Stable Diffusion WebUI (AUTOMATIC1111) vs ComfyUI: which one to choose in 2026?
Both are open source alternatives to Midjourney. We compare license, tech stack and features to help you decide which fits your team best.
| Stable Diffusion WebUI (AUTOMATIC1111) | ComfyUI | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Artificial Intelligence | Artificial Intelligence |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| GitHub stars | 145k | 58k |
| Tech stack | Python, PyTorch | Python, PyTorch |
| Replaces | Midjourney | Midjourney |
Stable Diffusion WebUI (AUTOMATIC1111) has more GitHub stars, which usually indicates a larger community (not necessarily that it's the best option for your use case).
Stable Diffusion WebUI (AUTOMATIC1111)
Complete interface for local Stable Diffusion, an alternative to Midjourney.
Pros
- No limit on generated images and no monthly subscription
Things to consider
- Requires an NVIDIA GPU with enough VRAM
ComfyUI
Node-based image generation, an advanced alternative to Midjourney.
Pros
- Maximum control over every step of the generation pipeline
Things to consider
- Steeper learning curve than simple prompt interfaces
Key features
Stable Diffusion WebUI (AUTOMATIC1111)
- Thousands of community extensions
- Support for LoRAs and custom models
- Full control over generation parameters
ComfyUI
- Node-based generation pipelines
- Reproducible, shareable workflows
- Supports ControlNet, LoRAs and custom models