---
title: "ImageQuarry vs Stable Diffusion: App or Models"
url: https://www.imagequarry.com/compare/imagequarry-vs-stable-diffusion/
last_updated: 2026-10-20
---

# ImageQuarry vs Stable Diffusion: a ready workspace or models you build on

Stable Diffusion comes from Stability AI, which now sells its image models through a pay-per-credit Platform API and self-hosted licenses; its consumer app, Stable Assistant, redirects away as of October 2026. ImageQuarry is a workspace you use directly: describe or upload an image, ask for changes in words, and keep every version in projects. Stable Diffusion suits developers and teams who want to run or build on the models themselves. ImageQuarry suits people who want to make and refine images without setting anything up.

_We make ImageQuarry. We compared it with Stable Diffusion using Stable Diffusion's own public pages, checked October 20, 2026, and say where Stable Diffusion does more._

## At a glance

| | ImageQuarry | Stable Diffusion |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A workspace for creating and editing images by conversation | Image models through an API or self-hosted weights |
| Consumer app | The ImageQuarry app | Stable Assistant now redirects to stability.ai; no current image app found |
| Editing with words | Ask for a change on a selected version | API Search and Replace: name the object in a search prompt, describe the replacement |
| Pricing model | Starter at $9 per month with 100 image credits a month | 1 credit = $0.01; Stable Image Ultra 8 credits per image, as of October 2026 |
| Self hosting | Not listed | Community License for under $1M revenue; Enterprise custom |

## ImageQuarry and Stable Diffusion: the differences that matter

- **Building on models versus using an app**: Stability AI offers SD 3.5, SDXL and other models through its Platform API, through self-hosted weights, or through partner apps. ImageQuarry is used in its own app, with no setup.
- **Edit operations as API calls**: Stability's API prices separate edit operations: Erase Object 5 credits, Inpaint 5, Outpaint 4, Remove Background 5, Replace Background and Relight 8, plus upscalers. That granular control is useful for developers building their own tools.
- **A conversation that keeps versions**: In ImageQuarry, each request builds on the version you selected and every earlier version is kept, so you can branch from any of them. The API returns results to your own application; keeping history is up to what you build.
- **Running models yourself**: Stability's Community License lets researchers, developers and businesses under $1M in annual revenue self-host the models, and its license says you own outputs from the core models. ImageQuarry has no self-hosted option and has not published rights terms.
- **Pay per image or a monthly plan**: The Platform API is pay per credit with no subscription, at $0.01 per credit as of October 2026. ImageQuarry is a monthly plan, Starter at $9 per month with 100 image credits a month, with optional metered overage.

## ImageQuarry vs Stable Diffusion, side by side

| Topic | ImageQuarry | Stable Diffusion |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Describe the image in plain language, or upload an image and describe how you want it changed | API calls with a text prompt; SD 3.5 Large, Medium, Turbo and SDXL |
| Editing with words | Select a version and ask for a change in words: lighting, background, an added object, composition or color | API Search and Replace, Search and Recolor, Inpaint, Outpaint, Erase, Replace Background and Relight |
| Reference images | Add one or more source and reference images to guide material, color, light or shape | Control: Structure, Sketch, Style Guide and Style Transfer |
| Versions, variations and branching | Each change makes a new version and earlier versions are kept; make variations and branch from any version | Up to your own application |
| Projects and library | Projects and a persistent library that keep prompts, references and versions together | Not stated |
| Image models | Nano Banana 2.1 (default), Nano Banana Pro, GPT Image 2.5 Flare and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Turbo, Medium; SDXL; Stable Image Ultra and Core |
| Output resolution and formats | Not published | Inputs jpeg, png, webp; Creative, Conservative and Fast upscalers |
| Commercial use terms | Not published | You own outputs from the core models, per its license |
| Price | Starter at $9 per month with 100 image credits a month; Pro at $29 per month with 300 image credits a month; optional metered overage, off unless you turn it on; every plan is paid | 1 credit = $0.01; Ultra 8 credits, SD 3.5 Large 6.5 per image (October 2026) |

As of 2026-10-20.

## Pricing

ImageQuarry plans come from its pricing. Stable Diffusion prices are as of October 2026, from stability.ai. Credits are not comparable across products, because each vendor defines its own credit. Check the vendor for current pricing.

- Starter: Starter at $9 per month with 100 image credits a month
- Pro: Pro at $29 per month with 300 image credits a month

- Stable Diffusion Platform API: 1 credit = $0.01 per pay per credit (Stable Image Ultra 8 credits per image, SD 3.5 Large 6.5, SDXL 1.0 from 0.9)
- Stable Diffusion Community License (self hosted): Free (Under $1M annual revenue)
- Stable Diffusion Enterprise License: Custom Pricing (Over $1M annual revenue)

Prices as of 2026-10.

