI review explains the usage limits.

Kling AI is the stronger choice when video is the main goal. It is a first-party video model, so new versions land there first.

Heavy video users often pay less by going direct. Our Kling AI review breaks down its credits.

Pros

• A real free plan with 150 fast tokens that refill every day
• In-house Phoenix and Lucid models plus outside image and video models in one account
• Paid plans roll unused tokens into a Token Bank worth up to three months of allowance
• Canvas editor, Realtime Canvas and personal model training are included
• Premium and Ultimate add unlimited relaxed generation on selected models
• Apps for iOS and Android, and one subscription covers every platform

Cons

• Token cost varies by model and setting, with no full public price table
• Free creations are public, and commercial rights on free images are unclear
• Video and premium outside models drain tokens far faster than basic images
• Unlimited relaxed mode covers selected models only and can slow at busy times
• Third-party reports describe complaints about renewals and refunds

For beginners and working designers, Leonardo is easy to recommend. The free plan is real, the editor is capable and the rollover bank is kinder than most rivals. Canva ownership also makes it a safer long-term bet.

The weak point is clarity. You cannot always see what a click will cost, and the unlimited label has limits. So start on Free, move to Essential for privacy, and consider Premium only once your monthly use is steady.

The short answer from this Leonardo AI review: it is a generous teacher and a vague cashier. The tools are excellent for the price. Just watch the token counter more closely than the artwork.

Leonardo is one option in a crowded field. Our guide to the best AI image generators from text compares it with Midjourney, OpenArt and others, with prices for each.

If you would rather rent many models under one balance, read the OpenArt AI review next. For clips instead of stills, the AI video generation platforms overview covers the dedicated tools.