LongCat-Image is Meituan's open-source 6B text-to-image model, released in December 2025. It punches far above its parameter count in two areas: photorealistic output and accurate bilingual (Chinese + English) text rendering — the thing most image models still get wrong.
The model weights are on HuggingFace and GitHub, so you can run it yourself — but you need a GPU with enough VRAM, a Python environment, and some patience. If you just want to generate images, the fastest path is using it online. This guide covers both, starting with the zero-install route.
Option 1: Use LongCat-Image Online (Fastest)
Longcat Image runs the model in the cloud, so everything happens in your browser.
Step 1 — Sign up and claim free credits
Create an account at longcat-image.org — email or one-click Google sign-in. New accounts receive free starter credits, enough to try generation and editing before deciding whether to buy more. No credit card required for signup.
Honest note: generation does require an account. There is no anonymous/unlimited free tier — cloud GPUs cost real money. The free credits are for evaluating whether the model fits your use case.
Step 2 — Open the AI Image Generator and pick the model
Head to the AI Image Generator. In the model selector, choose LongCat-Image. (The generator also offers other state-of-the-art models — FLUX 2, Seedream 4, Z-Image Turbo, Nano Banana Pro — handy for comparing outputs from the same prompt.)
Step 3 — Write your prompt and generate
Type a description and hit Generate. Results typically arrive in seconds. A few prompting tips specific to LongCat-Image:
- Put exact text in quotes. If you want words rendered inside the image, quote them:
a neon shop sign that says "深夜食堂 Midnight Diner". The model renders both the Chinese and English accurately. - Describe placement and style of the text: "bold white lettering on the storefront banner" beats leaving it to chance.
- Lean into photorealism. LongCat-Image was tuned for realistic imagery — product shots, street scenes, portraits. Prompt like a photographer: lens, lighting, time of day.
- Chinese prompts work natively. You can prompt entirely in Chinese; the model was trained bilingually.
Bonus — Edit existing images
The generator has an image-to-image tab: upload a reference image, describe the change, and the LongCat-Image-Edit model applies it — restyling, object changes, text replacement on signage, and more. Editing costs more credits than generation since it runs a heavier pipeline. One current limitation: a single reference image per edit (multi-image fusion isn't supported yet).
Option 2: Other Ways to Access LongCat-Image
| Route | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| longcat-image.org | Anyone who wants results now | Credits after free tier |
| HuggingFace demo Space | Quick one-off tests | Queues, rate limits |
| fal.ai API | Developers integrating into apps | Pay per megapixel, code required |
| Run locally (ComfyUI / diffusers) | Full control, no per-image cost | GPU + VRAM + setup time |
If you're weighing the local route, we wrote a dedicated guide: LongCat-Image ComfyUI workflow and local deployment — including VRAM requirements and the common pitfall of confusing LongCat-Image with LongCat-Video tutorials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LongCat-Image free? The model itself is open source. Running it costs compute: online services (including ours) use credit systems, while local deployment trades money for setup effort and a GPU. On longcat-image.org, signup credits are free and paid packs are one-time purchases — see pricing.
Can I use generated images commercially? Check the license terms on the official GitHub repository for the authoritative wording on model and output usage.
Why choose LongCat-Image over FLUX or Midjourney? If your images need legible text — especially Chinese — LongCat-Image is one of the strongest options available. For pure artistic stylization, other models may fit better. That's exactly why our generator lets you switch models per prompt.
Ready to try it? Generate your first image free →
