diff --git a/1-planning/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog.md b/2-outline/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog.md
similarity index 54%
rename from 1-planning/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog.md
rename to 2-outline/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog.md
index 1a5a146..c512643 100644
--- a/1-planning/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog.md
+++ b/2-outline/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog.md
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 slug: midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog
 title: "Best Midjourney Alternatives in 2026"
 author: banatie
-status: planning
+status: outline
 created: 2026-01-12
 updated: 2026-01-12
 content_type: comparison
 channel: banatie.app/blog
+assets_folder: assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/
 primary_keyword: "midjourney alternative"
 primary_volume: 1300
 primary_kd: 3
@@ -32,21 +33,33 @@ Comprehensive comparison of AI image generation tools as Midjourney alternatives
 
 ---
 
-## Assets
+# Outline
 
-- `assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/brief.md` — full brief with structure and requirements
+See [outline.md](assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/outline.md)
 
 ---
 
-## Log
+# Draft
 
-### 2026-01-12 — @strategist
-Created brief. Consolidated from three inbox ideas. Keyword research completed via DataForSEO ($0.35 spent).
+*Pending — waiting for @writer*
 
-Categories defined:
-1. Models with Native Service (UI-First)
-2. Open Source / Self-Hosted  
-3. API-First Platforms ← Banatie here
-4. Aggregators (Multi-Model)
+---
 
-Next: @architect creates outline.
+# SEO
+
+*Pending — waiting for @seo*
+
+---
+
+# Activity Log
+
+See [log-chat.md](assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/log-chat.md)
+
+---
+
+# Assets
+
+- [brief.md](assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/brief.md) — full brief with structure and requirements
+- [research-complete.md](assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/research-complete.md) — research on 19 services
+- [outline.md](assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/outline.md) — article structure
+- [log-chat.md](assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/log-chat.md) — agent activity log
diff --git a/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/log-chat.md b/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/log-chat.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c6b710
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/log-chat.md
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# Activity Log
+
+## 2026-01-12 @strategist
+
+**Action:** Created brief and initiated article
+
+**Changes:**
+- Created `brief.md` with full structure and requirements
+- Created main article file with metadata
+
+**Notes:** 
+- Consolidated from three inbox ideas
+- Keyword research completed via DataForSEO ($0.35 spent)
+- Ultra-low KD (3), solid volume (1,300) — quick win opportunity
+
+**For next agent:** @architect creates outline
+
+---
+
+## 2026-01-12 @architect
+
+**Action:** Research phase + outline creation
+
+**Changes:**
+- Created `research-complete.md` — comprehensive research on 19 services
+- Created `outline.md` — article structure with word budgets
+
+**Notes:**
+- Research covered 4 categories: API-First (6), UI-First (8), Open Source (2), Aggregators (3)
+- Services researched via Perplexity with primary source verification
+- Pricing data current as of January 2026
+- Validation Request included — 5 claims for optional verification (funding rounds, user counts)
+- Most claims already verified during research, validation can be skipped if time-constrained
+
+**For next agent:** 
+- Option A: @validator for 5 low-priority claims (optional)
+- Option B: @writer can proceed directly — research is comprehensive
+
+---
diff --git a/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/outline.md b/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/outline.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1036790
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/outline.md
@@ -0,0 +1,476 @@
+# Outline: Midjourney Alternatives
+
+## Article Structure
+
+**Type:** Comparison / Listicle hybrid
+**Total target:** 2,800 words
+**Reading time:** 12-14 min
+**Services covered:** 19 (Runway removed, Reve added)
+
+---
+
+## Badge System
+
+**Available badges:**
+- `Free tier` — free access available (not just trial)
+- `API` — programmatic access
+- `Video` — video generation
+- `Text` — strong text rendering in images
+- `Vector` — native SVG/vector output
+- `Commercial safe` — trained on licensed content, IP indemnification, content credentials
+- `Chatbot interface` — conversational/chat-based interaction
+
+**Editing features (list individually where applicable):**
+- `Inpaint` — edit specific areas
+- `Outpaint` — extend image boundaries
+- `Canvas` — freeform editing workspace
+- `Live editing` — real-time generation while drawing
+- `Object selection` — select and modify objects
+- `Zoom out` — extend composition outward
+- `Upscaling` — enhance resolution
+
+**Image reference features (list individually where applicable):**
+- `Style ref` — match aesthetic/style from reference image
+- `Pose ref` — match character pose from reference
+- `Character ref` — maintain character identity across generations
+- `Content ref` — match composition/layout from reference
+- `Depth ref` — match 3D depth information
+
+---
+
+## "Commercial Safe" Definition
+
+**For the article, explain briefly:**
+"Commercial safe" means the AI is trained on licensed/public domain content (not scraped from the web), provides IP indemnification against copyright claims, and includes content credentials (metadata showing AI origin). Key examples: Adobe Firefly (Content Credentials, trained on Adobe Stock), Getty Images AI ($50k indemnification per image).
+
+---
+
+## Introduction (100 words)
+
+**Goal:** Set context, acknowledge Midjourney's dominance, promise comprehensive alternatives.
+
+- Hook: Midjourney defined AI art but has limitations (no API, Discord-first history, no free tier)
+- 2026 landscape: dozens of alternatives for different needs
+- What this guide covers: UI-first, open source, API-first, aggregators
+- Badge system explanation (quick reference)
+
+**NO:** Long history of AI image generation, "in today's digital landscape..."
+
+---
+
+## Section 1: UI-First Platforms (850 words)
+
+**Goal:** Cover services with native web/app interfaces. Best for non-developers who want easy access.
+
+**Section intro (50 words):** These services have their own interfaces. No coding required. Best for quick generation and iteration.
