How to use DALL-E on bing image creator for free?
Go to bing.com/create (Image Creator from Microsoft Designer), sign in with a free Microsoft account, type a prompt, and click Create. It historically ran DALL-E 3 at no cost, using 'boosts' for faster generation. Since DALL-E's 2026 retirement, Microsoft runs updated image models, but the free browser tool works the same way.
Why — the first-principles explanation
Microsoft partnered with OpenAI, so it could offer DALL-E 3 free to consumers through its own front end, Image Creator (at bing.com/create and inside Microsoft Designer/Copilot). Microsoft's goal wasn't to sell images; it was to pull people into its Bing and Copilot ecosystem, so it subsidized the cost. That's why it felt free where OpenAI's own tool had tighter limits.
To manage the compute bill, Microsoft used boosts, a set of tokens (around 15) that make your images generate quickly. Spend them and generation still works, just slower. Boosts refill over time. This is the same economics as everywhere else: images cost the provider money, so "free" comes with a throttle rather than a paywall.
One important 2026 update: OpenAI retired the DALL-E models in May 2026. Microsoft's Image Creator didn't shut down, it moved to newer image models under the hood, so you're no longer strictly using DALL-E 3 there. For you, the steps are unchanged: sign in, describe, create, download. It remains one of the easiest free, browser-based ways to make AI images without a paid subscription.
An example that makes it click
Think of an arcade that gives you a free wristband plus 15 fast-pass tickets. With a fast-pass, your ride starts instantly, those are boosts. When the fast-passes run out, you can still ride, you just wait in the regular line. The arcade is free to enter (Microsoft account), and tomorrow you get more fast-passes. That's Bing Image Creator: free to use, quicker while your boosts last.
How to do it
- Open bing.com/create (Image Creator from Microsoft Designer) in a browser.
- Sign in with a free Microsoft account.
- Type a detailed prompt in the box, for example 'a vintage camera on a wooden desk, soft light.'
- Click Create and wait; boosts make it faster, and generation still works when they run out.
- Click an image to view, then download or save it to your collection.
Key facts
- Bing Image Creator (bing.com/create) is free with a Microsoft account.
- It historically used OpenAI's DALL-E 3 model.
- It uses 'boosts' (about 15) that speed up generation; without them, generation is slower, not blocked.
- OpenAI retired DALL-E in May 2026, so Microsoft's tool now runs updated image models.
- It's a browser-based tool requiring no paid subscription.
OpenAI's image generator, built into ChatGPT.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.▶ The 60-second explainer (script)
Here's how to use DALL-E on Bing Image Creator for free. Head to bing.com/create, which is now called Image Creator from Microsoft Designer, and sign in with a free Microsoft account. Type your prompt, something detailed like 'a vintage camera on a wooden desk in soft light,' and click Create. In a few seconds you get several images to pick from. Microsoft gives you 'boosts,' about fifteen tokens that make generation fast. When they run out, you can still make images, they just come a little slower, and your boosts refill over time. One 2026 note: OpenAI retired the DALL-E models, so Microsoft's tool now runs on updated image models instead of DALL-E 3. But it's still one of the simplest free ways to make AI art in your browser, no subscription required.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
Is Bing Image Creator really free?
Yes. It's free with a Microsoft account. 'Boosts' make generation faster, and once they're used up, images still generate, just more slowly.
What are boosts and how do I get more?
Boosts are tokens (around 15) that speed up generation. They replenish over time; you can keep creating without them at a slower pace.
Is it still DALL-E 3 on Bing?
Not exactly. It used DALL-E 3, but after OpenAI retired DALL-E in 2026, Microsoft moved to newer image models. The tool and steps are the same.
Do I need to download any software?
No. It runs in your web browser at bing.com/create. Just sign in, type a prompt, and create.