Stable Diffusion 3 / SDXL

Stable Diffusion represents the open-source powerhouse of AI image generation. The latest SDXL model offers a leap in quality, while the ecosystem's true strength lies in its unparalleled flexibility. Users can run it locally for free, use web UIs like ComfyUI or AUTOMATIC1111, and fine-tune results with thousands of community-created models (checkpoints), LoRAs (for specific styles/characters), and control tools like ControlNet for precise pose/mapping. It's the top choice for technical users, researchers, and artists who demand complete control over the generation process and want to tailor the AI to a specific, niche output.

The learning curve is steeper, but the potential is virtually limitless.