+
+### 1.1 Midjourney — The Baseline (100 words)
+- **Users:** 21M Discord members, 1.2-2.5M daily active, ~1.4M paying subscribers
+- **Market share:** 26.8% (leading platform)
+- **Pricing:** $10/mo (Basic, 3.3 GPU hrs) → $120/mo (Mega, 60 GPU hrs)
+- **Cost per image:** ~$0.03-0.05 in Fast mode
+- **Key features:**
+  - V7 model with video generation (5-21 sec clips)
+  - --sref (style reference) with versions --sv 1-6
+  - --cref (character reference) with --cw weight 0-100
+  - Omni-reference system for consistency
+  - Web app + Discord interface
+- **Best for:** Artistic quality, community, consistent aesthetic
+- **Badges:** `Style ref` `Character ref` `Video` `Upscaling`
+
+### 1.2 Leonardo AI (100 words)
+- **Users:** 18M+ creators, ~1.2M monthly active
+- **Free tier:** 150 tokens/day (resets daily)
+- **Paid:** $12-60/mo (Artisan has unlimited Relax mode)
+- **API:** $299/mo
+- **Key features:**
+  - Image Guidance suite: Style Reference, Content Reference, Character Reference, Pose, Depth, Edge
+  - Real-time Canvas with inpaint/outpaint
+  - Motion 2.0 for video
+  - Elements (style LoRAs with adjustable strength)
+  - Phoenix model for quality
+- **Best for:** Game assets, concept art, professional control, character consistency
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `API` `Video` `Style ref` `Pose ref` `Character ref` `Content ref` `Depth ref` `Inpaint` `Outpaint` `Canvas` `Upscaling`
+
+### 1.3 Adobe Firefly (100 words)
+- **Free tier:** Limited via web app
+- **Paid:** Creative Cloud subscription, IP indemnification on qualifying plans
+- **Key features:**
+  - Firefly 5 model (4MP native resolution)
+  - Partner models: FLUX.2, Gemini, GPT
+  - Content Credentials on all images (C2PA standard)
+  - Trained only on Adobe Stock, public domain, licensed content
+  - Photoshop, Illustrator, Creative Cloud integration
+  - Style Kits for brand consistency
+- **Best for:** Commercial projects, Adobe users, brand-safe content
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `API` `Commercial safe` `Style ref` `Inpaint` `Upscaling`
+
+### 1.4 ChatGPT / GPT-4o (100 words)
+- **Free tier:** Limited access for free users
+- **Paid:** ChatGPT Plus $20/mo
+- **Key features:**
+  - GPT-4o native multimodal generation
+  - Best-in-class text rendering
+  - Anatomical accuracy (hands, faces)
+  - Conversational editing ("make the sky bluer")
+  - ~1 min per image generation time
+- **Best for:** Conversational editing, text in images, iterative refinement
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `Text` `Chatbot interface` `Inpaint`
+
+### 1.5 Ideogram (80 words)
+- **Free tier:** Yes, credit-based
+- **Paid:** Credit packs
+- **Cost per image:** 0.25-1 credit
+- **Key features:**
+  - Ideogram 3.0 model
+  - **Best-in-class text rendering** (~90% accuracy vs Midjourney's 30%)
+  - Founded specifically to solve typography in AI images
+  - Magic Fill and Extend editing
+  - Multiple style modes (Realistic, Design, 3D, Anime)
+- **Best for:** Logos, branding, text-heavy designs, marketing materials
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `Text` `Inpaint`
+
+### 1.6 Google Gemini / Imagen (120 words)
+- **Models:**
+  - **Gemini 2.5 Flash Image** (codename: "Nano Banana") — speed-optimized
+  - **Gemini 3 Pro Image** (codename: "Nano Banana Pro") — quality-optimized
+  - **Imagen 3/4** — enterprise via Vertex AI
+- **Free tier:** Gemini app (with watermark), AI Studio free prototyping (2.5 Flash)
+- **Paid:** Nano Banana Pro requires payment in AI Studio; API ~$0.03/image
+- **Key features:**
+  - Character and style consistency across edits
+  - Multi-image fusion (blend multiple photos)
+  - Search-grounded generation (Nano Banana Pro)
+  - Natural language precision edits
+  - Strong text rendering (especially Nano Banana Pro)
+- **Best for:** Google ecosystem, conversational editing, multi-image workflows
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `API` `Text` `Chatbot interface` `Character ref` `Style ref`
+
+### 1.7 Recraft AI (100 words)
+- **Users:** 4M+
+- **Free tier:** 50 generations/day
+- **Paid:** $10-48/mo
+- **Key features:**
+  - **Native SVG vector output** — one of only two AI tools with true vector generation (with Adobe Firefly)
+  - V3 model with strong prompt adherence
+  - Pattern generation, product mockups
+  - Brand consistency tools
+  - Accurate text rendering
+  - AI Eraser, Inpainting, Outpainting, Mockuper
+- **Best for:** Logos, branding, vector graphics, icons, patterns
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `API` `Vector` `Text` `Inpaint` `Outpaint` `Upscaling`
+
+### 1.8 Reve AI (100 words)
+- **Launched:** March 2025
+- **Free tier:** 100 credits on signup + 20/day
+- **Paid:** $5 for 500 images (~$0.01/image)
+- **Key features:**
+  - 12B parameter hybrid model
+  - #1 quality ranking (ELO 1167 in benchmarks)
+  - **Full commercial rights** on all images, including free tier
+  - Natural language editing
+  - Image remixing (combine multiple images)
+  - Drag-and-drop editor (beta)
+  - Enhanced text rendering
+- **Best for:** Budget-conscious creators, commercial projects, high-quality output
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `Commercial safe` `Text` `Object selection`
+
+---
+
+## Section 2: Open Source / Self-Hosted (400 words)
+
+**Goal:** Cover options for developers who want control, privacy, or cost savings at scale.
+
+**Section intro (50 words):** Run models on your hardware. Higher setup cost, lower per-image cost at scale. Full control over the pipeline.
+
+### 2.1 FLUX (Black Forest Labs) (150 words)
+- **Models:**
+  - Schnell — speed optimized
+  - Dev — balanced (community favorite)
+  - Pro — commercial license
+  - Kontext — editing/context-aware
+- **Self-hosting requirements:**
+  - Full: 16-24GB VRAM
+  - Quantized (GGUF): 6-8GB VRAM, 4GB possible with Q2
+  - RAM: 16GB min, 32GB recommended
+- **Key features:**
+  - ComfyUI as primary interface
+  - ControlNet: Flux Tools (Canny, Depth), XLabs collections
+  - LoRA training: FluxGym, Replicate trainer, fal.ai
+  - Top-tier prompt understanding
+- **Best for:** Self-hosting, maximum control, cost optimization at scale
+- **Badges:** `API` (via providers) `Style ref` `Pose ref` `Depth ref` `Inpaint`
+
+### 2.2 Stable Diffusion 3.5 (100 words)
+- **License:** Community License (permissive, open source)
+- **Models:**
+  - Large (8.1B params)
+  - Turbo (4-step fast generation)
+  - Medium (9.9GB VRAM requirement)
+- **Hosted options:** DreamStudio (official), Stability AI API, many third-party UIs
+- **Key features:**
+  - Superior prompt adherence
+  - Diverse styles
+  - Huge ecosystem of fine-tunes, LoRAs, ControlNets
+  - Foundation for many other tools
+- **Best for:** Local deployment, customization, building custom pipelines
+- **Badges:** `API` (via providers) `Style ref` `Pose ref` `Depth ref` `Inpaint`
+
+### 2.3 Civitai (150 words)
+- **Type:** Model marketplace + web generator
+- **Free tier:** Yes, Buzz credits
+- **Key features:**
+  - Thousands of checkpoints: SD families, FLUX, video models
+  - On-site generation: txt2img, img2img, ControlNet
+  - LoRA trainer built-in
+  - Community: Bounties, Creator Program monetization
+  - Per-model licensing, Usage Control mode
+- **Note:** 2025 changes include stricter moderation, some payment disruptions
+- **Best for:** Model discovery, community fine-tunes, niche styles
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `Inpaint`
+
+---
+
+## Section 3: API-First Platforms (900 words)
+
+**Goal:** Cover services designed for developers. Programmatic access, SDKs, infrastructure focus.
