Leonardo AI: Powerful Creative Suite For Visual Content
Leonardo AI: Complete Guide To Its Tools, Use Cases And Pricing
From image generation and Canvas editing to video tools and team workflows. Understand what Leonardo actually offers, where it excels, and what you really get on free and paid plans.
🎨 Honest Review
Leonardo AI is a generative AI platform for visual work. It runs in the browser and in apps and gives you a full suite of tools for creating images, videos, textures and design assets. The company presents it as a complete creative suite for creators, teams and developers, not just another prompt box.
You can use it to generate concept art, product photos, ads, social media visuals, print-on-demand designs, interiors, architecture renders and more, all powered by a mix of Leonardo’s own models and some third-party ones.
This guide walks through what Leonardo actually offers right now: how its main tools work, how different use cases like marketing or interior design are set up, and what you really get on the free and paid plans.
What Leonardo AI Actually Is
Leonardo AI is a web-based creative platform built around image and video generation. You access everything through a browser (and mobile apps), with no need for local GPUs or complex setup.
The company presents three main audiences:
Creators, who use the web app to generate and edit images and videos.
Teams, who share models, assets and tokens inside shared workspaces.
Developers, who call the same models through an API and plug them into their own apps and workflows.
At the core, Leonardo combines a set of image and video models, a group of creative tools around those models (image generation, video, Canvas, Realtime Canvas, upscaling, textures, Blueprints) and a token system that powers actions across free and paid plans.
How Leonardo AI Works Behind The Scenes
Leonardo is built on a mix of its own models and partner models.
It offers its own base models and custom models for photoreal images, illustration, anime style art and concept work. On top of that, it also gives you access to external models in specific workflows, especially for more advanced image and video generation.
All of this is wrapped in tools that let you:
✓ Turn text prompts into images and videos
✓ Use reference images to steer composition and style
✓ Edit and extend images on a canvas
✓ Upscale and enhance results
✓ Generate textures for 3D models
✓ Run workflows called Blueprints that are ready to use
⚡ Token System: Most actions use tokens, and the higher paid plans unlock relaxed unlimited generation on specific Leonardo hosted models, plus extra speed, more parallel jobs and more storage. Third party models usually stay on token only usage.
Main Creative Tools Inside Leonardo
Image generation and AI art
The image generator is where most people start. You type a prompt, pick a model and resolution, and Leonardo returns one or more images that try to match your request.
The AI art tools give you:
- Control over aspect ratio and resolution.
- Choice of model, from general use to more stylised or photorealistic ones.
- Styling elements and settings that push the output towards a certain look.
- The option to guide generation with reference images.
Once you have a result you like, you can send it straight into Canvas or Realtime Canvas for further work.
AI video generator
Leonardo also includes an AI video generator. You can start from text or from an image and turn it into a short animated clip.
This is aimed at things like social content, short promos, concept animations and quick storyboards. You generate a few seconds of motion, see how it feels, and then keep the best clips for editing elsewhere or combining in your editor of choice.
Canvas editor
Canvas is Leonardo’s editing and compositing workspace. Instead of starting from a blank prompt every time, you take an existing image (generated or uploaded) and tweak it.
On Canvas you can:
- Add or remove objects with masking and prompts.
- Extend an image sideways or vertically to fit new formats.
- Fix details that didn’t come out right in the first pass.
- Blend several outputs into one larger scene.
For many people, this is where AI art starts to feel more like real design work, because you refine and compose instead of just regenerating.
Realtime Canvas
Realtime Canvas is a sketch to image tool. You draw rough shapes and strokes, pick a style and prompt, and Leonardo updates the result almost instantly as you move your pen or mouse.
It’s especially useful when you care about layout and composition. Instead of hoping a text prompt guesses what you meant, you block out the structure yourself and let the model handle detail, lighting and style. As you tweak the sketch, you watch the rendered version evolve in real time.
Upscaler and enhancement tools
Leonardo includes a Universal Upscaler that boosts resolution and adds detail to your images. The usual workflow is:
Generate at a moderate resolution to explore ideas quickly.
Send the best results through the upscaler for final use in print, web or presentations.
Optionally combine upscaling with other enhancement tools to clean edges or refine textures.
