Top 10 SDXL Models

Stable Diffusion XL (SDXL) is the successor to the popular image creation AI model Stable Diffusion. The main difference lies in a two-stage structure for image creation. First, a low-resolution image is created, which is then scaled to the desired output resolution using a refiner model. In this article we want to introduce you to the most important SDXL checkpoints. We will focus in the top 10 SDXL models, based on their download numbers on CivitAI. We will only use checkpoints based on SDXL 1.0 – we might take a closer look at SDXL Turbo or Lightning-based checkpoints at a later date.

In this overview we will first briefly introduce all checkpoints. We will then summarize the respective output of the checkpoints in a short comparison. The resulting overview should help you select the right checkpoint for your respective use case.

Overview of the top 10 SDXL models

In this section we introduce you to the top 10 SDXL models, measured by their download number.

1. Juggernaut XL

With a total of over 417k downloads and an overwhelmingly good rating, Juggernaut XL is definitely one of the top 10 SDXL models out there. The SDXL 1.0-based model was trained primarily for photorealistic output.

2. DreamShaper XL

Even if the creator now advises using his Turbo or Lightning model, we are referring to the alpha2 version, which is based on SDXL 1.0. The model is an all-rounder suitable for both realistic and artistic representations and anime drawings.

3. 万象熔炉 | Anything XL

This model was trained exclusively to create anime drawings and is an excellent candidate for exactly this purpose due to the high number of downloads and its good rating.

4. SD XL

This is the original Stable Diffusion XL Model and the basis of most of the checkpoints presented here. SDXL consists of a two-step pipeline for latent diffusion: First, we use a base model to generate latents of the desired output size. In the second step, we use a specialized high-resolution model and apply a technique called SDEdit to the latents generated in the first step, using the same prompt.

5. RealVisXL V4.0

The model is still in the training phase. This is not the final version and may contain artifacts and perform poorly in some cases. The model is aimed at photorealism.

6. LEOSAM’s HelloWorld XL

HelloWorld is a long-running training project that has already led to some major updates and feature upgrades. 5.0 is the most substantial update in the history of the HelloWorld series, tagged with GPT-4v, and has undergone significant fine-tuning in fields such as science fiction, animals, architecture, and illustration.

7. SDXL Unstable Diffusers ☛ YamerMIX

This checkpoint was created with the intent to be unstable, with that I mean that it was created using a huge variety of models, the Unstable Diffusers models are both trained and merged, trained + merged are the models that will usually give you the best results in any type of style because of the huge quantity of styles it can reproduce, Unstable models are the best with abstract and unique work, they can generate anything that comes to mind and heart!

8. Copax TimeLessXL – SDXL1.0

This is another model that was trained primarily for realistic images. The model is still being trained and a Lightning version is now also available, although we are concentrating on the SDXL version here.

9. Animagine XL V3.1

This model is an update in the Animagine XL V3 series, enhancing the previous version, Animagine XL 3.0. This open-source, anime-themed text-to-image model has been improved for generating anime-style images with higher quality. It includes a broader range of characters from well-known anime series, an optimized dataset, and new aesthetic tags for better image creation. Built on Stable Diffusion XL, Animagine XL 3.1 aims to be a valuable resource for anime fans, artists, and content creators by producing accurate and detailed representations of anime characters.

10. DynaVision XL

DynaVision XL was born from a merge of the NightVision XL model and several LORAs including Sameritan’s 3D Cartoon LORA and the Wowifier LORA, to create a model that produces stylized 3D model output similar to computer graphics animation like Pixar, Dreamworks, Disney Studios, Nickelodeon, etc.

Comparison of the top 10 SDXL models

Now that we’ve gotten a quick overview of the top 10 SDXL models available on CivitAI, the fun is just beginning. We want to look at the checkpoints in action and compare the respective image output.

To do this, we create some series with the same prompt for each and compare the output of all models. For better comparability, we use a fixed image resolution of 1024 x 1024 for all prompts. We also do not use a refiner or LoRA checkpoints.