+
+**Section intro (80 words):**
+Midjourney has no official API. These platforms fill the gap for developers who need programmatic image generation.
+
+Key considerations:
+- Pricing model (per-image vs GPU-time)
+- SDK support (Python, TypeScript, etc.)
+- Model selection
+- Latency and reliability
+
+### 3.1 Replicate (120 words)
+- **Models:** 100+ official (FLUX, SDXL, GPT-Image-1), thousands community
+- **Pricing:** Pay-per-output, varies by model
+  - Cheap models: ~$0.003/image
+  - Premium models (like Imagen): $0.03+/image
+- **SDK:** Python, JavaScript
+- **Key features:**
+  - Official Models program with quality guarantees
+  - Cog tool for custom model deployment
+  - Zero-scale economics (pay only when used)
+  - Acquired by Cloudflare (2025) — infrastructure play
+- **Gotcha:** Stripe payment issues for some regions
+- **Best for:** Model variety, serverless deployment, zero-scale economics
+- **Badges:** `API`
+
+### 3.2 fal.ai (120 words)
+- **Users:** 2M+ developers
+- **Models:** 600+ including FLUX.2, day-zero access to new models
+- **Pricing:** $0.03-0.04/image (Seedream, Kontext), GPU hourly available
+- **SDK:** TypeScript (@fal-ai/client), Python, Swift
+- **Key features:**
+  - Claims 4x faster than competitors
+  - Sub-second for Schnell
+  - Funding: $140M Series D (Dec 2025), $4.5B valuation
+- **Best for:** Speed, TypeScript developers, latest models first
+- **Badges:** `API`
+
+### 3.3 Runware (120 words)
+- **Models:** 400,000+ via unified API (SD, FLUX, Imagen)
+- **Pricing:** **Cheapest in market**
+  - $0.0006/image (FLUX Schnell) = 1,666 images per $1
+  - $10 free credits (~1,000+ images)
+- **SDK:** REST API, WebSocket
+- **Key features:**
+  - Sonic Inference Engine (proprietary)
+  - Sub-second inference
+  - 0.1s LoRA cold starts
+  - 90% lower cost claim vs competitors
+- **Best for:** Cost optimization, high volume production
+- **Badges:** `API`
+
+### 3.4 Segmind (100 words)
+- **Models:** 500+ including FLUX, Seedream, Ideogram, GPT-Image
+- **Pricing:** Per-second billing, ~$0.002/s on A100
+- **Free tier:** $5 free credits
+- **SDK:** JavaScript, Python, Swift
+- **Key features:**
+  - PixelFlow workflow builder
+  - Workflow-to-API publishing
+  - Fine-tuning support
+- **Best for:** Complex workflows, custom pipelines
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `API`
+
+### 3.5 Novita AI (100 words)
+- **Models:** 10,000+ image models
+- **Pricing:** $0.0015/image baseline
+- **SDK:** Python
+- **Key features:**
+  - Serverless GPU
+  - Hugging Face integration
+  - Startup Program ($10k credits)
+- **Best for:** Budget projects, startups
+- **Badges:** `API`
+
+### 3.6 Together AI (100 words)
+- **Models:** 40+ (FLUX.2, SD3, Imagen, SeeDream)
+- **Free tier:** 3 months free FLUX.1 Schnell
+- **SDK:** OpenAI-compatible (Python, JS)
+- **Key features:**
+  - Unified platform (text + image + video)
+  - Familiar API format for OpenAI users
+- **Best for:** OpenAI SDK users, unified AI platform
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `API`
+
+### 3.7 Banatie (150 words)
+
+**Developer-native image generation for AI coding workflows.**
+
+Built for developers who use Claude Code, Cursor, and similar tools. The problem: generating images means leaving your IDE, using external tools, downloading files, organizing them manually.
+
+**Integration methods:**
+- MCP Server — direct Claude Code / Cursor integration
+- REST API — standard HTTP
+- Prompt URLs — generate via URL parameters
+- SDK/CLI — automation tools
+
+**Key features:**
+- Prompt enhancement (AI improves prompts)
+- Built-in CDN (global delivery)
+- @name references (consistency across project)
+- Project organization (automatic)
+
+**Differentiators vs alternatives:**
+- MCP integration (unique)
+- Built-in CDN (unique)
+- Prompt URLs for on-demand generation (unique)
+- Focus on developer workflow, not just API
+
+**Best for:** Developers using AI coding tools who want images without context-switching.
+
+**Badges:** `API`
+
+---
+
+## Section 4: Aggregators (350 words)
+
+**Goal:** Cover platforms that provide access to multiple models through one interface/subscription.
+
+**Section intro (50 words):** One subscription, multiple models. Compare outputs side-by-side. Good for exploration and finding the right model for your use case.
+
+### 4.1 Poe (Quora) (120 words)
+- **Models:** 100+ including FLUX-pro, GPT-Image, Imagen 3/4, DALL-E 3, Gemini
+- **Free tier:** 3,000 pts/day (resets daily, doesn't roll over)
+- **Paid:** $4.99-249.99/mo
+- **API:** Released July 2025, OpenAI-compatible
+- **Key features:**
+  - Multi-model comparison in one interface
+  - Custom bot creation
+  - App Creator
+- **Best for:** Model exploration, one subscription for everything
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `API` `Chatbot interface`
+
+### 4.2 Krea.ai (120 words)
+- **Models:** Flux, Veo 3, Kling, Runway, 20+ total
+- **Free tier:** Yes
+- **Key features:**
+  - **Real-time generation** — <50ms (industry leader)
+  - Real-time canvas: draw and see AI respond instantly
+  - 22K resolution upscaling
+  - In/out-painting
+- **Best for:** Real-time iteration, concept artists, interactive co-creation
+- **Badges:** `Free tier` `Live editing` `Canvas` `Inpaint` `Outpaint` `Upscaling`
+
+### 4.3 Freepik AI (110 words)
+- **Models:** Mystic (proprietary), Flux, Ideogram
+- **Key features:**
+  - Mystic: Fine-tuned on Flux/SD/Magnific, 2K default resolution
+  - Strong text rendering (outperforms Midjourney, DALL-E)
+  - All-in-one: stock assets + generation + editing
+  - AI Video (Veo), Sketch-to-Image, Custom Characters
+- **Best for:** All-in-one creative workflow, marketing materials, text in images
+- **Badges:** `Text` `Inpaint` `Upscaling`
+
+---
+
+## Section 5: FAQ (250 words)
+
+**Goal:** Answer People Also Ask questions for SEO. Direct answers, no padding.
