- Two ways to use Stable Diffusion
- What the Community License allows
- The catch: registration and the revenue limit
- The other catch: running it yourself
- How to start with Stable Diffusion
- Stable Diffusion vs hosted image tools
- Common questions about using it for client work
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Stable Diffusion is free for most people. Stability AI says use of its Core Models, including Stable Diffusion, is free for everyone under its Community License, unless you're using them for a commercial purpose and your organisation's annual revenue is above the limit set in that licence. Larger businesses need an Enterprise licence.
Stable Diffusion is Stability AI's family of image models. Unlike most AI image tools, you can download the models and run them on your own computer or server, which is why it's popular with designers, developers and anyone who wants full control. The question of whether it's free comes down to the licence rather than an app plan, so here's what Stability AI's own pages say.
Two ways to use Stable Diffusion
| Self-hosted (download the model) | Through an app or website | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Your own computer or server | Someone else's service |
| What decides if it's free | Stability AI's licence | That service's own plans |
| Hardware needed | A capable graphics card | Just a browser |
When people ask whether Stable Diffusion is free, they usually mean the first column. If you use it through a third-party website, that site sets its own rules, and plenty of them limit free use.
What the Community License allows
Stability AI says its Community License allows research, non-commercial and commercial use. The licence agreement describes its purpose as allowing research, non-commercial and limited commercial uses of the models for free, and it preserves free access for people and organisations under its annual revenue limit.
Stability AI's FAQ answers the common cases directly:
- Individual creators and enthusiasts making images at home can use the Core Models free.
- Fine-tuners who build on the models, even if they offer those models to others, don't need a separate licence unless they're over the revenue limit.
- Small businesses under the limit can use and distribute the Core Models in products, services and internal operations without a separate licence.
- Researchers can use the models under the Community License.
The catch: registration and the revenue limit
Two details matter if you use Stable Diffusion for your business:
- You must register for commercial use. The licence agreement says that if you use or distribute the Stability AI Materials for a commercial purpose, you must register with Stability AI.
- The limit counts all revenue. Stability AI says it looks at your organisation's annual revenue regardless of the source, so a large company using it for one small project still counts as large.
Once you're above the limit, Stability AI points you to its Enterprise licence, which it describes for enterprises, API providers and businesses over that threshold. The exact figure is spelled out on Stability AI's licence page, so check it there before you rely on free use.
The other catch: running it yourself
Free software doesn't mean free of effort. Running Stable Diffusion locally needs a reasonably powerful graphics card and some patience with setup. If that sounds like more than you want to take on, a hosted tool will be easier, though it won't be free in the same way.
How to start with Stable Diffusion
- Read Stability AI's licence page so you know which licence applies to you.
- If you'll use it commercially, register with Stability AI as the Community License requires.
- Download a Core Model from Stability AI's official sources.
- Install a local interface that supports the model, following its setup guide.
- Start with short, clear prompts and build up detail.
For wording that works, my list of Stable Diffusion prompts has copy and paste ideas for marketing images.
Stable Diffusion vs hosted image tools
The big advantage is control: no daily caps, your images stay on your machine, and you can fine-tune the model for your brand's style. The trade-off is setup time and hardware. If you'd like a side-by-side view, my comparison of Midjourney and Stable Diffusion explains which suits which kind of creator.
Common questions about using it for client work
If you're a freelancer or agency making images for clients, the licence question applies to your own business, because you're the one using the model. Stability AI's FAQ says any business under the revenue limit, regardless of where that revenue comes from, doesn't need a separate licence to use or distribute the Core Models. Register for commercial use, keep a note of which model version you used, and you'll be able to answer if a client asks.
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Also remember that the licence covers the model, not the rights in everything you put into it. If you feed in a client's logo or a photo of a person, the usual rules about permission and copyright still apply. And if you fine-tune a model on your own brand images, Stability AI's FAQ says fine-tuners don't need a separate licence while they're under the limit.
One more practical point: keep a copy of the licence version that applied when you downloaded the model. Licences can change over time, and having the text you agreed to saves a lot of digging later if a client or partner asks how the images were made.
My verdict
Stable Diffusion is free for personal use, research and most small businesses, which makes it one of the most open image models around. If you're using it for business, register with Stability AI, check the revenue limit on its licence page, and be honest with yourself about whether you'd rather put time into setup or use a hosted tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stable Diffusion free for commercial use?
Yes for smaller organisations. Stability AI's Community License allows commercial use for free for people and organisations under its annual revenue limit, and you must register with Stability AI for commercial use.
Do I need to register to use Stable Diffusion?
For commercial use, yes. The Community License Agreement says you must register with Stability AI if you use or distribute its materials for a commercial purpose.
Is Stable Diffusion free for personal use?
Yes. Stability AI's FAQ says individual creators and enthusiasts making content at home can use the Core Models free.
What if my business is over the revenue limit?
Stability AI says businesses above the limit in its Community License need its Enterprise licence. The limit counts all annual revenue, regardless of source.
Do websites that offer Stable Diffusion have to be free?
No. When you use the model through a third-party service, that service sets its own plans and limits.
