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Best / AI image generators

Best open-source AI image generators

The best self-hosted image split in the c17.io catalog is ComfyUI for a GPL-3.0 node graph (the published Midjourney/Runway stack), AUTOMATIC1111's Stable Diffusion WebUI for a Gradio form, Invoke Community as an Apache-2.0 studio, and rembg when the job is background removal. LivePortrait is the MIT talking-portrait research model for Synthesia/HeyGen — not a stock avatar library. You still bring weights and usually a GPU.

Open the stackStart on Railway

Ranked picks

  1. 1

    ComfyUI

    GPL-3.0 node-graph diffusion GUI — the c17 Midjourney/Runway path.

    When to pick it: A graph of image (and video) workflows you host.

    139,722 stars in the catalog

  2. 2

    Stable Diffusion WebUI

    AGPL-3.0 Gradio WebUI for Stable Diffusion — /compare/comfyui-vs-automatic1111.

    When to pick it: A form-based studio if the node graph is not the shape.

    165,077 stars in the catalog

  3. 3

    Invoke

    Apache-2.0 Community studio UI named next to ComfyUI.

    When to pick it: A canvas editor on weights you run.

    28,767 stars in the catalog

  4. 4

    rembg

    MIT background-removal library — the c17 remove.bg path.

    When to pick it: Cutouts, not a generative studio.

    25,129 stars in the catalog

  5. 5

    LivePortrait

    MIT research portrait animator — the c17 Synthesia/HeyGen path. Not a stock avatar catalog.

    When to pick it: A talking still you have rights to.

    19,265 stars in the catalog

How they compare

ToolLicenseSelf-hostBest for
ComfyUIGPL-3.0MediumA graph of image (and video) workflows you host.
Stable Diffusion WebUIAGPL-3.0MediumA form-based studio if the node graph is not the shape.
InvokeApache License 2.0MediumA canvas editor on weights you run.
rembgMIT LicenseEasyCutouts, not a generative studio.
LivePortraitMIT LicenseHarderA talking still you have rights to.

Related pages

FAQ

Midjourney or Runway?
Same published stack — /replace/midjourney and /replace/runway. ComfyUI is the graph. AUTOMATIC1111 if you want the Gradio form.
Is this Synthesia?
Talking portraits are LivePortrait — /replace/synthesia and /replace/heygen. That is not Synthesia's avatar library.
ComfyUI or AUTOMATIC1111?
ComfyUI if you want nodes. AUTOMATIC1111 if you want a form — /compare/comfyui-vs-automatic1111.
Are these free?
Licenses as listed. You pay a GPU and electricity. Weights have their own cards. Template users never pay c17.
How do I deploy it?
Open /stacks/comfyui-image. Persist models. A Railway GPU is optional and often the wrong box.

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