DiffusionBee: Free Stable Diffusion App for Mac (2026)
DiffusionBee is a free, open-source app that lets you run Stable Diffusion locally on your Mac. Generate AI art with a one-click installer, no technical knowledge needed, and complete privacy.
Try NemoVideo Free Open SiteWhat Is DiffusionBee?
DiffusionBee is a free, open-source macOS application created by developer Divam Gupta that brings Stable Diffusion image generation to your Mac with a simple one-click installer. Unlike cloud-based AI art tools, DiffusionBee runs entirely on your local machine, meaning your prompts, models, and generated images never leave your device.
The app supports text-to-image generation, image-to-image transformation, inpainting (adding or removing objects in specific regions), AI-powered upscaling, image variation generation, and even AI animation and video creation. You can browse, download, and switch between community-trained models including Stable Diffusion 1.5, SDXL, and the newer FLUX models.
DiffusionBee requires macOS 13.1 or higher and works best on Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4). On an 8GB M1 MacBook Air, it generates an image in roughly 30 seconds. Intel Macs are also supported but with slower performance.
One of DiffusionBee's standout features is custom model training: you can train image generation models using your own images with just a few clicks, all processed 100% locally. The app also keeps a running history of all your generations and includes a built-in upscaler to increase image resolution.
Best DiffusionBee Alternatives
If DiffusionBee doesn't meet your needs or you want to explore other local and cloud-based AI image generators, here are the top alternatives in 2026:
NemoVideo is an AI-powered video editing platform that can turn your AI-generated artwork into engaging video content. With its agentic workflow, describe what you want and NemoVideo handles editing, transitions, and effects automatically. Start free today.
A native Mac app built on Apple's Core ML framework, optimized specifically for M1/M2/M3 processors. Mochi Diffusion is free, open-source, and has very active development with near-daily releases. A strong choice if you want the most Mac-optimized experience.
A polished Mac desktop app with an intuitive UI that automatically downloads models when you select them. Draw Things supports a wide range of Stable Diffusion models and offers a smooth workflow for both beginners and intermediate users on macOS.
The most comprehensive and feature-rich Stable Diffusion interface available. Best suited for advanced users who are familiar with AI image generation terminology. Runs locally via a browser-based UI and supports extensive customization, extensions, and ControlNet.
A suite of open-source text-to-image models that has been shown to outperform competitors like Midjourney V6, DALL-E 3, and Stable Diffusion 3 Ultra in benchmarks. Available for local use and also supported within DiffusionBee's model browser.
DiffusionBee Pricing
DiffusionBee is completely free to download and use. There are no hidden costs, subscription fees, credit systems, or premium tiers. Because it runs locally on your Mac, there are no per-image charges or API usage fees either. The project is open-source and available on GitHub under the CreativeML OpenRAIL M license (inherited from Stable Diffusion).
| Tool | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| DiffusionBee | Free (forever) | Text-to-image, img2img, inpainting, upscaling, local model training, FLUX support |
| Mochi Diffusion | Free | Native Core ML, Apple Silicon optimized, open-source |
| Midjourney | $10 - $120/mo | Cloud-based, high-quality outputs, Discord and web interface |
| NemoVideo | Free / Premium | AI-powered video editing, agentic workflow, smart captions |
Bring your artwork to life as video. View NemoVideo's plans -- every tier includes AI editing and smart captions.
Is DiffusionBee Free?
Yes, DiffusionBee is 100% free. It is not a freemium product with limited features or usage caps. Every feature, including text-to-image generation, image-to-image transformation, inpainting, upscaling, custom model training, and FLUX model support, is available at no cost. There is no account registration, no cloud processing fees, and no watermarks on generated images.
Because DiffusionBee runs entirely on your local hardware, the only "cost" is the computing power of your Mac. The app is open-source, so the community can inspect the code, contribute improvements, and fork the project freely via GitHub.
NemoVideo gives artists a free way to create video portfolios with AI-powered editing and automatic captions. Sign up free.
How to Use DiffusionBee for Beginners
DiffusionBee is designed to be the simplest way to get started with Stable Diffusion on Mac. No Python, no command line, no manual dependency installation.
Step 1: Download and Install
Go to diffusionbee.com and download the .dmg file. Open it and drag the DiffusionBee icon into your Applications folder, just like any standard Mac app. You can also install it via Homebrew with brew install --cask diffusionbee.
Step 2: First Launch and Model Download
When you first open DiffusionBee, it will automatically download the base Stable Diffusion models, which are approximately 8GB. This is a one-time download. After that, the app works completely offline.
Step 3: Generate Your First Image
Type a text prompt into the prompt box and click "Generate." Start with smaller image sizes (around 256x256) and generate 4 images at a time so you can quickly see what your prompt changes are doing. Use the "Prompt Ideas" button for gallery inspiration and the "Styles" button to add commonly used artistic terms to your prompt.
Step 4: Save and Iterate
Click "Save Image" to export your creation. Once you find a prompt that works well, increase the image size and number of images. You can also try image-to-image mode to refine existing images, or use inpainting to modify specific regions of a generated image.
Your art, now in video. NemoVideo's AI Agent makes it simple: describe your vision and get a professionally edited video in minutes.
Best AI Art Tools in 2026
The AI art landscape in 2026 offers powerful tools for creators at every level, from completely free local apps to premium cloud services. Here are the standout platforms to consider:
- DiffusionBee — Free, open-source Stable Diffusion app for Mac with one-click install, inpainting, upscaling, and FLUX model support
- Mochi Diffusion — Native Mac app using Core ML for optimized Apple Silicon performance, free and open-source
- Draw Things — Polished Mac app with automatic model management and beginner-friendly interface
- AUTOMATIC1111 Web UI — The most feature-rich Stable Diffusion interface for power users, supports extensions and ControlNet
- Midjourney — Leading cloud-based AI image generator known for exceptional artistic quality (paid subscription)
- FLUX.1 — Open-source models rivaling Midjourney and DALL-E 3 in quality, available locally and in DiffusionBee
- NemoVideo — AI-powered agentic video editing platform, ideal for turning AI art into professional video content
Does DiffusionBee Have an API?
No, DiffusionBee does not offer a native API. It is a desktop application designed for interactive local use on Mac, not an API-first platform. You interact with it through its graphical user interface, not through programmatic endpoints.
However, since DiffusionBee is open-source (available on GitHub at divamgupta/diffusionbee-stable-diffusion-ui), developers can inspect the source code and potentially build on top of it. Third-party integration is also available through ApiX-Drive, which offers connectors to link DiffusionBee with other services. For developers who need a programmatic Stable Diffusion API, consider Stability AI's platform API or running AUTOMATIC1111's Web UI with its built-in API mode.