## About each product

- **ImageQuarry**: ImageQuarry is a conversational AI image workspace. You describe an image or upload one, then ask for specific changes in words, such as new lighting, a different background or an added object. Each change makes a new version and earlier versions are kept, so you can make variations, branch from any version, add reference images and organize the work in projects and a library. You can choose between four image models: Nano Banana 2.1 (the default), Nano Banana Pro, GPT Image 2.5 Flare and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst. Plans: Starter at $9 per month with 100 image credits a month, and Pro at $29 per month with 300 image credits a month, with optional metered overage that is off unless you turn it on. Every plan is paid. ImageQuarry has not published output specifications or rights terms yet, and it is not a headshot or background removal tool.
- **Stable Diffusion**: Stability AI (stability.ai) makes the Stable Diffusion family, including Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Medium and Turbo and SDXL, and sells them through a Platform API priced at 1 credit = $0.01, or as self-hosted weights under a Community License (under $1M revenue) or a custom Enterprise License. Its API includes edit operations such as Search and Replace, Inpaint, Outpaint, Remove Background and Relight. Its consumer app Stable Assistant, which a Wayback capture from September 5, 2026 shows generating images from conversational prompts, now redirects to other Stability pages; no shutdown notice was found. Its license says you own outputs from the core models.

## Which one fits your work

**Choose ImageQuarry when:**
- You want to make images now, without code or hosting
- You want to edit by writing what to change and keep every version
- You want projects and a library for your work

**Choose Stable Diffusion when:**
- You are building an app and want image generation and editing through an API
- You want to self-host models under a license
- You want separate, priced edit operations such as inpaint, outpaint and relight
- You want published ownership terms for outputs

## How to try both on the same image

1. Describe the image you need in ImageQuarry and refine it with two written changes.
2. If you are a developer, run the same description through Stability's API with SD 3.5 Large.
3. Try the API's Search and Replace on the same image. Then put the same written request to the version you selected in ImageQuarry and compare the two results side by side.
4. Decide whether you need a workspace or an API in your own product.

## Questions about ImageQuarry vs Stable Diffusion

### Is there still a Stable Diffusion app from Stability AI?

As of October 2026, the Stable Assistant pages redirect to other Stability pages, and no current image app is linked from stability.ai. The models are sold through the Platform API and self-hosted licenses.

### How much does the Stability API cost?

One credit is $0.01. Stable Image Ultra costs 8 credits per image, SD 3.5 Large 6.5 and SDXL 1.0 from 0.9, as of October 2026.

### Can Stable Diffusion edit an image from a description?

Through the API, Search and Replace takes a search prompt naming the object and a prompt describing its replacement, with no mask needed.

### Do I need to install anything for ImageQuarry?

No. You start in the ImageQuarry app: create an account, choose a plan and start creating.

### Which models does ImageQuarry use?

Nano Banana 2.1 by default, plus Nano Banana Pro, GPT Image 2.5 Flare and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst.

## Sources

Checked 2026-10-20.

- [Stable Diffusion homepage](https://stability.ai/)
- [Stable Diffusion stable assistant](https://stability.ai/stable-assistant)
- [Stable Diffusion page (Wayback capture)](https://web.archive.org/web/20260905080618/https://stability.ai/stable-assistant)
- [Stable Diffusion stable image](https://stability.ai/stable-image)
- [Stable Diffusion pricing](https://docs.stability.ai/pricing)
- [Stable Diffusion api reference](https://platform.stability.ai/docs/api-reference)
- [Stable Diffusion license](https://stability.ai/license)
- [Stable Diffusion faq](https://docs.stability.ai/faq)
- [Stable Diffusion api reference](https://docs.stability.ai/api-reference)
- [Stable Diffusion conservative](https://docs.stability.ai/api-reference/upscale/conservative)

## Related comparisons

- [ImageQuarry vs FLUX](https://www.imagequarry.com/compare/imagequarry-vs-flux/)
- [ImageQuarry vs Replicate](https://www.imagequarry.com/compare/imagequarry-vs-replicate/)
- [FLUX vs Stable Diffusion](https://www.imagequarry.com/compare/flux-vs-stable-diffusion/)
- [Midjourney vs Stable Diffusion](https://www.imagequarry.com/compare/midjourney-vs-stable-diffusion/)
- [All comparisons](https://www.imagequarry.com/compare/)

## No setup, just the image

Describe what you want, then change it in words while every version stays.