Best AI Figure Generators for Research Papers in 2025
Discover the best AI figure generators for research papers in 2025. Compare features, pricing, and ease of use for creating scientific diagrams and graphical abstracts.
- Adobe Firefly
- Midjourney
- Canva AI
- Stable Diffusion
- DALL-E (OpenAI)
- Ideogram
- Leonardo AI
- ChatGPT Image Generator
- Flux
- Meta AI
- Shutterstock AI Image Generator
- Artbreeder
- GPT-4o (OpenAI Omni Model)
- Imagen (Google DeepMind)
- NightCafe
- Bing Image Creator (DALL-E-powered)
- BioRender AI
- Craiyon
- Deep Dream
- Getty Images Generative AI
- Getimg.ai
- Which AI Figure Generator is Best for Research Papers? (Quick Summary)
Researchers, graduate students, and academics increasingly rely on AI figure-generation tools to create high-quality visuals for their manuscripts, presentations, theses, and posters. Whether you need scientific diagrams, conceptual models, flowcharts, medical illustrations, data-driven figures, or cover images, AI tools in 2025 are more powerful and more accessible than ever.
In this guide, we review the top AI figure generators used by researchers in 2025—their features, where they can be used in a research paper, ease of use, and whether they are free or paid.
1. Adobe Firefly
Features:
High-quality, photorealistic images
Professional editing through Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator integration
Text-to-image and image enhancement
Great for cover images, graphical abstracts, or conceptual figures
Where to Use:
Graphical abstract
Cover figure
Conceptual illustration in Introduction or Discussion
Ease: Easy–Moderate
Cost: Freemium (limited free credits)
2. Midjourney
Features:
Highly artistic, detailed images
Strong for complex conceptual illustrations
Works via Discord
Where to Use:
Graphical abstracts
Conceptual models
Figures for presentations
Ease: Moderate (Discord required)
Cost: Paid (subscription)
3. Canva AI
Features:
Beginner-friendly
AI image generator + design templates
Good for charts, infographics, posters
Where to Use:
Graphical abstracts
Flowchart-style figures
Conference posters
Ease: Very easy
Cost: Free + optional paid Pro features
4. Stable Diffusion
Features:
Open-source
Fully customizable
Strong for scientific illustrations when fine-tuned
Where to Use:
Biological diagrams
Mechanism illustrations
Conceptual figures
Ease: Moderate–Advanced (depending on installation)
Cost: Free (open source)
5. DALL-E (OpenAI)
Features:
High accuracy in generating scientific and technical imagery
Great for medical, physics, and engineering concepts
Integrates with ChatGPT
Where to Use:
Graphical abstracts
Technical illustrations
Descriptive diagrams for Theory or Methods
Ease: Very easy
Cost: Paid (via ChatGPT credits)
6. Ideogram
Features:
Strong for diagrams and images that require readable text
Generates labels cleanly
Where to Use:
Labeled diagrams
Flowcharts
Infographics for Results
Ease: Easy
Cost: Freemium
7. Leonardo AI
Features:
High-quality rendering
3D-like visuals
Template-based design for consistency
Where to Use:
Visual explanations
3D conceptual figures
Scientific artwork
Ease: Easy–Moderate
Cost: Freemium + Pro plans
8. ChatGPT Image Generator
Features:
Text-to-image inside ChatGPT
Excellent for structured, labeled scientific images
Allows iterative refinement
Where to Use:
Scientific diagrams
Conceptual models
Graphical abstracts
Ease: Very easy
Cost: Paid (ChatGPT Plus/Team/Enterprise)
9. Flux
Features:
Very high photorealism
Strong general-purpose illustration
Clean rendering of technical objects
Where to Use:
Lab equipment illustrations
Conceptual scientific visuals
Ease: Easy
Cost: Freemium (varies by platform)
10. Google Gemini (Imagen & Imagen 3)
Features:
Excellent text-understanding for scientific descriptions
High-fidelity, realistic images
Precise scientific style control
Where to Use:
Scientific diagrams
Medical visuals
Complex conceptual illustrations
Ease: Easy
Cost: Freemium through Google AI Studio
11. Meta AI
Features:
Available through Facebook and Instagram tools
Good for simple conceptual visuals
Fast and lightweight
Where to Use:
Basic diagrams
Simple graphical abstracts
Ease: Easy
Cost: Free
12. Shutterstock AI Image Generator
Features:
Licensed, legally safe images for publication
Stable and consistent rendering
Great for commercial-safe images
Where to Use:
Journal cover images
Infographics
Conference posters
Ease: Very easy
Cost: Paid
13. Artbreeder
Features:
Mix & blend images
Useful for evolutionary diagrams and conceptual illustrations
Strong for biological or artistic figures
Where to Use:
Evolutionary models
Conceptual biological illustrations
Ease: Moderate
Cost: Freemium
14. GPT-4o (OpenAI Omni Model)
Features:
High precision in scientific visuals
Can correct existing figures
Can generate detailed labeled diagrams
