Leonardo.Ai is a creative platform for turning written ideas into images and video, then refining the results with built-in tools. For new users, it can feel like a lot to choose from: the platform offers several models and controls, not one magic prompt box. A token is a unit Leonardo.Ai uses to measure the generation allowance consumed by a task.
You can learn what it makes, how to try a first image, and what to weigh before choosing an account plan. A small test can help you judge whether its range of styles and editing options suit your ideas, workflow, and time. You do not need a polished brief to begin.
Key Takeaways
- Leonardo.Ai can create images and video from text prompts.
- You can choose from several models and generation controls.
- A clear subject gives your first prompt a useful starting point.
- Editing tools let you change parts of an image after generation.
- The Free plan has public generations and a daily token allowance.
- Check privacy and usage terms before using important project work.
A first project is easiest when you begin with one clear visual idea and a small number of adjustments.
What Is Leonardo AI Used For?
A game artist might use Leonardo.Ai to explore several character and environment concepts before choosing a direction to refine. It supports image generation and video creation from text prompts, with editing and upscaling tools for later changes. That makes it one part of a creative workflow, from early sketches to more finished visual assets.
You can ask an image generator for illustrations, photorealistic scenes, or stylized art. The exact model and settings shape the results, so the same idea can produce different looks. For a wider view of how tools compare, see this comparison of AI image generators.
Game and concept art
For games, you can develop character designs, props, landscapes, and other concept art. A prompt might describe a stone bridge in a misty forest, then ask for a painted style or dramatic light. These early images can help a team discuss shape, mood, and color before building a detailed asset.
Leonardo.Ai began in Sydney in December 2022. Canva acquired the company in 2024, bringing the creative platform into a larger design business. TechCrunch’s report on Canva’s acquisition describes the deal and its place in Canva’s generative AI plans.
Marketing and design assets
For marketing, you can create campaign visuals, social graphics, and other image assets. A small business might test several visual styles for a product post, then refine the strongest image. Designers can also use the platform to explore layouts and build draft assets for a larger project.
Treat AI-generated output as draftable creative assets that can support a larger project, not as a replacement for every design task.
A generated image may need changes to fit a brand, match exact text, or meet a project’s layout rules. The platform can speed up visual exploration, while you decide which results deserve more work.
How Do You Use Leonardo.Ai to Create an Image?
Start with a specific subject, such as a red bicycle leaning against a rain-soaked brick wall at dusk, then add only the visual details that matter. A clear subject and a few useful details give the model a stronger direction. You can use Leonardo.Ai with this simple path from idea to first image.
- Sign in to your account.
- Open the image generation tool.
- Describe the subject and visual style.
- Select a model and adjust the settings.
- Generate images, then review the results.
Set the prompt and choose a model
A text prompt works best when it names the subject first. Then add the style, lighting, composition, or background details that help shape the image. For example, you could ask for a close view, warm streetlights, and a quiet city street.
Choose a model based on the kind of image you want, then select settings that fit your project. The options can affect how the model reads your prompts and how the final image looks. If you are unsure, start with a simple description and a standard setting.
You can use Negative Prompt to name elements you want to exclude. For the bicycle scene, you might rule out people, dry pavement, or bright midday light. Prompt Enhance can expand a simple idea into a more detailed description, but it is an optional aid, not a requirement.
Generate, review, and refine
After generation, compare the images for subject, style, and useful details. One result may have the right lighting but an awkward frame; another may show a better composition. Save the useful parts of each result in your notes.
When you refine an image, change one detail at a time. If the scene feels too bright, adjust the lighting before changing the background or style. This makes it easier to see which edit changed the result.
AI Canvas supports image editing, so you can work on parts of an image after generation. A good prompt does not need to describe every tiny feature. Keep the core idea steady while testing details that matter to the project.
Save a prompt that produces a useful direction so you can adjust it later without rebuilding the idea from scratch.
Which Devices and Creative Tools Does Leonardo.Ai Support?
If you want to create on a phone or tablet, Leonardo.Ai has apps for both major mobile platforms as well as web access. The web, iOS, and Android options do not promise identical model catalogs, so check the models listed in your chosen app. The platform also has tools for editing images and creating video.
Choose web or mobile access
You can use Leonardo.Ai on the web, on iPhone and iPad through its iOS app, or on Android through Google Play. The iOS listing names Nano Banana, Seedream, FLUX, Leonardo models, and Veo 3. The Android listing names Nano Banana by Google, GPT image models from OpenAI, and Veo 3 by Google.
The official iOS app listing describes image and video tools for iPhone and iPad. Catalogs can change, and the app stores do not show matching model lists. A model listed on one platform may not appear on another.
| Access point | Image-model examples | Video-model listing |
|---|---|---|
| Web | Leonardo models | Veo 3 |
| iOS | Nano Banana, Seedream, FLUX, Leonardo models | Veo 3 |
| Android | Nano Banana, GPT image models | Veo 3 |
Edit images and explore video
Image editing can fix a selected area or extend the frame. Video tools support both new video generation and animation from still images. Four useful tool uses include:
- Inpainting changes a selected area of an image.
- Outpainting extends an image beyond its current edges.
- Upscaling increases image size and detail.