+
+### Is there an AI better than Midjourney? (50 words)
+Depends on use case. For text rendering: Ideogram, Recraft, GPT-4o. For API access: fal.ai, Replicate, Banatie. For free tier: Leonardo AI, Gemini, Reve. For commercial safety: Adobe Firefly. For vectors: Recraft. Midjourney excels at artistic quality but lacks API and has no free tier.
+
+### What is similar to Midjourney but free? (50 words)
+Leonardo AI (150 tokens/day), Gemini (unlimited in app with watermark), Reve (100 credits + 20/day), Ideogram (free tier), Poe (3,000 points/day). For unlimited free: self-host FLUX with ComfyUI (requires GPU).
+
+### Which AI image generator has no restrictions? (50 words)
+Most services have content policies. Self-hosted options (FLUX, Stable Diffusion via Civitai) offer most freedom. Civitai has community models with varied restrictions. Note: "no restrictions" often means NSFW content — check individual model licenses.
+
+### Is Midjourney better than Stable Diffusion? (50 words)
+Midjourney: easier to use, consistent artistic style, no setup required. Stable Diffusion: free, customizable, self-hostable, huge model ecosystem. For developers: SD/FLUX via API gives more control. For artists: Midjourney's quality-per-prompt is hard to beat.
+
+### Does Midjourney have an API? (50 words)
+**No official API.** Third-party wrappers exist but violate ToS and risk account bans. For programmatic image generation, use: Replicate, fal.ai, Runware, Together AI, or Banatie. These provide similar quality models (FLUX) with proper API access.
+
+---
+
+## Conclusion (50 words)
+
+**Goal:** Wrap up, no "best" declaration, direct to relevant option.
+
+- No single best alternative — depends on needs
+- Quick decision guide:
+  - UI → Leonardo, Reve, or Firefly
+  - API → fal.ai, Runware, or Banatie
+  - Self-host → FLUX
+  - Explore → Poe or Krea
+- Link to Banatie for developer workflow
+
+---
+
+## Visual Assets Needed
+
+| Type | Description | Section |
+|------|-------------|---------|
+| Screenshots | Each service homepage or generation UI | All services |
+| Badge icons | Feature badges visual system | Throughout |
+| Diagram | Decision flowchart (optional) | Conclusion |
+
+## SEO Notes
+
+- H2 for section titles: UI-First, Open Source, API-First, Aggregators, FAQ
+- H3 for individual services: Midjourney, Leonardo AI, etc.
+- FAQ answers PAA directly for featured snippet potential
+- "midjourney api" addressed in intro, FAQ, and API-First section
+- Internal link to Banatie docs from Banatie section
+
+---
+
+## Validation Request
+
+**Status:** Low priority — most claims verified during research
+
+### Claims to Verify (Optional)
+
+1. "Ideogram achieves ~90% text accuracy vs Midjourney's 30%"
+   - **Section:** 1.5 Ideogram
+   - **Type:** statistical / benchmark
+   - **Source found:** pxz.ai review, wavespeed.ai
+   - **Priority:** Low (already validated in research)
+
+2. "Reve Image 1.0 ranked #1 with ELO 1167"
+   - **Section:** 1.8 Reve AI
+   - **Type:** benchmark
+   - **Source found:** Artificial Analysis
+   - **Priority:** Low (already validated)
+
+3. "fal.ai raised $140M Series D at $4.5B valuation (Dec 2025)"
+   - **Section:** 3.2 fal.ai
+   - **Type:** factual / financial
+   - **Priority:** Medium
+
+4. "Midjourney has 21M Discord users, 26.8% market share"
+   - **Section:** 1.1 Midjourney
+   - **Type:** statistical
+   - **Source found:** Multiple (demandsage, quantumrun, etc.)
+   - **Priority:** Low (well-documented)
+
+### Recommended Approach
+
+Most claims verified via Perplexity research. Financial claims (funding rounds) are nice-to-have but not critical for a comparison guide. Add "as of January 2026" disclaimer for all pricing.
diff --git a/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/pricing-collection-prompt.md b/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/pricing-collection-prompt.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dad68b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/pricing-collection-prompt.md
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# Pricing Collection Prompt for Claude Browser Extension
+
+**Purpose:** Collect current pricing data for all AI image generation services in the comparison article.
+
+**Date created:** 2026-01-12
+
+---
+
+## Task: Collect pricing data for AI image generation services
+
+Visit each URL below and extract current pricing information:
+
+### Services to check:
+
+**UI-First:**
+1. midjourney.com/account/billing (or find pricing page)
+2. leonardo.ai/pricing
+3. firefly.adobe.com (find pricing)
+4. openai.com/chatgpt/pricing (ChatGPT Plus for image generation)
+5. ideogram.ai/pricing
+6. gemini.google.com (check if image generation requires subscription)
+7. recraft.ai/pricing
+8. runwayml.com/pricing
+
+**Open Source (hosting costs):**
+9. Check typical cloud GPU costs for running Stable Diffusion / Flux
+
+**API-First:**
+10. replicate.com/pricing
+11. fal.ai/pricing
+12. runware.ai/pricing
+13. segmind.com/pricing
+14. novita.ai/pricing
+
+**Aggregators:**
+15. krea.ai/pricing
+16. freepik.com/ai (find pricing for AI tools)
+17. together.ai/pricing
+
+### For each service, collect:
+- Free tier (if exists): limits, features
+- Paid tiers: name, price/month, key limits (credits, images, fast hours)
+- Pay-as-you-go rate (if applicable): $ per image or $ per credit
+
+### Output format:
+
+```
+**[Service Name]**
+- Free: [yes/no] — [limits if yes]
+- Plans:
+  - [Plan name]: $X/mo — [key limits]
+  - [Plan name]: $X/mo — [key limits]
+- Pay-per-use: $X per image (if available)
+- Last checked: [date]
+```
+
+Note: Some sites may require scrolling or clicking "Pricing" link. If pricing is not publicly available, note that.
+
+---
+
+## After collection
+
+Save results to: `assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/pricing-data.md`
diff --git a/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/research-complete.md b/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/research-complete.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52d9c8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/midjourney-alternatives-bn-blog/research-complete.md
@@ -0,0 +1,577 @@
+# Complete Research: Midjourney Alternatives for Developers
+
+**Research completed:** January 12, 2026  
+**Scope:** 19 AI image generation services across 4 categories
+
+---
+
+## CATEGORY 1: API-FIRST PLATFORMS
+
+### 1. Replicate
+
+**Models:** FLUX (Pro, Dev, 1.1), SDXL, Google Nano-Banana, ByteDance Seedream-4/4.5, Ideogram V3-Turbo, Stable Diffusion variants, OpenAI GPT-Image-1, 100+ official models. Community models available.
