3 Free AI Image Tools and 1 Hack for Better Prompts

Discover 3 free AI image generators and a powerful prompt-writing hack to create stunning visuals for your content.

AI Image Tools and Better Prompts

Creating good AI images shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle. You’ve probably seen incredible AI-generated visuals on social media and thought, “Why don’t mine look like that?” Or worse—maybe you tried a “free” tool only to be hit with a paywall before you could even download your image. I get it. That’s why I’m sharing our 3 favorite free AI image tools and one simple hack that will completely change the way you generate prompts. Whether you're creating content for your business or just exploring your creative side, this guide will help you get better results with fewer headaches.

Hack: How to Write Better AI Prompts Using ChatGPT

Here’s the truth—your image is only as good as your prompt. And if you’ve ever tried typing “dog in space” and got back something that looked like a 1990s sci-fi meme, this trick is for you.

Go to chatgpt.com and open a new chat. In your own words, describe what you want the image to look like. Something like, “I want a peaceful mountain landscape at sunrise with a deer in the foreground.”

Now, just type into the chat field: “Can you write an image prompt for me based on this idea?”  Click the send icon—a circle with an up arrow in the lower right corner—and you’ll get back a much more detailed, structured prompt.

Think of ChatGPT as your personal AI prompt stylist. You can copy and use it immediately, or revise it to suit your brand’s tone.

AI Image Tool #1: ChatGPT’s Built-In Image Generator

What most people don’t know is that ChatGPT itself can generate images if you have access to the image generation feature. After ChatGPT gives you a refined image prompt, just type:

  “Please create this image.”

If you're using a version of ChatGPT with image generation enabled (like GPT-4 with tools), it will generate the visual for you right there in the chat. You can even go back and say, “Make it more colorful” or “Add a rainbow in the background,” and it will revise it.

It’s seamless and fast—and great for quick ideas or visuals for blog posts, social media, or ad mockups.

AI Image Tool #2: How to Use Ideogram for Free Image Creation

Next up is one of our favorite creative tools: Ideogram. What makes this one stand out is its ability to stylize text and generate truly artistic images.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Copy the image prompt you created with ChatGPT.
2. Go to ideogram.ai.
3. Paste your prompt into the prompt box on their site.
4. Click Generate and watch the magic happen.

Ideogram is great if you want logos, text-based art, or highly stylized photos. It also offers some pre-set styles you can toggle through. Best of all, it’s currently free and easy to use with no surprise paywalls.

AI Image Tool #3: Canva Dream Lab for Branded Visuals

Canva is already a favorite for marketers and small business owners, but Canva Dream Lab takes things to another level. This tool lives inside Canva’s Dream Lab, where you can generate AI images that match your design aesthetic.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Open canva.com/dream-lab.
2. Copy the prompt you got from ChatGPT.
3. Paste it into Canva Dream Lab’s image generator field.
4. Hit Generate to see a gallery of image options.

The best part? Once the image is created, it drops right into your Canva canvas, where you can customize, brand, and publish. Canva Dream Lab is perfect for marketers who want brand-friendly visuals in minutes.

Try These Tools Out and Join Us Live on Fridays!

If you loved these tips and want even more step-by-step help, you might want to check out our Marketing Essentials Course. It’s designed to walk you through AI tools, SEO, ads, and content strategies with hands-on guidance.

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We’ll answer your questions live and help you get the most out of your tools—so your next AI image actually looks like the one in your head.

Bonus Content: check out the AI images that were generated for this post using these tools and this process...