Leonardo AI uses a token-based pricing model for AI image and video generation. The free plan provides 150 tokens per day (resetting daily), while paid plans unlock larger monthly token pools, private generation, video generation, and higher concurrency. Annual billing saves up to 20% across all tiers. The platform connects over 30 fine-tuned models and supports custom LoRA model training.
Testing Leonardo AI before committing to a paid plan
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Hobbyists who want privacy and a meaningful token volume
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Professional creators and freelancers generating images at scale
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Studios and agencies with high-volume image and video generation
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Creative agencies and large production teams with shared workflows
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Video generation is extremely token-intensive -- one 5-second Veo 3 clip costs 2,500 fast tokens
Manual token top-ups are available but priced per-plan tier, not at a flat rate
LoRA custom model training consumes additional tokens beyond the training slot allocation
Annual commitment is required to access the discounted pricing -- monthly rates run 20-25% higher
For most individual creators, Leonardo AI Artisan at $30/month (or $24/month on annual billing) offers the best balance of token volume, model variety, and private generation. The free tier is genuinely useful at 150 tokens/day for casual experimentation. If video generation is a priority, watch your token burn rate carefully -- a single 5-second clip costs 2,500 tokens, making Maestro a better fit for video-heavy workflows than Artisan.
Tokens are the currency that powers all generation on Leonardo AI. Each action -- generating an image, creating a video, upscaling, removing backgrounds -- deducts tokens based on computational cost. A standard image generation typically costs 2-25 tokens depending on resolution and model. Video generation is far more expensive: a 5-second Veo 3 clip costs 2,500 tokens. Free plan users get 150 tokens per day that reset daily; paid plans receive a monthly token pool that does not expire mid-month.
Yes -- the free plan provides 150 tokens per day. This covers roughly 5-20 standard image generations depending on settings and model choice. Unused daily tokens do not carry over to the next day. Free plan images are public and visible in the community gallery; private generation requires a paid plan starting at Apprentice ($12/month).
Leonardo AI supports video generation through its Veo 3 integration, but it is highly token-intensive -- one 5-second clip costs 2,500 fast tokens. On the Artisan plan (25,000 tokens/month at $30/month), that is roughly 10 video clips before exhausting your fast token pool. If video generation is your primary use case, dedicated tools like Runway ($15-$95/mo) or HeyGen ($29-$89/mo) offer better value and more video-specific controls.
LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) models are custom AI models you can train on Leonardo AI to capture a specific visual style, character likeness, or product appearance. The Apprentice plan includes 1 LoRA training slot per month; Artisan gives 20 personal model slots; Maestro provides 50. Training a LoRA consumes tokens and requires a set of reference images. It is most useful for creators who need consistent style reproduction across many generations.
Midjourney produces more artistically striking images and remains the quality benchmark for AI illustration. Leonardo AI offers more control -- custom model training, broader generation parameter settings, and a more accessible free tier. Midjourney has no free trial and no token-based pricing, instead charging for GPU hours via a monthly subscription. For pure aesthetic quality and ease of prompting, Midjourney leads. For workflow control, experimentation, and free access, Leonardo AI has the edge.
Paid plan subscribers have commercial usage rights for images generated under their account, per Leonardo AI's Terms of Service. Free plan images are public and may carry additional restrictions. Always review the current Terms of Service for your specific plan before publishing or selling AI-generated content, as rights can vary when using certain licensed model styles or character engines.
Fast tokens process your generation immediately with high priority -- results typically return in seconds. When fast tokens run out, Artisan and Maestro subscribers can switch to relax mode, which uses basic models at no token cost but joins a lower-priority queue where generation may take several minutes. Relax mode is not available on Apprentice or Free plans, and the unlimited relax mode on paid plans is restricted to basic models rather than premium fine-tuned models.
Yes -- Leonardo AI provides a developer API priced on a pay-as-you-go basis, billed per generation based on model and resolution. New API accounts receive $5 in free credit to test the integration. API access is separate from subscription plans and is designed for developers embedding AI generation into their own applications or pipelines.
Generating a 5-second video clip using Veo 3 costs 2,500 fast tokens. On the Artisan plan (25,000 tokens at $30/month), each clip costs the equivalent of roughly $3 in token value. On the Maestro plan (60,000 tokens at $60/month), the effective cost per clip drops to about $2.50. These costs are higher than dedicated video generation platforms -- Runway and HeyGen both offer more video-optimized pricing for users whose primary output is video.
Individual plans (Free, Apprentice, Artisan, Maestro) are single-user subscriptions. For team usage, Leonardo AI offers a Teams tier with a shared token pool, admin management, and enterprise security. Sharing individual account credentials violates the Terms of Service. Contact Leonardo AI sales for Teams pricing and minimum requirements.