Beautiful freckled lady with curly hair

beautiful lady, (freckles), big smile, ruby eyes, long curly hair, dark makeup, hyperdetailed photography, soft light, head and shoulders portrait, cover

Beautiful cyborg

photo, 8k portrait of beautiful cyborg with brown hair, intricate, elegant, highly detailed, majestic, digital photography, art by artgerm and ruan jia and greg rutkowski surreal painting gold butterfly filigree, broken glass, (masterpiece, sidelighting, finely detailed beautiful eyes: 1.2), hdr, realistic, high definition

Angry cat girl

masterpiece, best quality,
1girl, solo, animal ears, bow, teeth, jacket, tail, open mouth, brown hair, orange background, bowtie, orange nails, simple background, cat ears, orange eyes, blue bow, animal ear fluff, cat tail, looking at viewer, upper body, shirt, school uniform, hood, striped bow, striped, white shirt, black jacket, blue bowtie, fingernails, long sleeves, cat girl, bangs, fangs, collared shirt, striped bowtie, short hair, tongue, hoodie, sharp teeth, facial mark, claw pose

Cute girl leaning on a tree

masterpiece, best quality, gorgeous pale american cute girl, smiling, (crop top), red hair loose braided hair, short polca skirt, lean against a tree, field, flowers smiling, perfectly symmetrical face, detailed skin, elegant, alluring, attractive, amazing photograph, masterpiece, best quality, 8K, high quality, photorealistic, realism, art photography, Nikon D850, 16k, sharp focus, masterpiece, breathtaking, atmospheric perspective, diffusion, pore correlation, skin imperfections, DSLR, 80mm Sigma f2, depth of field, intricate natural lighting, looking at camara

Black & white instagram picture

b&w, instagram photo, portrait photo of 26 y.o blonde woman, perfect detailed eyes, natural skin, hard shadows, film grain

Vampire bride

vampire bride,film photography aesthetic,the delicate texture of lace veil gently obscuring her face,long blonde hair,looking at viewer,eye eye contact,sapphire red eyes,choker,devil smile,dynamic composition,skin texture,from above,close-up,sharp focus,horror \(theme\),dutch angle,

Colorful artwork

(((masterpiece))), ((ultra-detailed)), Abstract style cute, smoke, in the sky, colorful and vibrant, mystical colors, contemporary impressionism, yanjun cheng portrait painting, iridescent perspective view ,low angle, sweeping circling composition, large beautiful crystal eyes, big irises, UHD, HDR, 8K, the most beautiful portrait in the world, white little cat, Non-representational, colors and shapes, expression of feelings, imaginative

Colorful photo

Kodak Portra 400 Color Film still photo, irish woman, agitated, high detalied natural skin, (strange punk hair1.2), freckles, fantastically hand-dyed cotton clothes, like Sarah Bolger, photo by Bert Stern, rim light, dark black background, low angle shoot, sharply focused, trending of artstation, detail skin

Anime Character

1girl, souryuu asuka langley, neon genesis evangelion, rebuild of evangelion, lance of longinus, cat hat, plugsuit, pilot suit, red bodysuit, sitting, crossed legs, black eye patch, throne, looking down, from bottom, looking at viewer, outdoors, masterpiece, best quality, very aesthetic, absurdres

Fortune teller

A fortune teller gazing into a crystal ball in a dim, mystical shop., (cinematic color grading lighting vintage realistic film grain scratches celluloid analog cool shadows warm highlights soft focus actor directed cinematography technicolor :1.3), with the text "DynaVision" on it

Conclusion

After all these comparisons, it is difficult to make a clear and general recommendation. All models presented have their own unique advantages and disadvantages and most of them will end up in my standard AI toolbox. In my opinion, choosing the right model depends largely on the current intended use and the desired style. This can vary from session to session – that’s why it’s good to have more than one model in your repertoire. It’s best to get your own idea of the models and create your own comparison. Also, don’t commit yourself permanently. Experiment with different models and in the long run you will find your own collection of suitable models for your purposes.

We hope you enjoyed this quick overview. However, this was only a small part of the seemingly endless world of AI art. Of course, we will continue to explore that world in small steps. Make sure to check our guide on installing Stable Diffusion WebUI if you haven’t yet.

Join us and visit us again soon for more articles. And also – have fun!