7 Best AI Character Generators 2026 (Real, Anime + NSFW)

by Chris Von Wilpert, BBusMan • Last updated October 5, 2026

Expert Verified by Leandro Langeani, BBA

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Today there are 312 AI character generators. We spent 117 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to create unique characters with AI.

What is the Best AI Character Generator?

  1. SoulGen — best of the best
  2. DeepSwap — best for face swaps
  3. Adobe Firefly — best for character design
  4. Picsart — best for realistic characters
  5. Artbreeder — best for cartoons
  6. Fotor — best for face generation
  7. OpenArt — best for fiction characters

Our Verdict — Best Of The Best

Price: Starts at $12.99

SoulGen is an AI-driven character generator that transforms simple descriptions into beautiful characters. We think it’s the best because of its easy-to-use, simple interface.

The Best Part:

  • Prompt-based editing. SoulGen allows you to refine and tweak your creation until you're completely satisfied, using simple text prompts to make adjustments, such as "add blue eyes" or "change hairstyle to ponytail”.

The Worst Part:

  • Inconsistent output accuracy. SoulGen, though mostly awesome, can sometimes create images that don't quite nail your text input, making it necessary to use prompt editing to fine-tune the character until you're happy with the result.

Get it if you want an easy-to-use AI tool that helps you create and customize unique anime characters with just a few text prompts.

I recommend you get started with a free account, then upgrade to the 1 Month plan for $12.99.

(free trial)

Best For

SoulGen is best for anime enthusiasts who want to effortlessly generate and personalize one-of-a-kind anime characters using AI-powered text prompts.

Top Features

  • Brings your vision to life. SoulGen lets you generate realistic or anime-style characters from simple text prompts, making your imagination become jaw-dropping AI characters.

  • No limits. SoulGen’s AI Outpainting enables you to resize images and add elements like backgrounds and extra characters for a more engaging scene surrounding your AI characters.

  • Cartoonize. Upload a reference photo of a celebrity or friend, and SoulGen will generate an anime or photorealistic character resembling their face within seconds.

  • Bulk generation. SoulGen allows you to create up to nine character variants at once, giving you the freedom to choose your favorite or mix and match elements for the perfect anime character.

  • Every detail matters. SoulGen enables you to customize your characters down to the smallest detail, adding specific hair, accessories, and actions — like "add a hat" or "holding an umbrella".

Pricing

SoulGen offers two pricing options:

  • 1 month: $12.99 for new users who want to experiment with generating AI anime characters.
  • 12 months: $90.99 for users who are in it for the long run.

Both plans are one-time payments with no auto-renewal.

Annual subscriptions provide a 42% discount.

Try SoulGen today with a free trial.

Our Verdict — Best For Face Swaps

Price: Starts at $9.99

DeepSwap is the most powerful AI character generator money can buy. We think it’s the best for face swaps because of how good its output is.

The Best Part:

  • It’s a turbocharged machine. DeepSwap is a monster, and it’s incredibly good at everything it does. No matter if you’re generating new characters, or even swapping faces with existing characters you’ve already got.

The Worst Part:

  • Occasional server hiccups. While DeepSwap is typically efficient, there might be instances when server lags cause delays — especially on the free trial.

Get it if you want to create incredible characters, as easy as it can be.

I recommend you get started with a free account, then upgrade to the 1 Month plan for $9.99.

(free trial)

Best For

DeepSwap is best for anyone who wants to create amazing characters, easily.

Top Features

  • Easier than texting. Tell DeepSwap what you want in a few words, and your character pops up from thin air.

  • You’re seconds away. DeepSwap spits out your characters in a few seconds. It’s remarkable what it can do that fast.

  • Bring existing characters to life. Upload any image to DeepSwap and create new scenes for your existing characters. Go to the beach, drive a supercar, undress in the bathtub… you call it, you got it.

  • Object removal. DeepSwap enables you to remove unwanted objects from any image with a few clicks. Easy-peasy.

  • Privacy first. With a strict “no data collection” policy, DeepSwap ensures your characters are always safe.

Pricing

DeepSwap offers two plans:

  • DeepSwap Premium Monthly: $9.99 for new users who want to try out DeepSwap’s advanced AI generation capabilities.
  • DeepSwap Premium Yearly: $49.99 for dedicated users who want to generate tons of AI characters, over a long period of time.

Both plans are one-time payments with no auto-renewal.

Annual subscriptions provide a 58% discount.

Try DeepSwap today with two free face swaps.

Our Verdict — Best For Character Design

Price: Starts at $9.99/month
Adobe Firefly

Adobe Firefly can generate detailed AI characters from a simple text prompt. We think it’s the best for character design because it combines top AI models from Adobe, Google, and others with pro-grade editing tools in one place.

