Style examples
No examples for this style yet.
These are AI style examples, not customer orders — your result varies with your photo.
Aurora Alternatives: Image Generators You Can Use Today
Aurora is still locked. These aren't.
Looking for an aurora free alternative, a free alternative to Aurora, or an OpenAI Aurora alternative? Here's what actually works today.
No sign-up required1 credit per illustrationDigital download
No preview images for this style yet
OpenAI's Aurora models — the aurora-red, green and blue alphas spotted in the API and in Arena testing — can't be selected, called or tried on demand. If you want to make AI images today, here's what actually works — including one built specifically for a different job: turning your own photo into hand-drawn-style art.
Why Aurora isn't an option yet
The aurora-red-alpha, aurora-green-alpha and aurora-blue-alpha model IDs appeared in OpenAI's API on October 17, 2026 and were removed within hours. The only place they've produced images is inside Arena's anonymous battles, where matchups are random. There is no opt-in, no API access, and no announced release date. Until OpenAI ships them publicly, anything you want to make has to be made elsewhere.
Background: What is OpenAI Aurora? The leaked models, explained
The realistic alternatives today
For general image generation, the tools people actually use today include ChatGPT's built-in image generation (GPT Image 2.5), Google's Gemini image features (Nano Banana), Midjourney, and various Flux-based services. Each has its own access model — some are subscription apps, some are API-first — and several accept image input too. What they're all primarily built around, though, is prompt-driven generation.
A different job: starting from your own photo
General image models are built around prompts — describing a scene from imagination. A very common want sits slightly outside that center: "I have this photo — my dog, my family, a moment I love — and I want it as artwork." Photo-referenced keepsake illustration is the job PencilDays is focused on: upload a photo, pick a colored-pencil, crayon or pastel style, and get a new illustration drawn from your photo. Details, composition and likeness may vary — that's the nature of a stylized piece.
Golden retriever input and colored-pencil example
The input reference image is AI-generated. These are AI style-conversion examples, not customer work; results from your own image may vary.
What you can make today
Upload one photo. Pick a style — colored pencil, crayon, pastel and more. Download your illustration. One credit per piece, no sign-up required, no prompt writing. People turn pet photos into keepsake portraits, family pictures into gifts, everyday snapshots into something worth printing.
When Aurora does launch
When Aurora becomes publicly available, it will be worth trying for text-to-image work — and this page will be updated with real usage details. But photo-referenced illustration will still be a different job. If what you want is your photo turned into art, you don't need to wait.
How it works
- Upload a photo
Choose one photo you have the right to use — JPG, PNG or WebP, up to 10 MB.
- Generate the illustration
Confirm the consent box and generate. Each illustration uses 1 credit.
- Download within 7 days
Your artwork appears when the job completes and stays available for 7 days.
Questions
Is there a free Aurora alternative?
Aurora itself has no pricing yet. Among tools usable today, free tiers change frequently — check each service. PencilDays doesn't promise free generation; pricing is shown on the site.
Can I use Aurora through the API?
No. The aurora-*-alpha IDs were removed from OpenAI's API shortly after appearing, and no public endpoint exists.
What's the difference between Aurora and PencilDays?
Aurora (when it ships) is expected to be a general text-to-image model — you describe a scene, it draws it. PencilDays starts from your photo instead: it generates a stylized pencil, crayon or pastel illustration using your photo as the reference.
Will Aurora do photo-to-art conversion?
Unknown — OpenAI hasn't documented its capabilities. General image models typically support image input, but "stylized keepsake illustration tuned for photos" is a specific product, not just a feature. PencilDays is built specifically for it.
Check current prices, terms, privacy information and support details before purchasing.
My collection
A collection of your small, colorful moments.
Get credits
One credit per illustration. Failed generations return your credit.
Choose a payment method
Credit purchases are not available right now.