The Embarrassing Truth About AI Text in Images
Most AI image generators still can't spell. Ask them to put your brand name inside a logo and you'll get something that looks like a dyslexic ransom note. That's not a joke — it's been one of the most persistent failures in generative AI, and it's costing freelancers real client billable hours in fix-up work.
Three tools are actually serious about solving this: Ideogram, Leonardo AI, and Recraft. I've put all three through the same logo prompts — same brand names, same style directions, same pressure. Here's what actually happened.
What Each Tool Promises (And Charges)
Before the results, the money talk. Ideogram offers a free tier with 10 slow-generation prompts per day. Their paid plan starts at $8/month (Basic) and goes to $20/month (Plus) for priority generation and more credits. Leonardo AI's free tier gives you 150 tokens daily; their Apprentice plan runs $10/month and the Artisan plan hits $24/month. Recraft's free plan is generous — unlimited generations on basic models — with their Pro plan at $12/month unlocking their flagship Recraft V3 model and vector export.
All three are web-based. All three require no design software. That's the baseline.
Head-to-Head: Text Accuracy, Style, Usability
| Feature | Ideogram 2.0 | Leonardo AI | Recraft V3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text accuracy in logos | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐ Decent | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent |
| Logo-specific styles | Good variety | Strong (many models) | Best-in-class vector |
| Vector / SVG export | No | No | Yes (Pro plan) |
| Free tier usefulness | Solid daily limit | Very generous tokens | Unlimited basic gens |
| Starting paid price | $8/month | $10/month | $12/month |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium | Low |
Ideogram 2.0 is the crowd favorite for text rendering, and it earns it. Short brand names, compound words, even taglines — it nails them with striking consistency. The interface is clean. Prompting is forgiving. You don't need to be a prompt engineer to get a usable logo on your first try.
Leonardo AI has improved significantly, but text accuracy is still hit-or-miss. Where it shines is stylistic range — their model ecosystem (Phoenix, Kino, Flux integrations) gives you more creative directions than the others. If you're iterating on visual identity concepts and text legibility is secondary, Leonardo is a power tool. If you need the name spelled right, it'll frustrate you.
Recraft V3 is the sleeper pick. Its text accuracy matches Ideogram, and it's the only one of the three that exports true vector SVGs. For anyone delivering logo files to clients, that's not a minor detail — that's the whole job. A PNG logo is a starting point. An SVG is a deliverable.
Real Use Cases: Who Should Use What
Freelancers billing for logo packages: Recraft Pro at $12/month. The SVG export alone justifies the cost. Clients expect scalable files. You'll look more professional, faster.
Founders building their own brand on a budget: Ideogram's free tier or $8 Basic plan. It's fast, the outputs are clean, and you won't need a design background to get something worth using.
Agencies and creative operators exploring identity directions: Leonardo AI Artisan. The model variety helps you explore moods and aesthetics quickly, even if you finish the text treatment in Figma or Canva.
These aren't mutually exclusive, by the way. Several operators I know use Ideogram to lock in the text-heavy version, then run the graphic elements through Leonardo for more stylistic control. Costs less than a single hour of freelance design work.
FAQ
Can any of these tools replace a professional logo designer?
For early-stage brands and MVP-level branding, yes — comfortably. For enterprise identity systems with usage guidelines, not yet. They're fastest as a starting point, not a final system.
Which tool handles non-English text best?
Ideogram handles Latin-script languages well. Recraft V3 has shown stronger results with non-Latin scripts like Japanese and Arabic in recent tests. Leonardo lags behind both here.
Do any of these generate transparent background logos?
Recraft offers background removal on Pro. Ideogram has a basic background removal option. Leonardo requires manual editing or a third-party tool like remove.bg.
Is the free tier enough for one-off projects?
Ideogram's free tier (10 prompts/day) and Recraft's unlimited basic generations are both enough to complete a simple logo project without spending a dollar — as long as you're not in a rush.
Bottom Line
If text accuracy is your priority, Ideogram and Recraft V3 are in a different league from Leonardo. For freelancers who need to deliver client-ready files, Recraft's SVG export makes it the practical winner. Ideogram is the fastest path from idea to usable logo for founders doing it themselves.
Pick the one that matches how you work — then stop tweaking and start shipping.
Explore more AI tool breakdowns and automation tactics at AI Profit Automation.