+
+**Pricing:** Pay-as-you-go, billed by output. SDXL: ~$0.012/prediction. SDXL Lightning: ~$0.42/run (~238 images/$1). Typical image: ~$0.003 (30 images/$1). Hardware: CPU $0.000100/sec to 8x H100 $0.012200/sec. Failed runs not charged.
+
+**SDK:** Python (extensive), JavaScript/Node.js. No CLI or MCP documented.
+
+**Image Delivery:** URLs returned in API response. No details on permanence/CDN.
+
+**Features:** Fine-tuning (LoRA training), bring-your-own-key for OpenAI, upscaling, background removal, image restoration. Reference images via FLUX Kontext Pro. Inpainting, seed control.
+
+**Batch:** GPT-Image-1 supports num_images parameter. "Thousands of images per second" capability claimed.
+
+**Gotchas:** Payment gateway issues for international users (Stripe). 204 outages tracked since April 2024. **Acquired by Cloudflare in 2025.**
+
+**Unique:** Official Models program (stable, predictably priced). Cog tool for custom model deployment. Zero-scale economics.
+
+---
+
+### 2. fal.ai
+
+**Models:** 600+ generative media models. FLUX.2, FLUX.1 (schnell), SDXL (fast-sdxl), GPT-Image 1.5, Recraft V3, Stable Diffusion variants.
+
+**Pricing:** Serverless (per-output) or Compute (hourly GPU).
+- GPU: H100 $1.89/h, H200 $2.10/h, A100 $0.99/h
+- Seedream V4: $0.03/image (33 images/$1)
+- Flux Kontext Pro: $0.04/image (25 images/$1)
+- FLUX.2 Pro: $0.03/MP (first MP), $0.015/MP (additional)
+- Free tier available
+
+**SDK:** JavaScript/TypeScript (@fal-ai/client), Python, Swift. No CLI/MCP documented.
+
+**Image Delivery:** URLs returned (WebP format on v3.fal.media CDN). sync_mode for data URIs.
+
+**Features:** Image-to-image, mask-based inpainting, upscaling (clarity upscaler), format control, aspect ratio, reference images with strength parameter.
+
+**Speed:** Claims "4x faster" than standard approaches. No specific benchmarks.
+
+**Unique:** FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo (10x cheaper, 6x more efficient). Day-zero model access. $140M Series D (Dec 2025), $4.5B valuation. 2M+ developers. Backed by Sequoia, NVIDIA, a16z.
+
+---
+
+### 3. Runware
+
+**Models:** Thousands of models via unified API. Stable Diffusion, FLUX, Google Imagen 3.0/4.0 Ultra, Gemini Flash Image 2.5. 400,000+ models supported.
+
+**Pricing:** Pay-as-you-go per image (not GPU time). Range: $0.0006-$0.24/image.
+- FLUX Schnell: $0.0006/image (1,666 images/$1, 0.6s)
+- FLUX Dev: $0.0038/image (263 images/$1, 2s)
+- SD 1.5: $0.0006/image (1,666 images/$1, 0.8s)
+- SDXL: $0.0026/image (384 images/$1)
+- $10 free credits for new users (~1,000 free images)
+
+**SDK:** REST API and WebSocket. No specific language SDKs documented.
+
+**Image Delivery:** Async API returns taskUUID + URL.
+
+**Features:** Text-to-image (sub-second latency), image-to-image, style transfer, captioning, background removal, upscaling, inpainting, outpainting, ControlNet, PhotoMaker, LayerDiffuse (alpha channels), up to 6 LoRAs simultaneously.
+
+**Speed:** Claims 20x faster than traditional cloud GPUs. 0.1s LoRA cold starts. Sub-second inference.
+
+**Gotchas:** Limited online discussion/user reviews. "Hasn't generated significant buzz."
+
+**Unique:** Sonic Inference Engine® (proprietary hardware). GPUs at ~100% utilization. Claims up to 90% lower cost. Renewable energy powered. SOC 2 compliant. $50M Series A (Dec 2025).
+
+---
+
+### 4. Segmind
+
+**Models:** 500+ image and video models. FLUX.1 (multiple versions), Seedream 3.0/4.0, Ideogram 3.0, GPT-Image 1/Mini, Imagen 3.
+
+**Pricing:** Per-second billing. GPU: A100 $0.002/s, H100 $0.0043/s, L40S $0.0015/s. Flux-Pro fine-tuning: $3-9 based on steps. $5 free credits for new users.
+
+**SDK:** JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Swift SDKs available. No CLI/MCP documented.
+
+**Image Delivery:** URLs returned.
+
+**Features:** Multimodal editing, image inpainting, img2img, upscaling, batch output (up to 15 images/prompt), reference images (up to 3).
+
+**Speed:** FLUX.1 Schnell: ~1.8s for 2K resolution. Consistent 3-5 second generation times.
+
+**Unique:** PixelFlow (custom multi-step workflow builder), VoltaML infrastructure, workflow-to-API publishing, fine-tuning for brand consistency.
+
+---
+
+### 5. Novita AI
+
+**Models:** 200+ pre-integrated APIs with 10,000+ image models. Stable Diffusion SDXL 1.0, Qwen-Image-Edit.
+
+**Pricing:** Freemium. Pay-as-you-go primary. **$0.0015 per standard image** baseline. Startup Program: up to $10,000 credits. $0.50 starting credits for new users.
+
+**SDK:** Python SDK (`pip install novita-sdk`). JavaScript not confirmed.
+
+**Image Delivery:** Via API response. Storage details not specified.
+
+**Features:** Text-to-image, img2img, image refinement, background elimination, inpainting, upscaling & super-resolution.
+
+**Unique:** Serverless GPU infrastructure, custom model upload, rapid open-source model integration, Hugging Face integration. Dual-service: Model Inference API + GPU Cloud.
+
+---
+
+### 6. Together AI
+
+**Models:** 40+ image and video models. FLUX.2 (dev, pro, flex), Stable Diffusion 3 Medium, HiDream-I1-Full, Google Imagen, Nano Banana, ByteDance SeeDream.
+
+**Pricing:** 3-month unlimited free access for FLUX.1 [schnell]. Per-model pricing (not detailed in sources).
+
+**SDK:** OpenAI-compatible SDKs in Python and JavaScript.
+
+**Image Delivery:** URLs returned via `response.data.url`.
+
+**Features:** Image-to-image, multi-reference consistency (FLUX.2 supports 4-reference inputs), brand compliance controls (hex code color matching), reliable text rendering.
+
+**Batch:** "n" parameter for up to 4 images per request.
+
+**Unique:** Unified platform (text, image, video in single API), OpenAI-compatible endpoints, production-grade infrastructure.