This is especially important for print on demand, photography work, and any client project where final resolution really matters.
3D textures and Blueprints
For 3D artists and game developers, Leonardo offers tools that generate textures around 3D models, plus Blueprints that act as prebuilt workflows for common tasks.
Blueprints bundle the model, the prompt and all the settings into one simple recipe. Instead of building everything yourself every time, you just pick a Blueprint that fits what you want to create, click run, and Leonardo takes care of the boring setup work for you.
How Leonardo Packages Its Tools For Different Jobs
Leonardo uses different landing pages to explain the same core tools to different audiences. The underlying features are the same, but the examples and language change.
AI marketing tools
Go from idea to visuals very fast. Ad creatives, social graphics, motion clips.
AI graphic design
Flexible companion for layouts, backgrounds and visual themes.
AI print on demand
Generate and test designs for clothing, posters, stickers and more.
AI photography
You can create images that look like real photos and enhance existing photos.
AI interior design
Digital studio for room concepts, moods and variations.
AI architecture
Concept and presentation tool for exteriors and interiors.
Plans, Tokens And Pricing Overview
Leonardo’s subscription model is built around tokens and plan tiers.
Free Plan
Gives you a small, daily allowance of fast tokens and access to core features with some limits on privacy and throughput.
Paid Individual Plans
- More fast tokens per month and a token bank that can roll over
- Relaxed mode on specific models (unlimited generations, slower processing)
- Private generations (not shared to public gallery)
- Advanced settings, higher quality modes and personal models
Team Plans
Shared token pools, model training, private workspaces, higher concurrency and central billing. Aimed at studios, agencies and internal teams.
API Plans
Monthly API credits for image, video and model training calls. Credits don’t expire. Higher tiers get discounts on extra credits.
Is Leonardo AI Expensive or Affordable?
Leonardo’s Free plan is generous enough to explore the platform and create casual images, but it’s limited in privacy and daily tokens. It feels fine for testing and hobby use.
The individual paid plans sit in the middle of the market. They’re not the cheapest option out there, but still affordable for freelancers, people who create as a hobby, and small businesses that create visuals regularly. In return, you get private generations, better quality modes, relaxed generation on supported models and more room to experiment.
Team and API plans are mainly for studios and companies. They’re more expensive, but they can replace several tools you might already be paying for, like image generators, video tools, upscalers and team collaboration apps. In many cases they also cover parts of your existing design workflow. If your team bills client work, what really matters is whether the time you save and the better output you get are worth the subscription, not just the price on the invoice.
Ownership, Rights And Data
⚠️ Free Tier
Images you create are generally treated as public, and Leonardo reserves broad rights to use and reproduce them within the platform. You still get a licence to use what you generate, including commercially, but you don’t get the same exclusivity as a paying customer.
✓ Paid Plans
You keep full ownership and IP rights over the images you generate, subject to the platform terms. Your private generations aren’t shared into public galleries, and Leonardo focuses its use of your content on running and improving the service itself.
The company also says it has passed external security audits. In practice, that means independent organisations have checked how it handles data and runs its systems, instead of the company just claiming it is secure on its own.
Real Limits You Should Know About
Leonardo is powerful, but it isn’t magic, and the site itself makes it clear there are limits.
- Relaxed unlimited generation only applies to some Leonardo hosted models. More advanced workflows, Blueprints and many third-party models still use tokens.
- Generation speed and the number of jobs you can run at once can go down when the platform is very busy, even on higher plans.
- Work created on the free plan is public by default and has different IP rights. If exclusivity matters to you, a paid plan is almost a must.
- Text inside images is still a real limitation. Leonardo can easily make spelling mistakes or warped letters in logos, posters or designs with lots of text. Plan to fix important text later in a design tool.
- You still need to review outputs for factual accuracy, brand fit and legal compliance. Leonardo speeds up creation, but doesn’t take responsibility for how you use what you generate.
Who Should Probably Skip Leonardo AI
Leonardo is powerful, but it’s not the right tool for everyone. You might want to skip it if:
You never work with images or video at all
A writing assistant or chat model will give you more value for less complexity.
You need perfect typography inside generated images
Leonardo still struggles with flawless text in logos and posters. You’ll spend time correcting this anyway.