Where to Use:
Mathematical diagrams
Mechanism of action figures
System architecture figures
Ease: Very easy
Cost: Paid (ChatGPT Plus/Team)
15. Imagen (Google DeepMind)
Features:
Extremely clean rendering
Good for academic figures requiring clarity
Advanced text-within-image handling
Where to Use:
Graphical abstracts
Scientific illustrations requiring accuracy
Ease: Easy
Cost: Usually paid depending on platform
16. NightCafe
Features:
Multiple AI models in one platform (SD, DALL-E, others)
Easy prompt-to-figure generation
Where to Use:
Cover artwork
Stylized scientific figures
Ease: Easy
Cost: Freemium
17. Bing Image Creator (DALL-E-powered)
Features:
Free access to powerful AI
Microsoft's implementation of DALL-E
Great for students on a budget
Where to Use:
Graphical abstracts
Basic scientific diagrams
Ease: Very easy
Cost: Free
18. BioRender AI
Features:
The gold-standard tool for medical and biological figures
AI-generated icons and diagram templates
Publication-ready visuals
Where to Use:
All biological diagrams
Methodology figures
Cell/tissue/pathway graphics
Ease: Very easy
Cost: Paid (academic discounts available)
19. Craiyon
Features:
Lightweight AI generator
Simple sketches and conceptual visuals
Where to Use:
Basic conceptual figures
Initial drafts
Ease: Very easy
Cost: Free
20. Deep Dream
Features:
Stylized, artistic representations
Experimental scientific visuals
Where to Use:
Cover art
Stylized graphical abstracts
Ease: Easy
Cost: Free
21. Getty Images Generative AI
Features:
Legally safe, licensed images
Ideal for commercial or journal-safe use
Where to Use:
Cover images
Non-scientific but publication-compliant visuals
Ease: Easy
Cost: Paid
22. Getimg.ai
Features:
Multiple AI models
Custom fine-tuned models for scientific use
Where to Use:
Scientific illustrations
Posters
Conceptual figures
Ease: Moderate
Cost: Freemium
Which AI Figure Generator is Best for Research Papers? (Quick Summary)
AI Tool | Key Features | Best Use in Research Papers | Ease of Use | Pricing |
Adobe Firefly | High-quality realistic images; Adobe integration | Graphical abstracts, cover images | Easy–Moderate | Freemium |
Midjourney | Artistic, detailed visuals; works via Discord | Conceptual figures, graphical abstracts | Moderate | Paid |
Canva AI | Templates, infographics, AI images | Flowcharts, posters, graphical abstracts | Very Easy | Freemium |
Stable Diffusion | Open-source, customizable | Scientific diagrams, mechanisms | Moderate–Advanced | Free |
DALL-E (ChatGPT) | Accurate scientific visuals; integrates with ChatGPT | Graphical abstracts, labeled diagrams | Very Easy | Paid |
Ideogram | Excellent text rendering in images | Infographics, labeled diagrams | Easy | Freemium |
Leonardo AI | High-quality 3D-like renders | Mechanistic and conceptual figures | Easy–Moderate | Freemium |
ChatGPT Image Generator | Intelligent, iterative figure creation | Scientific diagrams, models | Very Easy | Paid |
Flux | Photorealistic and clean lab-style images | Lab equipment visuals, conceptual figures | Easy | Freemium |
Google Gemini (Imagen / Imagen 3) | High fidelity, excellent text understanding | Medical/scientific illustrations | Easy | Freemium |
Meta AI | Simple, fast generation | Basic diagrams, simple abstracts | Easy | Free |
Shutterstock AI Generator | Licensed-safe images | Cover images, journal-safe visuals | Very Easy | Paid |
Artbreeder | Image blending and genetics-style visuals | Evolutionary diagrams, biology concepts | Moderate | Freemium |
GPT-4o | Precise labeled diagrams; correction tools | Methodology figures, system diagrams | Very Easy | Paid |
Imagen (Google DeepMind) | Clean, crisp scientific rendering | Graphical abstracts, technical visuals | Easy | Paid |
NightCafe | Multi-engine AI generator | Stylized abstracts, cover art | Easy | Freemium |
Bing Image Creator | Free access to DALL-E | Graphical abstracts, conceptual figures | Very Easy | Free |
BioRender AI | Scientific icons/diagrams; publication-ready | Biological diagrams, MOA, pathways | Very Easy | Paid |
Craiyon | Lightweight generator | Simple draft figures | Very Easy | Free |
Deep Dream | Artistic stylized visuals | Cover art, creative graphical abstracts | Easy | Free |
Getty Images AI | Legally safe professional images | Cover images, licensed visuals | Easy | Paid |
Getimg.ai | Multi-model; customizable | Scientific illustrations & posters | Moderate | Freemium |
Imagen 3 (Gemini) | Precise medical/scientific accuracy | Advanced scientific diagrams | Easy | Freemium |
In 2025, researchers no longer need advanced graphic design skills to produce beautiful, journal-ready figures. Whether you’re preparing a graphical abstract, methodology figure, conceptual illustration, or journal cover, AI tools make the process faster, simpler, and more professional.