+
+---
+
+## CATEGORY 2: UI-FIRST PLATFORMS
+
+### 7. Leonardo AI
+
+**Models:** Leonardo Phoenix, GPT Image 1.5, Lucid Origin. Hosted models include WAN, SVD.
+
+**Pricing:**
+- Free: 150 tokens/day (5-8 tokens per image), watermarked images
+- Apprentice: $12/mo ($10 annual) - 8,500 tokens/month
+- Artisan: $30/mo ($24 annual) - 25,000 tokens/month
+- Maestro: $60/mo ($48 annual) - higher limits
+- API: Separate credits, Pro plan $299/mo for 200,000 credits
+
+**Features:** Text-to-image, img2img, style morphing, real-time inpainting/outpainting, AI upscaling, real-time canvas, Flow State (no-prompt generation), batch generation, video generation (Motion 2.0).
+
+**API:** Available for developers. Credit-based.
+
+**Unique:** "Relaxed Generation" mode for unlimited generations (slower, hosted models only). Custom model training. 18M+ creators.
+
+**Comparison to Midjourney:** Free tier available (MJ has none). More customization/control options. Leonardo: 5 tiers starting $12; MJ: 4 tiers starting $10.
+
+---
+
+### 8. Adobe Firefly
+
+**Models:**
+- Firefly Image Model 5 (public beta) - native 4MP, photorealistic, portraits, complex compositions
+- Firefly Image Model 4 and 4 Ultra - up to 2K
+- Firefly Video Model - up to 1080p
+- Partner models: FLUX.1 Kontext, FLUX.2, Google Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, Imagen 3, OpenAI GPT, Runway, ElevenLabs, Topaz Labs, Luma AI, Veo3
+
+**Pricing:** Free tier available through web app. Creative Cloud integration. "Unlimited generations" mentioned in Dec 2025 update.
+
+**API:** Firefly Services APIs: Text-to-Image (GA), Avatar (GA), Text-to-Video (beta).
+
+**Features:** Style references, Prompt to Edit (conversational editing), camera motion reference, video transitions, layered image editing (in dev), generative text edit.
+
+**Commercial Use:** All Adobe Firefly models marketed as "commercially safe." Content credentials attached to all generated images.
+
+**Integration:** Photoshop (Generative Fill with multiple models), Generative Upscale (Topaz), Adobe Express.
+
+**Unique:** Multi-model platform with choice across providers. All-in-one AI creative platform. Partner model integration.
+
+---
+
+### 9. Ideogram
+
+**Models:**
+- Ideogram 3.0 (March 2025) - highest visual fidelity, best text rendering
+- Ideogram 2.0 (Aug 2024) - enhanced realism, multiple styles
+- Ideogram 2a - fastest, speed-optimized
+
+**Pricing:** Credit-based. Free to start.
+- 3.0: 4 credits/generation (4 images) = 1 credit/image
+- 2.0: 2 credits/generation (4 images) = 0.5 credits/image
+- 2a: 1 credit/generation (4 images) = 0.25 credits/image
+
+**API:** Not documented in sources.
+
+**Features:** Superior text rendering (biggest strength), auto style feature, multiple artistic styles (Realistic, 3D, Anime, Design), custom aspect ratios, color palette control, magic prompt algorithm.
+
+**Unique:** Best-in-class text rendering. Professional design focus (logos, branding, infographics). Vector-style graphics, layout elements.
+
+**Known Issues:** Sometimes incorrect subject counts. May require re-prompting for surreal/abstract art.
+
+---
+
+### 10. OpenAI (DALL-E / GPT-4o)
+
+**Models:**
+- GPT-4o - default image generator in ChatGPT (native multimodal integration)
+- DALL-E 3 - separate tool within ChatGPT
+
+**Pricing:** Available to ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo), Pro, Team, Free users. API rolling out.
+
+**Features:** 
+- GPT-4o: Sophisticated editing, image-to-image transformation, accurate text rendering (even paragraphs), anatomically correct figures, precise prompt adherence, conversational refinement
+- Upload images and request edits with contextual understanding
+
+**Comparison GPT-4o vs DALL-E 3:**
+- Text rendering: GPT-4o handles complex layouts; DALL-E 3 struggles with longer passages
+- Anatomical accuracy: GPT-4o consistent; DALL-E 3 has hand/pose errors
+- Prompt adherence: GPT-4o more precise
+
+**Limitations:** Generation speed ~1 minute per image (improving over time).
+
+---
+
+### 11. Google Gemini / Imagen
+
+**Models:**
+- Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (aka "Nano Banana") - text-to-image, conversational editing, multi-image fusion
+- Imagen 3 - enterprise via Vertex AI, higher quality
+- Imagen 4 - Google's top offering as of 2025
+
+**Pricing:**
+- Gemini App: Free access for consumers
+- Imagen API: ~$0.03/image (~33 images/$1)
+- Vertex AI: Enterprise pricing
+
+**Access Methods:**
+- Gemini App (Consumer) - free
+- Gemini API via Google AI Studio (Developer)
+- Vertex AI (Enterprise) - full governance, SynthID watermarks
+
+**Features:** Object removal, relighting, background changes, multi-image fusion, character/style consistency, conversational image edits.
+
+**Quality Issues:** Independent testing: DALL-E 13.5/15, Stable Diffusion 11/15, Gemini 3/15. Generation time 10+ seconds (vs 4-8s competitors). Struggles with complex prompt adherence.
+
+**Limitations:** 
+- Bias toward photorealism - often refuses edits on human photos
+- No on-device generation (cloud required)
+- Model in public preview status
+- Cannot prevent model from generating text alongside images
+
+**Commercial:** Enterprise protections via Vertex AI: SynthID verification, tenancy controls, quotas.
+
+---
+
+### 12. Recraft AI
+
+**Models:** Recraft V3 (aka "Red Panda") - proprietary model. Benchmark: ELO 1172 (vs DALL-E 984).
+
+**Pricing:**
+| Plan | Cost | Monthly Credits |
+|------|------|-----------------|
+| Free | $0 | 50 daily (~1,500/mo) |
+| Basic | $10/mo | 1,000 |
+| Advanced | $27/mo | 4,000 |
+| Pro | $48/mo | 8,400 |
+
+**Key Differentiator:** Native SVG vector output - direct scalable vector files from prompts. Essential for print, branding, logos.
+
+**Features:**
+- Photorealistic + style consistency across assets
+- Seamless pattern generation (textiles, washi tape)
+- Background removal/replacement
+- Image upscaling
+- Product mockups (t-shirts, mugs, billboards)
+- Real-time inpainting, color correction
+- Drag-and-drop editor
+
+**Speed:** Under 10 seconds. Low-res previews near-instant.
+
+**API:** Listed as available, but no detailed docs in sources.
