Layer AI review (2026): is it worth $10 a month?
AI image, video, 3D and audio creation for game studios
Black Friday: is there a Layer AI sale?
Layer AI report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for game studios using many AI models
Layer puts 136 image, 175 video and 48 3D models from big providers in one workspace, with custom style training and plugins for Unity and Unreal. The pricing page lists no free allowance, and units cost different amounts per model, so a monthly bill is hard to predict.
Who Layer AI is for
- Fits if you run a game or ad studio and want one workspace for many models
- Works for teams that keep one art style with custom style training
Who Layer AI is not for
- Skip it if you want a free allowance, as the pricing page lists none
- Watch out: units are spent at different rates per model, so the monthly cost moves
- Tight if you do not use everything, since only 10% of units carry over
- Watch out: SOC 2, SAML SSO and an SLA are Enterprise, through sales
Why Layer AI gets a 2.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for money$10 a month for 300 Creative Units, then $60 per extra 1,000. That is near the category's middle, and the real cost depends on the models you use.
- FFree plan and trialThe pricing page gives no free allowance and lists no trial, although the site has a Start for free button.
- BFeaturesImages, video, 3D and audio, style training, an API and plugins for game tools. The listing names no gap in the core job.
- CEase of useNo store rating is on record. It is aimed at studios, with workflows, style training and plugins to set up.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWeb and a browser extension, plus an API, an MCP server and plugins for Photoshop, Figma, Unity, Unreal and Blender.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Layer's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/layer-ai#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/layer-ai.svg" alt="Layer AI: 2.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Layer AI stands among AI image and video generators
Layer AI's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 31 of the 168 other AI image and video generators we grade, and level with 31.
It stands best on features (B, above 104 of 168) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $11.88 for the category: 51 of the 120 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 7 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 169 AI image and video generators we grade, cut by the letter each got. Layer AI’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 16 of 168, level with 103
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 168, level with 40
- BFeaturesAbove 104 of 168, level with 62
- CEase of useAbove 12 of 168, level with 106
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 75 of 168, level with 88
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 123 AI image and video generators. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Layer AI, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Layer AI you would be making an image model, which you can rent by the picture but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 106 of the 168 other AI image and video generators grade higher. It costs $120 a year.
What you could not
- An image model, which you can rent by the picture but not make.
- A video model, which you can rent by the second but not make.
- A voice model, which you can rent by the minute but not make.
- A voice model trained on your recordings.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- It plugs into other products, Photoshop, Figma and Unity among them, and has an API.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Layer AI’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Layer AI?
Layer is a platform for game and ad studios that gives access to many third-party models for images, video, 3D and audio from one workspace. It adds custom style training, workflows, an optional creative agent, an API and plugins for tools such as Photoshop, Figma, Unity and Unreal. Usage is metered in Creative Units.
Worth knowing
- Creative Units are spent at different rates per model, so the monthly cost depends on which models are used.
- Unused units expire each billing period, with only 10% carrying over.
- The pricing page gives no free allowance, although the site has a Start for free button.
- Enterprise adds SOC 2 Type II, SAML SSO and an SLA through sales, not self-serve.
Key features
- Many models in one place
- The site lists 136 image models, 175 video models and 48 3D models, from providers such as Google, OpenAI, Black Forest Labs and ByteDance.
- Image and video editing tools
- Includes upscaling, background removal, inpainting, relighting, vectorizing, camera-angle changes, video extension and lip sync.
- Custom style training
- The subscription includes advanced custom style training across providers, so a studio can keep one art direction across assets.
- 3D and audio
- Also generates textured 3D meshes with rigging and retexturing, plus music, sound effects, speech and voice cloning.
- API, MCP and plugins
- A REST API, an MCP server for Claude and plugins for Photoshop, Figma, Blender, Unity and Unreal let teams work from their own tools.
- Creative agent and playable ads
- An optional agent builds trailers, ads and playable ads from a brief. Most agent actions are free, but intensive ones spend units.
Layer AI pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Layer AI is a paid product, starting at $10 per month for 300 Creative Units.
- Starts at
- $10 per month for 300 Creative Units
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Studio subscription | $10per month for 300 Creative Units, then $60 per extra 1,000 | No seat fees or feature gates. Pick a monthly Creative Unit amount; 10% of units carry over. Enterprise is sold through sales. |
Read from layer.ai on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Layer AI before you buy.
Works with
Layer AI alternatives
- Layer AI vs Scenario
Free plan · from $15/mo
- Layer AI vs Leonardo.Ai
Free plan · from $12/mo
- Layer AI vs OpenArt
Free trial · from $13/mo
- Layer AI vs Krea
Free plan · from $5.25/mo
- Layer AI vs Magnific
Free plan · from $14.50/mo
Common questions
Does Layer AI have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Layer AI is listed for Web.
Does Layer AI have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Layer AI is listed for Web.
Is Layer AI open source?
Layer AI is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Layer AI have an API?
Yes. Layer AI offers a public API, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.