The Best Part:

  • Multiple AI models in one place. Adobe Firefly lets you generate characters with top AI models from Adobe, Google, OpenAI, and more, so you can match the model to the exact style your character needs.

The Worst Part:

  • Credit-based generation. Adobe Firefly runs on monthly generative credits, so heavy character creation sessions can eat through your allowance before the month ends.

Get it if you want to design AI characters with Adobe-grade editing tools and the best AI models in one place.

I recommend you get started with the free plan, then get the Firefly Standard plan for $9.99/month.

(free plan)

Best For

Adobe Firefly is best for anyone who wants to create AI characters using multiple top AI models and Adobe’s editing tools.

Top Features

  • Pick your model. Adobe Firefly gives you access to AI models from Adobe, Google, OpenAI, and more, so you can generate each character with the model that best fits its style.

  • Refine every detail. Adobe Firefly's Generative Fill lets you add, remove, or swap elements on your characters — outfits, accessories, backgrounds — with a simple text prompt.

  • Photoshop included. Adobe Firefly's Pro plan gives you full access to Adobe Photoshop on web and mobile, so you can polish your characters with professional editing tools.

  • Build a whole cast. Adobe Firefly's Boards let you collect, remix, and iterate on character concepts on an infinite canvas — perfect for exploring an entire cast of characters.

  • Create anywhere. Adobe Firefly's mobile app lets you generate and edit characters wherever inspiration strikes, then keep working on the web when you're back at your desk.

Pricing

Adobe Firefly pricing

Adobe Firefly offers five pricing plans:

  • Firefly Free: Free forever, with limited daily generations for casual users who want to explore AI character creation.
  • Firefly Standard: $9.99/month for 2,000 monthly generative credits, with unlimited access to standard image features like Generative Fill.
  • Firefly Pro: $19.99/month for 4,000 monthly generative credits, plus Adobe Photoshop on web and mobile and Adobe Express Premium.
  • Firefly Pro Plus: $49.99/month, or $34.97/month for your first year if you subscribe by October 21, for 10,000 monthly generative credits and up to 100 five-second videos.
  • Firefly Premium: $199.99/month, or $139.91/month for your first year if you subscribe by October 21, for 50,000 monthly generative credits and unlimited access to the Firefly Video Model.

Try Adobe Firefly today with a free plan.

Our Verdict — Best For Realistic Characters

Price: Starts at $15/month

Picsart can generate human-like AI characters with an artistic touch. We think it’s the best for realistic characters because of its advanced AI image generation, with many different art styles.

The Best Part:

  • Versatile art styles. Picsart allows you to generate realistic characters in a variety of artistic formats, including sci-fi, 60s beauty, portrait, pop art, and dozens more.

The Worst Part:

  • Steep learning curve. Picsart's extensive features may be slightly overwhelming for beginners.

Get it if you want to create lifelike AI characters with various art styles.

I recommend you get started with a 7-day free trial, then get the Picsart Pro plan for $15/month.

(7-day free trial)

Best For

Picsart is best for anyone who wants to generate realistic AI characters with various art styles.

Top Features

  • Easy to use. Picsart's Text to Image tool lets you create realistic AI characters by simply typing in a small description and hitting ‘Generate’... and done.

  • Customizable. Picsart provides the tools for tweaking and fine-tuning your generated character with filters, effects, text adjustments, or color changes to achieve the perfect look.

  • AI-enhanced editing. Picsart incorporates AI-assisted tools like AI Enhance and AI Replace, helping you boost the quality of your generated characters in one fell swoop.

  • Personalized avatars. Picsart's AI Avatar tool lets you create custom digital representations of yourself or others as realistic characters, mythical creatures, or even graphic novel personas.

  • Added depth. Picsart's AI Background tool allows you to seamlessly replace the background of your generated characters with custom settings or scenes.

Pricing

Picsart offers three pricing plans:

  • Free: Free forever, for beginners and casual users who want to explore basic AI character creation and photo editing features.
  • Picsart Pro: $15/month for users who want access to premium templates, fonts, stickers, and advanced tools for enhancing their AI-generated characters.
  • Ultra: $75/month for power users who need higher usage limits and the most advanced AI tools for AI-driven character generation and editing tasks.

Annual subscriptions provide a 30% discount.

Try Picsart today with a free 7-day trial.

Our Verdict — Best For Cartoons

Price: Starts at $8.99/month
Artbreeder home

Artbreeder is an AI tool for creating characters, artworks, and more by mixing images and editing their “genes.” We think it’s the best for cartoons because you can build a character out of simple shapes in Collager, then mix, branch, and tweak it in Splicer2 until it has the stylized look you want.

The Best Part:

  • Edit with genes. Artbreeder’s Splicer2 lets you mix images and edit their genes, like age and gender, so you can shape a character without rewriting your prompt.