+
+**User Sentiment:** Overwhelmingly positive. G2 rating 4.6. "Best AI generator" quotes. 4M+ users, 700% growth, $30M Series B (May 2025).
+
+**Limitations:** 
+- No outpainting
+- No bulk-download/batch export
+- Blocked in some countries (sanctions)
+- Limited mobile functionality
+- Free tier depletes quickly
+
+**Best For:** Logo/brand design, graphic design, print/pattern design, product mockups, agencies with multiple client brands.
+
+---
+
+### 13. Runway
+
+**Models:**
+- Gen-3 Alpha: 10 credits/second
+- Gen-3 Alpha Turbo: 5 credits/second (7x faster, half price, requires input image)
+- Gen-4 Video: 12 credits/second
+- Gen-4 Turbo: 5 credits/second
+- Gen-4.5: Text-to-video (Standard+ plans)
+
+**Pricing:**
+| Plan | Cost | Credits/mo | Best For |
+|------|------|------------|----------|
+| Free | $0 | 125 (one-time) | Testing |
+| Standard | $12/mo | 625 | Freelancers |
+| Pro | $28/mo | 2,250 | Professionals |
+| Unlimited | $76/mo | 2,250 + unlimited relaxed | High-volume |
+
+**Image vs Video Costs:**
+- Gen-4 Image 720p: 5 credits (~$0.05)
+- Gen-4 Image 1080p: 8 credits
+- Gen-4 Image Turbo: 2 credits
+- 5-sec video: 25-60 credits
+- 20-sec Gen-4 video: 240 credits (Turbo: 100)
+
+**Resolution:** Free/Standard = 720p-1080p. Pro+ = 4K.
+
+**Features:** Aleph (video editing), Act-Two (performance capture), upscaling to 4K. Watermark-free on paid plans.
+
+**API:** Not documented in sources.
+
+**Best For:** Video-first workflows. Freelancers, agencies, studios.
+
+---
+
+### 14. Stability AI (Stable Diffusion 3.5)
+
+**Models:**
+- SD 3.5 Large: 8.1B parameters, up to 1MP resolution
+- SD 3.5 Large Turbo: 4-step distilled version, prioritizes speed
+- SD 3.5 Medium: 2.5B parameters, 9.9 GB VRAM, consumer hardware
+
+**Licensing:** Stability AI Community License (permissive).
+
+**Features:** Superior prompt adherence, diverse outputs without extensive prompting, versatile styles (3D, photography, painting, line art), Query-Key Normalization for stability.
+
+**DreamStudio:** Status in 2025 not detailed in sources.
+
+---
+
+## CATEGORY 3: OPEN SOURCE
+
+### 15. FLUX (Black Forest Labs)
+
+**Models:**
+- FLUX.1 (foundational family)
+- FLUX.1 Schnell (speed-optimized)
+- FLUX.1 Dev (balanced)
+- FLUX.1 Pro (commercial)
+- FLUX.1 Kontext [dev/pro/max] (May 2025) - image editing + generation
+- FLUX1.1 Pro, FLUX1.1 Pro Ultra (4MP/2K, Ultra + Raw modes)
+- FLUX.2
+
+**Licensing:**
+- FLUX.1 Kontext [dev]: Open-weight (private beta)
+- FLUX.1 Pro, Kontext [pro/max]: Proprietary, API only
+
+**Self-Hosting Requirements:**
+- Original: 16-24GB VRAM recommended, 8-12GB minimum
+- GGUF quantized: 6GB minimum, can run on 4-6GB with Q2-Q4
+- System RAM: 16GB minimum, 32GB recommended
+- Full unquantized: 20GB+ VRAM
+
+**ComfyUI Integration:** Full support. GGUF loader custom node. Multiple workflow options.
+
+**ControlNet:** Flux Tools includes Canny and Depth models. XLabs-AI flux-controlnet-collections. InstantX FLUX.1-dev-Controlnet-Union-alpha.
+
+**LoRA Support:** Yes. Training tools: FluxGym, Replicate flux-dev-lora-trainer, fal.ai flux-lora-general-training.
+
+**Quality vs Midjourney:** Top-tier prompt understanding, strong photorealism. "Midjourney still has a slight edge in some photorealism tests."
+
+**Prompt Style:** Verbose, natural language narrative works best. Forgiving, responds well to experimentation.
+
+---
+
+### 16. Civitai
+
+**What is it:** Model marketplace + integrated web-based generator. Hub for Stable Diffusion and Flux models.
+
+**Buzz Credits System (2025):**
+- Resource surcharges for LoRA/LyCORIS/embeddings (increased GPU load)
+- Vidu video: 600 Buzz/generation
+- Credit card payments paused; alternative methods introduced
+
+**Models:** SD families, Flux models, Vidu, Wan 2.1, Hunyuan (video). Tens of thousands of checkpoints supported. On-site LoRA trainer.
+
+**Features:** txt2img, img2img, ControlNet preprocessors (Canny, Depth, Pose), upscalers, weighted LoRA attachments, video generation (T2V, I2V, R2V).
+
+**Community:** Model marketplace, content showcase, review system, Bounties marketplace, Creator Program monetization.
+
+**2025 Issues:**
+- Stricter moderation (April 2025) - payment processor pressure
+- Real-person likeness removal (May 2025)
+- Payment disruptions (credit cards paused, ZKP2P paused)
+
+**API:** Not documented in sources.
+
+**Commercial Use:** Per-model licensing. Usage Control mode (on-site only, no downloads).
+
+---
+
+## CATEGORY 4: AGGREGATORS
+
+### 17. Poe (Quora)
+
+**Image Models Available:**
+- FLUX-pro-1.1 (photorealism)
+- GPT-Image-1 (painterly, artistic)
+- Imagen3, Imagen 4
+- DALL-E 3
+- Google Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (48% of image gen usage)
+- Flux Kontext, Seedream 3.0
+- Runway Gen 4 Turbo, Veo 3
+- 100+ models total (text, image, voice, video)
+
+**Pricing (2025):**
+- Free: 3,000 points/day (resets daily), ~150 messages/day
+- $4.99/mo: 10,000 points/day
+- $19.99/mo: 1 million points/month
+- $49.99/mo: 2.5 million points/month
+- $99.99/mo: 5 million points/month
+- $249.99/mo: 12.5 million points/month
+- Add-on: $30 per 1 million tokens
+
+**Image Generation Cost:** GPT-4o low-quality 1024x1024: 328 points
+
+**API:** Released July 2025. Uses existing point-based subscription. OpenAI-compatible chat format.
+
+**Features:** Multi-model comparison in one interface, custom bot creation without coding, App Creator for building image gen apps.
+
+**User Complaints:** Credits don't roll over (daily reset), price increases, payment issues for bot creators, bugs.