- Animating a still image adds movement for video.
Video models and tools can change over time, so check that a model appears in your app before building a workflow around it. Check that the specific model you plan to use is available in your chosen app before starting a project that depends on it.
How Much Does Leonardo.Ai Cost?
You can start on Leonardo.Ai’s $0 Free plan, which provides 150 fast tokens each day. Free plan generations are public, while paid individual plans add private generations or higher allowances. Token use depends on the task, so a monthly balance does not promise a fixed number of outputs.
In 2026, the Free plan also has a 150-token bank. The 2026 Free plan allowance resets daily, while the bank holds tokens for use. These limits make a free account an option for testing the platform before paying.
Here is how the four individual plans compare in 2026:
| Plan | Monthly price | Fast tokens | Token bank | Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 150 per day | 150 | Public generations |
| Essential | $12 | 8,500 per month | 25,500 | Private generations |
| Premium | $30 | 25,000 per month | 75,000 | Relaxed image generation on selected models |
| Ultimate | $60 | 60,000 per month | 180,000 | Relaxed image and video generation on selected models |
Premium and Ultimate include relaxed generation on selected models, which differs from fast-token use. Essential adds privacy and a larger allowance, while Free keeps generations public.
Teams have two listed choices. Team Starter costs $72 per month for three seats and includes 75,000 shared tokens. Team Growth costs $144 per month for three seats and includes 180,000 shared tokens.
Tokens do not equal a set number of images or videos. Model choice, resolution, image count, video length, and quality settings affect how much a task consumes. For other free image tools, compare the free image generator options before settling on a workflow.
A free account is available, while paid plans offer privacy and higher allowances. Before choosing a paid plan, estimate the mix of image and video tasks you expect to run, since settings affect how quickly tokens are used.
What Should You Check Before Using Leonardo.Ai Outputs?
A useful safety check is to look beyond whether a platform has security claims and examine what it discloses about training use, data sharing, and deletion. A safety grade is one assessment, not a guarantee about every project. VerifyWise gave Leonardo.Ai a Grade C for data safety.
Understand privacy and data disclosures
VerifyWise rated disclosure of training-data use 1 out of 4 items. It rated data-subject-rights disclosure 4 out of 5 and retention-and-deletion disclosure 0 out of 4. Its ratings also gave third-party data sharing 1 out of 5 and transparency 2 out of 5.
Those scores describe disclosures, not a complete security test. Read the current terms and privacy details before adding sensitive material, such as private client files or unreleased product designs. Consider whether the project can use a less sensitive source instead.
Know what copyright protects
Copyright does not automatically cover every unmodified AI-generated output. The U.S. Copyright Office’s Part 2 report, released January 29, 2025, says human expressive authorship can support copyright when a person determines enough expressive elements.
Prompts alone are not enough. A person’s creative arrangement or changes may contribute to authorship, and using AI as a tool does not by itself prevent protection for a larger human-created work. The Copyright Office’s Part 3 report on generative-AI training had a pre-publication release on May 9, 2025, and addresses licensing and potential liability.
Commercial use and copyright protection are separate questions, so check the current terms and get legal advice for high-stakes uses.
Keep records of your prompts, edits, references, and human creative decisions when an output matters to a client or commercial project.
Conclusion
Leonardo.Ai is worth trying when you want to explore visual ideas and refine them with more control than a basic prompt-and-result tool provides. A small test project can show whether its models, controls, and results fit your needs.
Choose a plan only after you know how often you will use the platform and what privacy your work requires. You can start with a simple concept rather than moving a sensitive client project into a new tool.
Begin with one non-sensitive concept, try a few prompt variations, and decide whether the results fit your project before committing to a paid plan.
FAQ
What is an AI photo?
An AI photo is an image created or changed with artificial-intelligence tools. You might make one from a text prompt, or use a tool to edit an existing image. The result can look like a photograph, an illustration, or another visual style. “AI photo” describes how a picture was made or changed, not one fixed image format.
Can I get Leonardo.Ai for free?
Yes, Leonardo.Ai has a Free plan that costs $0 in 2026. It includes 150 fast tokens per day and a 150-token bank, and its generations are public. Tokens measure generation allowance, not a fixed count of images. The number of outputs you can make depends on the models and settings you choose.
Can I legally use AI-generated art?
Yes, you can use AI-generated art, but copyright protection depends on human authorship and the use terms. The U.S. Copyright Office says prompts alone do not provide enough human authorship. Creative arrangement or changes may contribute to protection. Check the platform’s current terms for use rights, since permission to use an image and copyright ownership are separate issues.
Can I create art with AI and sell it?
Yes, you can create AI-assisted art for sale when the platform’s current terms allow that use. Commercial permission does not mean the image automatically has copyright protection. A human contribution may matter, especially for a larger work with creative edits or arrangement. For work with high financial or legal stakes, ask a lawyer to review the terms and your planned use.
Do I need to install the Leonardo.Ai app to use it?
No, you can use Leonardo.Ai on the web without installing an app. Its iOS app adds access on iPhone and iPad, while the Android app is available through Google Play. The tools and model catalogs may differ by access point. Choose the web or mobile option that fits your device and the features you need for a project.