The Worst Part:

  • Credits don’t roll over. Your credits reset at the beginning of each billing period, so any credits you don’t use are gone.

Get it if you want to design stylized characters by mixing and remixing images instead of writing long prompts.

I recommend you get started with a free account, then get the Starter plan for $8.99/month.

(free plan)

Best For

Artbreeder is best for artists and storytellers who want to create cartoon characters by mixing and editing images.

Top Features

  • Splicer2. Mix, branch, and edit your characters in Artbreeder’s one-of-a-kind creative interface.

  • Collager. Assemble a character out of simple shapes, images, and text, and let the AI turn it into a finished image.

  • Prompter. Turn a text description into images when you’d rather describe your character than build it.

  • Outpainter. Expand any Artbreeder image beyond its borders to give your character more scene.

  • Worlds. Artbreeder’s experimental world-building and storytelling platform creates a whole world from any image.

Pricing

Artbreeder pricing

Artbreeder offers three pricing plans:

  • Starter: $8.99/month for 100 credits a month, or about 1,000 SDXL images.
  • Advanced: $18.99/month for 275 credits a month, or about 2,750 SDXL images.
  • Champion: $38.99/month for 700 credits a month, or about 7,000 SDXL images.

Annual subscriptions provide up to a 21% discount.

Try Artbreeder today with a free account.

Our Verdict — Best For Face Generation

Price: Starts at $10.99/month
Fotor home

Fotor is an online photo editor with a full set of generative AI tools. We think it’s the best for face generation because its AI Face Generator creates realistic, unique human faces from a text prompt or a photo, across ages, genders, and skin tones.

The Best Part:

  • Generator and editor in one. Fotor puts an AI image generator and a complete photo editor in the same place, so you can create a character and retouch it without switching tools.

The Worst Part:

  • Credits go fast. The Pro plan’s 100 monthly credits cover about six Nano Banana Pro images, so heavy creators will need a bigger plan.

Get it if you want to turn your own face into AI characters and avatars, then polish them in a full photo editor.

I recommend you get started with the free plan, then get the Pro plan for $10.99/month.

(free plan)

Best For

Fotor is best for anyone who wants to generate realistic AI faces and characters, from scratch or from their own photos.

Top Features

  • Text to image. Describe a character and Fotor’s AI image generator brings it to life, from realistic photos to 3D characters and digital illustrations.

  • Tailor-made faces. Fotor’s AI Face Generator lets you customize hairstyles, hair colors, head poses, and skin tones, or add glasses, makeup, or scars.

  • AI Avatar. Upload your selfies and turn them into AI avatars, from professional headshots to creative profile pictures.

  • AI Replace. Brush over an area, describe what you want, and the AI blends new elements into your image, like a new hair color.

  • AI Expand. Extend your image beyond its borders to fit different aspect ratios or show more of the scene.

Pricing

Fotor pricing

Fotor offers three pricing plans:

  • Pro: $10.99/month for 100 credits a month and 10 concurrent generations.
  • Pro+: $23.99/month for 300 credits a month and 30 concurrent generations.
  • Max: $49.99/month for 1,000 credits a month and 50 concurrent generations.

Try Fotor today with the free plan.

Our Verdict — Best For Fiction Characters

Price: Starts at $14/month
OpenArt home

OpenArt is an all-in-one AI creation platform that brings characters, stories, brands, and worlds to life. We think it’s the best for fiction characters because you can build a character once and reuse it across images and videos with the same face every time.

The Best Part:

  • Consistent characters. Build a character from reference images or a text brief, save it to your library, and tag it in future generations to keep it consistent.

The Worst Part:

  • Your cast is capped. The Starter plan covers up to about 13 consistent characters, so a big cast means moving to a bigger plan.

Get it if you want to tell a story and keep your characters looking the same in every scene.

I recommend you get started for free, then get the Starter plan for $14/month.

(free credits)

Best For

OpenArt is best for writers and storytellers who want consistent AI characters across images, videos, and stories.

Top Features

  • One-click stories. Turn an idea into a full story with OpenArt’s One-Click Story Creation.

  • Build whole worlds. OpenArt Worlds generates a persistent, navigable 3D environment from a single prompt, and you can place your characters inside it.

  • Bring characters to video. Create videos up to 15 seconds long in up to 4K resolution, from a text prompt or a reference image.

  • Edit in one canvas. Erase, expand, swap backgrounds, restyle, or upscale your images to 4K without leaving the canvas.

  • Give them a voice. Generate AI voiceovers in 30+ languages with lip-sync, plus music and sound effects for your scenes.

