Leonardo AI Review: The Ultimate Toolkit for "Tinkerers"
If you are ready to move beyond simple prompting and want to truly engineer your images, Leonardo AI is your playground. Unlike simple generators, this is a feature-rich, highly customizable platform built for creators who want deep control.
It is the perfect choice for "tinkerers," game developers, and professional illustrators who need to generate consistent characters, train custom models, and build a library of unique, on-brand assets. Think of it as an entire toolkit, not just a generator.
The platform allows you to train up to 50 custom models (Elements/LoRAs) and access over 20 base models, including:
Anime XL
PhotoReal
Lucid Origin
Phoenix
Flow State (enabling prompt-less generation)
Flux Kontext
Alchemy
With added features like 3D texture generation and Motion 2.0, it is a comprehensive suite for creative professionals and print-on-demand businesses.
The Workflow: Engineering Your Vision
Leonardo AI offers a depth of control that other platforms lack.
1. Custom Model & Character Training
You aren't stuck with generic styles. You can train your own models (known as "Elements" or LoRAs) on specific artistic styles or objects.
Brand Identity: You can train up to 50 custom models, making it ideal for maintaining a unique brand identity.
Character Consistency: Using the dedicated "Character Training" feature, you can upload just 5–10 images of a character. The model learns to generate that exact character in different poses, outfits, and scenes.
2. The AI Canvas & Real-Time Generation
The AI Canvas is a full-featured editing suite.
Control: Use ControlNet to guide image structure and Inpainting to erase and regenerate specific regions.
Universal Upscaler: Enhances low-resolution assets to production quality.
Realtime Canvas: A game-changer for iteration. You can sketch or paint in Interactive Mode and watch the AI transform your strokes into a detailed image instantly.
3. Video & 3D Capabilities
Leonardo is a one-stop shop for game devs. It features Motion 2.0 (for improved motion coherence), Veo 3, and 3D texture generation.
For Developers: API & Integrations
Full API Access: Developers can build Leonardo’s generation and training features into their own apps. It supports batch generation and custom Elements training.
Bulk Generation: By combining the API with tools like Make.com, you can automate bulk workflows (e.g., creating 100 product mockups from a Google Sheet).
Plugins:
Photoshop: An unofficial plugin connects to the API via Adobe Exchange.
Figma: A "Leonardo Converter" plugin exists, though it is mainly for importing color themes, not direct generation. Since there are no official plugins, designers often have to manually export and import assets.
Pros & Cons: The Honest Truth
✅ The Strengths
Deep Customization: The ability to train "Elements" gives users unparalleled creative control for brand-specific styles.
Generous Tiers:
Free: Includes 150 daily tokens.
Paid: Features "unlimited relaxed generation." Crucially, unused "Fast tokens" roll over.
Speed: It is known for very fast generation. Paid plans allow for multiple concurrent jobs.
Community: A highly engaged community provides models and templates to help you start.
❌ The Weaknesses
Overwhelming Interface: The sheer number of settings, models, and sliders can be overwhelming for beginners.
Confusing Token System: Pricing is based on "Fast tokens." Understanding consumption rates is complex, and some third-party models are restricted in "relaxed" mode.
Inconsistent Quality: Quality varies heavily depending on the model you choose.
Inconsistent Realism: While great for art, the platform can struggle with generating realistic inorganic objects.
Pricing
Free Plan
You get 150 Fast Tokens per day. That’s enough for about 10-20 high-quality images daily.
The Catch: Everything you make is Public. Your images (and prompts) appear in the community feed for anyone to steal or remix.
Best For: Experimenting with their models before spending money.
Apprentice ($12/mo)
You aren't paying for "more art"; you are paying for Ownership. This unlocks Private Mode. Your work stays yours.
The Limit: 8,500 Tokens/month. It sounds like a lot, but premium features like "Alchemy" (high-detail mode) burn tokens fast. You will run out if you are a daily user.
Artisan ($30/mo)
The Killer Feature: Unlimited Relaxed Generation. Just like Midjourney's $30 plan, once you burn your fast tokens, you can keep generating infinite images in "slow mode" (queue-based). If you use Leonardo seriously, this is the only plan that makes sense. The $12 plan acts as a "hard cap" trap; this one removes the limit.
Maestro ($60/mo)
You are paying for Unlimited Relaxed Video. Video generation (Motion) is expensive. On lower tiers, video burns your token bank instantly. Here, you can generate background video assets indefinitely without watching the meter.
Leonardo AI vs. The Competition
Leonardo AI vs. Midjourney
Midjourney is better for pure, "out-of-the-box" artistic beauty. Leonardo AI is better for control. If you need a specific character to look the same in 10 different shots (Consistency) or need to control the exact pose (ControlNet), Leonardo is the winner.
Leonardo AI vs. Adobe Firefly
Firefly is the safe, corporate choice integrated into Photoshop. Leonardo AI is the "power user" choice. While Firefly is safer for legal indemnity, Leonardo offers significantly more freedom to train models on your own assets.
Verdict
Leonardo AI is not for the casual user who just wants a funny picture. It is a professional toolkit. If you are a game developer, a comic book creator, or a brand designer who needs custom models and character consistency, this is the best platform on the market.