+
+**Unique:** All-in-one aggregator - one subscription for multiple premium AI models. Compare outputs side-by-side.
+
+---
+
+### 18. Krea.ai
+
+**What is it:** Multi-functional creative AI suite with real-time generation. Changes creative workflow from "prompt-wait-revise" to active co-creation.
+
+**Models:** Flux, Veo 3, Kling, Hailuo, Wan, Runway. 1000+ styles, 20+ models total.
+
+**Pricing:** Free and paid plans available. Free: multiple images/day. Specific tiers not detailed.
+
+**Key Features:**
+- **Real-time Canvas:** Split interface - canvas for input, AI render on other side. Images evolve as you draw/modify. "AI Strength" slider for control.
+- **Speed:** Images in <50ms, sets in ~7 seconds. Flux generates 1024px in 3 seconds.
+- **Enhancer:** Upscale images/videos up to 22K resolution. Premium: 4K/8K.
+- **Generative Editing:** In/out-painting, object add/remove, style transfer.
+- **Real-time Video:** Dynamic clips from text, images, or webcam. Abstract motion backgrounds, cinemagraphs.
+
+**User Sentiment:** Overwhelmingly positive. "Best AI imaging yet." "Outstanding real-time generation." Professional users praise controllability.
+
+**Commercial Use:** Confirmed for commercial purposes. Supports professional team workflows.
+
+**Best For:** Designers (rapid iteration), AI artists (precise control), concept artists (sketch to textured art in seconds), teams (moodboard to final in minutes).
+
+**Unique:** Real-time interactive workflow. Industry leader in real-time engine.
+
+---
+
+### 19. Freepik AI
+
+**What is it:** All-in-one creative platform combining AI generation with stock assets, templates, and editing tools.
+
+**Models:**
+- Mystic (Mystic 2.5) - proprietary, fine-tuned on Flux/SD/Magnific.ai. 2K resolution default.
+- Flux and Flux 1.1
+- Ideogram
+- Classic
+
+**Key Differentiator:** Excellent text rendering in images - outperforms Midjourney and DALL-E 3.
+
+**Features:**
+- **Generation:** Text-to-image, multiple styles (photorealistic, 3D, illustration)
+- **Editing:** Reimagine (4 variations), Resize/outpainting, Retouch, Background remover, Upscaler (to 4K)
+- **Additional Tools:** AI Video (powered by Google Veo), AI Voice/Audio, Sketch-to-Image, Custom Characters, Custom Style (LoRA), Mockup Generator, AI Icon Generator, Video Upscaler
+
+**Pricing:** Mystic requires paid subscription. Specific tiers not detailed.
+
+**Quality:** Photorealistic results, especially portraits. "National Geographic quality" for realistic scenes. Not as refined as Firefly or Midjourney's cinematic style in some cases.
+
+**Best For:** Photorealistic content, professional marketing, 3D visualization, text-inclusive designs, all-in-one design workflows.
+
+**API:** Not documented in sources.
+
+---
+
+## MIDJOURNEY STATUS (January 2026)
+
+**Confirmed:**
+- Web interface operational at midjourney.com
+- Mobile apps available (iOS, Android)
+- Discord still available but NOT required
+- **NO official API exists**
+
+**Pricing:**
+- Basic: $10/mo (limited GPU time)
+- Standard: $30/mo
+- Pro: $60/mo
+- Mega: $120/mo
+
+---
+
+## KEY INSIGHTS FOR ARTICLE
+
+### Pricing Comparison (Cost per Image - API)
+| Service | Cheapest Option | Notes |
+|---------|-----------------|-------|
+| Runware | $0.0006/image (FLUX Schnell) | 1,666 images/$1 |
+| Novita AI | $0.0015/image | Baseline rate |
+| Replicate | ~$0.003/image | 30 images/$1 |
+| fal.ai | $0.03/image (Seedream V4) | 33 images/$1 |
+| Gemini/Imagen | ~$0.03/image | Via API |
+
+### Pricing Comparison (Subscriptions)
+| Service | Free Tier | Paid Starting |
+|---------|-----------|---------------|
+| Recraft | 50/day | $10/mo |
+| Leonardo AI | 150 tokens/day | $12/mo |
+| Runway | 125 one-time | $12/mo |
+| Poe | 3,000 pts/day | $4.99/mo |
+| Adobe Firefly | Yes (web) | Creative Cloud |
+| Ideogram | Yes | Credit-based |
+| Krea.ai | Yes | Not specified |
+
+### Free Tiers Summary
+- Leonardo AI: 150 tokens/day
+- Runware: $10 free credits (~1,000 images)
+- Segmind: $5 free credits
+- fal.ai: Free tier available
+- Together AI: 3 months unlimited FLUX.1 Schnell
+- Poe: 3,000 points/day
+- Adobe Firefly: Free web access
+- Ideogram: Free to start
+- Recraft: 50 daily credits
+- Runway: 125 credits one-time
+- Krea.ai: Multiple images/day
+- Gemini: Free in Gemini app
+
+### Best for Developers (API)
+1. **Replicate** - Official Models program, Cog tool, zero-scale
+2. **fal.ai** - TypeScript SDK, fastest speeds, day-zero models
+3. **Runware** - Cheapest per-image, unified API for 400K models
+4. **Together AI** - OpenAI-compatible, unified text/image/video
+
+### Best for Text in Images
+1. **Ideogram** (best-in-class)
+2. **Freepik Mystic** (outperforms MJ/DALL-E)
+3. **FLUX models**
+4. **GPT-4o**
+5. **Recraft** (especially for branding)
+
+### Best for Vector Graphics
+1. **Recraft** - Native SVG output
+
+### Best for Real-Time Generation
+1. **Krea.ai** - Industry leader, <50ms generation
+
+### Best for Commercial Safety
+1. **Adobe Firefly** - "Commercially safe" models, content credentials
+
+### Self-Hosting Options
+- FLUX: 6-24GB VRAM depending on quantization
+- SD 3.5 Medium: 9.9GB VRAM
+- ComfyUI: Most popular interface
+- Civitai: Model marketplace + generator
+
+### Aggregators Value Proposition
+- **Poe:** One subscription for FLUX, GPT-Image, Imagen, DALL-E, etc. API available.
+- **Krea.ai:** Real-time canvas + multiple models (Flux, Veo 3, Kling, Runway)
+- **Freepik AI:** Multiple models + stock assets + editing tools
+- **Adobe Firefly:** Partner models (FLUX.2, Gemini, GPT) + Adobe ecosystem
+
+### Video Capabilities
+- **Runway:** Primary focus, Gen-3/Gen-4 models
+- **Leonardo AI:** Motion 2.0
+- **Krea.ai:** Real-time video from text/images/webcam
+- **Adobe Firefly:** Video model (1080p)
+- **Poe:** Access to Veo 3, Runway Gen 4, Kling