Pricing

OpenArt pricing

OpenArt offers four pricing plans:

  • Starter: $14/month for 4,000 credits a month and up to about 13 consistent characters.
  • Plus: $34/month for 12,000 credits a month, up to about 40 consistent characters, and commercial use rights.
  • Pro: $56/month for 24,000 credits a month and up to about 80 consistent characters.
  • Wonder: $240/month for 106,000 credits a month, up to about 353 consistent characters, and priority support.

Annual subscriptions provide up to a 27% discount.

Try OpenArt today for free.

Our Top Three Picks

Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:

  1. SoulGen — best of the best
  2. DeepSwap — best for face swaps
  3. Adobe Firefly — best for character design

Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:

Tool

Entry Offer

Pricing

SoulGen

Free trial

Starts at $12.99/mo

DeepSwap

Free trial

Starts at $9.99/mo

Adobe Firefly

Free plan

Starts at $9.99/mo

Picsart

7-day free trial

Starts at $15/mo

Artbreeder

Free plan

Starts at $8.99/mo

Fotor

Free plan

Starts at $10.99/mo

OpenArt

Free credits

Starts at $14/mo

Here are the top 50 AI character generators we considered in this review:

  1. SoulGen
  2. DeepSwap
  3. Adobe Firefly
  4. Picsart
  5. Artbreeder
  6. Fotor
  7. OpenArt
  8. Zmo.ai
  9. Artguru
  10. Artflow AI
  11. MagicPic
  12. PhotoDirector
  13. FacePlay
  14. Dawn AI
  15. starryai
  16. YouCam Perfect
  17. WOMBO Dream
  18. AI ARTA
  19. Lensa AI
  20. Veed.io
  21. AI Portrait Generator
  22. HitPaw Online 4AiPaw
  23. NightCafe
  24. GPT Image
  25. Toolsaday
  26. Penji art
  27. Inworld
  28. LightX
  29. DeepAI
  30. BookRaid
  31. Crypko
  32. Waifu Labs
  33. Kamoto.AI
  34. AILab Tools
  35. This Anime Does Not Exist
  36. CHARAT V
  37. Playground AI
  38. PixAI.Art
  39. Character.AI
  40. ImgCreator.AI
  41. Prins AI
  42. Astrocyte
  43. SnapWithAI
  44. Wizard Engine
  45. Blue Willow AI
  46. Perchance
  47. Leonardo.ai
  48. Niji AI
  49. CharacterGPT
  50. PlayHT

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Character Generators

What is an AI character generator?

An AI character generator creates unique characters from a short text description, covering realistic, anime, and NSFW styles. Many also let you upload an existing image to place your character in new scenes, swap faces, or edit details in seconds.

What is the best AI character generator?

SoulGen is our pick for the best overall because of its high-quality output and speed. For specific needs, DeepSwap is best for face swaps, Adobe Firefly is best for character design, Picsart is best for realistic characters, Artbreeder is best for cartoons, Fotor is best for face generation, and OpenArt is best for fiction characters. The right choice depends on the style of character you want.

How do I choose the right AI character generator?

Start with the style you need. SoulGen is the strongest all-around pick, while DeepSwap suits face swaps, Adobe Firefly suits character design, Picsart suits realistic characters, Artbreeder suits cartoons, Fotor suits face generation, and OpenArt suits fiction characters. Match the tool to your main use case, then test it on a free trial before committing.

Is there a free AI character generator?

Yes. DeepSwap offers a free trial, though server lags can cause delays on the free trial, especially at busy times. Free tiers usually limit generations, so users who want fast, high-quality output tend to upgrade to a paid plan.

What can DeepSwap do?

DeepSwap generates new characters from text prompts in seconds, brings existing characters into new scenes from an uploaded image, swaps faces, and removes unwanted objects from images. DeepSwap also says it does not retain user uploads, which it presents as keeping your characters and images private.

Which AI character generator is best for anime?

SoulGen is best for anime because it specializes in generating anime-style characters. If anime is your main goal, SoulGen focuses there, while DeepSwap is the strongest pick for face swaps across realistic, anime, and edited characters.

What to look for when looking for AI character generators?

  • Ability to create high-resolution images for a good visual representation
  • Make sure it does a good job of bringing your imagination to life with different artistic styles
  • Ability to create both 2D and 3D characters
  • That the character creator lets you customize facial features
  • How many images per prompt it can generate
  • Look for art generators that are simple to use, regardless of skill levels, with a simple user interface
  • Check which aspects of character creation it covers
  • Ability to add negative prompts to your image prompts
  • Image enhancement tools, like background removal 
  • The ability to make the whole character creation process quicker and simpler

The Bottom Line

To recap, here are the best AI character generators to try this year:

  1. SoulGen — best of the best
  2. DeepSwap — best for face swaps
  3. Adobe Firefly — best for character design
  4. Picsart — best for realistic characters
  5. Artbreeder — best for cartoons 
  6. Fotor — best for face generation 
  7. OpenArt — best for fiction characters