Image generation
civitai
The open-source code behind the Civitai model-sharing site
★ 7.2k
September 2026
Apache-2.0
Image generation
What we checked ourselves
Not copied from the project's own blurb. These are things we opened and verified, with the date.
- 6 Sept 2026We checked that the link to the project still resolves.
- 14 Aug 2026We read the licence text itself (LICENSE). No unusual restrictions were stated.
- 31 Aug 2026We read the project's own documentation and found no sign that development has stopped.
Where this sits among the 210 tools we list in Image generation
- Works without using a terminal180 of 210
- No API key required195 of 210
- Commercial use confirmed as allowed75 of 210
- Sends your input to the provider33 that do not →
Only 47 of the 210 meet all of the conditions above.
Counted from our own checks: every tool we list is examined against the same criteria.
What it does
Civitai is where people share image-generation models and LoRAs, with example outputs and the settings used - which is often the fastest way to work out how to get a particular look. This repository is the code that runs the site; to actually use it you just visit civitai.com. Two things to know: the site carries a lot of adult content, and licence terms differ per upload, with some models forbidding commercial use or recreating real people.
Summary based on the project's own description. The Japanese page has a fuller beginner guide: setup difficulty, what to prepare, and a step-by-step start.
Screenshots & visuals
Before you start
- Setup difficultyEasy to start
- Command lineNot required
- API keyNot required
- Sends data onlineYes
Judged automatically from the project's own metadata. Always confirm on the official page.
civitai FAQ
- Is civitai free?
- Yes. It runs on your own machine, so there is no usage-based cost either.
- Do I need to install anything or write code to use civitai?
- You install it like a normal desktop app. No command line involved.
- Does civitai work on a phone?
- No. It needs a computer.
- Can I use civitai commercially?
- The licence is Apache-2.0, which permits commercial use. Conditions such as keeping the copyright notice still apply, so read the licence text before shipping it inside something.
How it compares
The conditions that decide whether you can actually use it, side by side.
| Tool | Command line | API key | Sends data out | Phone | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| civitai (this page) | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
| dalle-3-xl-lora-v2 | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | With conditions |
| flux-lora-the-explorer | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | With conditions |
| FLUX.1-RealismLora | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | With conditions |
"Sends data out" means your input is uploaded to someone's server. Pick "No" when the material cannot leave your organisation.