DALL·E alternative · GPT Image 2.5 · 80+ models
DALL-E Alternative
OpenAI switched DALL·E off in 2026: first in its API, then in ChatGPT. Its successors are the GPT Image models. Kenerate runs GPT Image 2.5, GPT Image 2 and GPT Image 1.5 next to 80+ other image models, and shows the credit cost of every image before you click.
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- 80+ models
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Quick answer
DALL·E was retired. What is the best alternative?
DALL·E is no longer available: OpenAI removed dall-e-2 and dall-e-3 from its API on 12 May 2026 and retired the DALL·E GPT in ChatGPT on 30 August 2026. Inside ChatGPT, images now come from ChatGPT Images 2.5. Outside ChatGPT, the closest DALL·E alternative is Kenerate AI: it runs OpenAI's successor models GPT Image 2.5 (Sunburst and Flare), GPT Image 2 and GPT Image 1.5, plus 80+ image models in total, from 3 credits per image, on one-time packs from $15 for 1,300 credits that never expire.
Key facts
- DALL·E in OpenAI's API
- Removed 12 May 2026
- DALL·E GPT in ChatGPT
- Retired 30 Aug 2026
- OpenAI's current models
- GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst · Flare
- GPT Image models on Kenerate
- 2.5 Sunburst, 2.5 Flare, 2, 1.5
- Kenerate image models
- 80+ (83 in the studio)
- Checked
- 26 Oct 2026
Side by side
DALL·E (retired) vs ChatGPT Images 2.5 vs Kenerate
What each offers, from DALL·E's own pages and Kenerate's code.
| DALL·E (retired) | ChatGPT Images 2.5 | Kenerate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status, October 2026 | dall-e-2 and dall-e-3 removed from the API on 12 May 2026; DALL·E GPT retired in ChatGPT on 30 Aug 2026 | Live in ChatGPT since 8 Sep 2026 | Live |
| Models | DALL·E 2, DALL·E 3 | OpenAI's own image model only | GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare, GPT Image 2, GPT Image 1.5, plus Nano Banana 2.1, Seedream 5.0 Pro, Flux 2, Ideogram v4, Recraft and more (80+) |
| How you work | — | In a chat: describe it, select an area to edit, start from a template or a sketch (mobile) | In a studio: pick the model, ratio, resolution and quality; the credit cost shows before you generate |
| Price | — | Included in ChatGPT; available on all tiers, with image limits | GPT Image 2.5 from 3 credits at 1K (7.2 at medium); one-time packs from $15 for 1,300 credits |
| Resolution and shape | — | Any aspect ratio via the picker | 1K, 2K or 4K; 15 aspect ratios on GPT Image 2 and 2.5 |
| Reference images | — | Upload an image and describe the change | Up to 16 on GPT Image 2 and 2.5, 10 on GPT Image 1.5, 14 on Nano Banana 2.1 |
| Transparent background | — | Yes, on request | Yes, GPT Image 1.5 PNG output |
| Finishing tools | — | Edit by selection or chat | Edit Studio: Remove BG, Upscale to 8K, Magic Eraser, Edit Text in Image and more |
DALL·E facts checked 27 October 2026. Plans change; confirm on their site.
Sources: DALL·E
Honest verdict
Kenerate or DALL·E: which should you pick?
DALL·E is a good product. Here is when each one is the better choice.
Pick Kenerate if…
- OpenAI's successors, without a ChatGPT plan
- See the price before you click
- More than one model maker
- 4K and 16 references
When to pick DALL·E
- You already pay for ChatGPT and want images inside the same conversation.
- You want a free option with no purchase: ChatGPT Images is on every ChatGPT tier, within its limits.
- You like chat-first editing, templates or drawing a sketch on your phone as the starting point.
Why people switch
Why try Kenerate instead of DALL·E
OpenAI's successors, without a ChatGPT plan
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare, GPT Image 2 and GPT Image 1.5 in one studio, paid per image from one-time credits.
See the price before you click
Every model, quality tier and resolution shows its credit cost first: GPT Image 2.5 is 3 credits at low and 7.2 at medium for a 1K image.
More than one model maker
If GPT Image isn't the right look, switch to Nano Banana 2.1 for product consistency, Seedream 5.0 Pro for illustration or Flux 2 Dev for 3-credit drafts.
4K and 16 references
Render GPT Image 2 and 2.5 at 1K, 2K or 4K, and feed up to 16 reference images to keep a product or character consistent.
Gallery
What Kenerate makes
Real, SFW outputs from Kenerate. Open any image to copy its prompt and run it yourself.
Switching
How to switch from DALL·E
Bring your prompts and start free.
Step 1
Sign in free
One click with Google, GitHub or Discord. 25 starter credits work on the free-plan Flux 2 and Qwen Image models.
Step 2
Add a credit pack for GPT Image
Any one-time pack unlocks GPT Image 2.5, 2 and 1.5; packs start at $15 for 1,300 credits and never expire.
Step 3
Paste your DALL·E prompt
Plain sentence prompts carry over. Pick GPT Image 2.5 Flare for fast drafts or Sunburst when the details must be exact.
Step 4
Set size and quality, then finish
Choose 1K, 2K or 4K and a quality tier, then remove the background, erase objects or upscale in Edit Studio.
See it in the app
Open Image Studio and type what you want to see — subject, style, lighting and mood.
