Recraft
Vector and brand-consistent AI image gen.
why this verdict
Keep paying — OpenAI has not replaced it
OpenAI's version overlaps, but does not finish the design job, so this one still earns its $10/mo.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- ChatGPT image gen. OpenAI, October 30, 2024 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers not the job editorial call
- Parts of it. The job still needs the tool to get finished.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 3 of 3 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Adobe Firefly, Ideogram and ChatGPT.
- What the call is worth $120/yr
- $10/mo at the entry paid tier — $120 a year per seat.
- Threatened by
- OpenAI
- Since
- October 30, 2024
- List price
- $10/mo
- Per year
- $120
The backstory
Recraft is an AI image generator aimed at designers, with vector output, brand style controls, and consistent asset generation. ChatGPT can make images from a prompt, but it produces raster one-offs without the fine control designers need. Recraft survived because its design-specific controls and true vector export keep it ahead of the general chatbot. The moat is production-grade, editable, on-brand output, not just a pretty picture.
Escape hatches
Commercial-safe AI generation in Adobe tools
adobe.com open_in_newAI images with strong text rendering
ideogram.ai open_in_newNative image generation from a prompt
chatgpt.com open_in_new3 of 3 replacements have a usable free tier.