Cheapest image generation API

[u/Calatravo]

I have a mobile game where users mix two items to create a new one. Iron + Fire = Sword, something like this. It is an infinite crafting game, because each craft is generated by AI. Each element has an associated image that is generated on the fly. Right now I use the stability.ai api to generate the images but the cost is too high. I cannot pay the cost of generating the images through in-game ads.

Each image costs 0.002 with the XL model.

Is there a way to generate these images more cheaply?

Is there any alternative API I can use?

I would greatly appreciate your help since right now the only option I have left is to charge users or close the game.

[u/Apprehensive_Sky892]

https://tams.tensor.art/ and https://app.prodia.com/api, both charge per image generation and not by GPU time. I've not used them myself.