You want everything fully offline
Leonardo is a cloud platform. For strict regulatory/security reasons, only self hosted solutions are acceptable.
You only need 1-2 simple images per month
A basic free tool or chat assistant image features might be enough. Leonardo’s full suite could be overkill.
You expect AI to replace design judgement completely
Leonardo can speed up workflow and multiply ideas, but won’t decide what’s on brand or tells the right story. You still need a human eye.
A Simple Workflow That Actually Makes Sense
A practical way to fit Leonardo into your day-to-day work looks like this:
You collect your ideas, prompts and any reference images you already have.
You use Image Generation and Realtime Canvas to explore styles, compositions and directions quickly, without worrying yet about perfection.
You move the most promising results into Canvas to edit, combine and clean up details.
You use the video tools to add motion where it adds value, for example in social posts, promos or concept presentations.
You run Universal Upscaler on the final images you plan to publish, print or show to clients.
If you work in a team, you share models and collections so everyone can create on top of the same visual language.
💡 That’s also how Leonardo itself seems to expect people to use the platform: as a loop of explore, refine and then upscale, all inside one environment.
Pros and Cons of Leonardo AI
✓ Pros
- Very strong mix of tools in one place: image generation, video, Canvas, Realtime Canvas, upscaling and Blueprints.
- Great for iteration: you can go from prompt to sketch to refined design without leaving the platform.
- Suitable for many roles, from solo creators and marketers to interior designers and architects.
- Team and API plans make it easy to use the same models across a whole studio or product.
- Paid plans let you keep full rights over your images and give you more privacy and control.
✗ Cons
- The token system and relaxed vs fast generation can feel confusing at first.
- Unlimited relaxed usage only applies to certain Leonardo hosted models, not every advanced workflow.
- Text inside images is still unreliable and often needs manual fixing in a design tool.
- If you only need one or two simple images now and then, the full suite can feel like overkill.
- You still need a good eye for design, Leonardo speeds you up, but doesn’t make taste and judgement for you.
How Leonardo AI Compares to Other Image Tools
Leonardo sits in a crowded space, so it helps to see how it compares to a few well-known alternatives.
Leonardo vs Midjourney
Midjourney is known for stunning, artistic images and a very active community, but it lives mainly inside Discord and focuses almost entirely on image generation. Leonardo gives you more of a full studio with image and video generation, Canvas editing, Realtime Canvas sketching, upscaling and team features all in one web interface. If you want a single place to generate, edit and upscale, Leonardo is usually more practical. If you only care about raw image style and love Discord, Midjourney can still be a great fit.
Leonardo vs DALL·E
DALL·E inside a chat assistant is extremely convenient if you already use that assistant all day. It’s great for quick ideas and simple visuals. Leonardo focuses more on control and production workflows, with advanced settings, Blueprints, Realtime Canvas and a dedicated Canvas editor. If you mostly need fast, occasional images while you chat, DALL·E is enough. If you need to build full campaigns, portfolios or visuals that are ready for clients, Leonardo’s toolset scales better.
Leonardo vs local Stable Diffusion
Running Stable Diffusion locally gives you full control and privacy, but it also means dealing with hardware, installs, model files and updates. Leonardo offers a managed environment where you get high quality models, updates and tools in the cloud, with no setup and team options on top. If you like having full control and want everything on your own machine, local Stable Diffusion makes sense. If you just want to create and collaborate without managing infrastructure, Leonardo is easier to live with.
Final Thoughts On Leonardo AI
Leonardo AI is more than a single generate image button. It’s a creative environment built around strong image and video models, editing tools like Canvas and Realtime Canvas, upscaling and Blueprints, plus plans that scale from casual use to full studio work.
If you want one place where you can go from a rough idea in your head to a polished image or short video clip, without jumping between four or five different apps, Leonardo is clearly designed for that role. It still needs your taste, your judgement and your editing eye, but it gives you a lot of help on the way from blank page to finished visual.
Review Note
This review is based on publicly available information about Leonardo AI, hands-on testing, and the tool's documented features. Platform capabilities, pricing, and features may change over time. Always check the official Leonardo AI website for the most current information.