Watch the tour · 1:23
Prompts, styles, references, edit, Arena & chat
Chapters
FAQ
DALL·E alternative questions
10 questions
Is DALL·E still available?
No. OpenAI removed the dall-e-2 and dall-e-3 models from its API on 12 May 2026 and retired the official DALL·E GPT in ChatGPT on 30 August 2026. OpenAI's help center now answers 'Can I still generate images with DALL·E on ChatGPT?' with 'No' and points to ChatGPT Images.
Link to this answerWhat replaced DALL·E?
OpenAI's GPT Image models. In ChatGPT, image generation is ChatGPT Images 2.5 (from 8 September 2026). In the API, OpenAI's newest image models are GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and GPT Image 2.5 Flare; its deprecations page listed gpt-image-2 and gpt-image-1 as replacements when DALL·E was shut down.
Link to this answerWhat is the best DALL·E alternative?
If you want OpenAI's own successor models without a ChatGPT plan, Kenerate AI runs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare, GPT Image 2 and GPT Image 1.5, plus 80+ other image models, paid per image from one-time credits. If you already use ChatGPT, ChatGPT Images is the direct replacement and is on every tier.
Link to this answerIs there a free DALL·E alternative?
ChatGPT Images is available on all ChatGPT tiers, including free, within image limits. On Kenerate, a new account gets 25 credits that work on the free-plan Flux 2 and Qwen Image models with no card. The GPT Image models on Kenerate need a one-time credit pack, from $15 for 1,300 credits.
Link to this answerDoes Kenerate run DALL·E 3?
No. DALL·E 3 isn't available from OpenAI's API any more, so no third-party site can offer it legitimately as a live model. Kenerate runs the models OpenAI moved developers to: GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare, GPT Image 2 and GPT Image 1.5.
Link to this answerWill my DALL·E prompts work on GPT Image?
Yes. GPT Image models read the same plain-sentence prompts, and they follow exact text in quotes better, so posters and signs come out readable. Describe the subject, setting, style and any text; for an edit, upload your image as a reference and describe only what should change.
Link to this answerHow much does GPT Image cost on Kenerate?
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare cost 3 credits at low quality and 7.2 at medium for a 1K image, up to 300 credits at Max in 4K. GPT Image 2 is 18 credits at medium 1K and GPT Image 1.5 is 12 at medium square. A $15 pack of 1,300 credits covers about 180 GPT Image 2.5 images at medium 1K.
Link to this answerGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst or Flare: which should I use?
OpenAI describes Sunburst as the choice when editing precision matters most and Flare as the fast option for high-quality everyday images. On Kenerate both cost the same per image, so draft with Flare and switch to Sunburst for final edits with fine detail or text.
Link to this answerIs GPT Image 1.5 going away too?
OpenAI's deprecations page lists a 1 December 2026 shutdown for gpt-image-1.5, gpt-image-1-mini and chatgpt-image-latest in its API, with GPT Image 2.5 as the replacement. If you build a long-term workflow on Kenerate, use GPT Image 2.5; keep GPT Image 1.5 for transparent PNGs while it runs.
Link to this answerCan I make transparent PNGs like DALL·E logos?
Yes. GPT Image 1.5 on Kenerate outputs PNGs with a transparent background, and Edit Studio's Remove BG (1.2 credits) cuts the background out of any image you already have.
Link to this answerIn depth
DALL·E vs Kenerate, in depth
How we compared, and what matters when you choose.
On this page
What happened to DALL·E
DALL·E was OpenAI's image model line from 2021. In 2026 OpenAI wound it down in stages and moved everyone to its GPT Image models:
- 14 Nov 2025 — OpenAI announces the DALL·E 2 and DALL·E 3 API shutdown.
- 12 May 2026 — dall-e-2 and dall-e-3 are removed from the API.
- 30 Aug 2026 — the official DALL·E GPT is retired in ChatGPT; ChatGPT Images takes over.
- 8 Sep 2026 — ChatGPT Images 2.5 and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare launch.
- 1 Dec 2026 — scheduled API shutdown of gpt-image-1.5, gpt-image-1-mini and chatgpt-image-latest.
Which Kenerate model replaces which DALL·E job
Pick the model by the job, not the brand:
- Posters, signs and anything with exact text → GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
- Fast everyday images and drafts → GPT Image 2.5 Flare, or Flux 2 Dev at 3 credits
- PNGs on a transparent background → GPT Image 1.5; logos and typographic posters → Recraft V4.1
- The same product or character across many shots → Nano Banana 2.1 (14 references)
- Illustration, anime and concept art → Seedream 5.0 Pro
- Editing a photo you already have → GPT Image 2.5 with your photo as a reference, then Edit Studio
When ChatGPT is still the better choice
If you already pay for ChatGPT, or want a free option with no purchase, ChatGPT Images is the direct DALL·E replacement and works inside your conversations. Kenerate suits you when you want to choose the model, see the price per image, render at 4K or use many reference images, without a monthly plan.
By the Kenerate AI teamLast updated and reviewed
We build Kenerate, so we're not neutral — which is why every DALL·E fact here links to DALL·E's own site, and we list when DALL·E is the better choice.
Sources: OpenAI — API deprecations (DALL·E and GPT Image) · OpenAI — Images in ChatGPT (help center) · OpenAI — release notes (DALL·E GPT retirement, ChatGPT Images 2.5) · Kenerate — pricing (credit packs)
