Which free AI image and video models can you use for paid work?
checked 2026-10-08 8 entries from the Tools Atlas
By Tori, last checked 2026-10-08. Each entry below was read against its own page or licence. The verdicts are written for someone who wants to use a tool in something they sell or publish; a skip is often about a licence or a heavy setup, not about quality.
At a glance
| Name | Licence | Cost | Rules check | Atlas verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 klein 4B | Apache-2.0 | Free software. | Allowed | Use it |
| Z-Image-Turbo | Apache-2.0 | Free software. | Allowed | Use it |
| ComfyUI | GPL-3.0 for the program | Free software. | Allowed | Use it |
| BiRefNet background removal | MIT (code and model files) | Free software. | Allowed | Use it |
| RMBG-2.0 (the default model in rembg) | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Free software. | Not allowed or too risky | Skip it |
| FLUX dev models and FLUX.2 klein 9B | FLUX Non-Commercial License | Free software. | Not allowed or too risky | Skip it |
| Qwen-Image 2.1 | Qwen Research License | Free software. | Not allowed or too risky | Skip it |
| HunyuanVideo-1.5 | Tencent Hunyuan Community License | Free software. | Not allowed or too risky | Skip it |
One by one
FLUX.2 klein 4B Use it
A fast image maker that also edits pictures from reference images. Its model page lists Apache-2.0. Take care to download the 4B size: the bigger klein 9B size is a different licence (see below).
Licence. Apache-2.0. Cost. Free software.
- Source page, read 2026-10-08
Z-Image-Turbo Use it
A fast model for photo-like pictures. Apache-2.0. Smaller model files exist for graphics cards with little memory, so it can run on a modest computer.
Licence. Apache-2.0. Cost. Free software.
- Source page, read 2026-10-08
ComfyUI Use it
The free program that runs these models on your own computer, with a Windows download that needs no install. It can stream parts of a model to fit a small graphics card. If it feels too technical, InvokeAI is the friendlier alternative.
Licence. GPL-3.0 for the program. Cost. Free software.
- Source page, read 2026-10-08
BiRefNet background removal Use it
Cuts products, logos and phone screenshots out of their background. MIT. In the rembg tool, choose a BiRefNet model: rembg's default model is RMBG-2.0, which is not for commercial use.
Licence. MIT (code and model files). Cost. Free software.
- Source page, read 2026-10-08
RMBG-2.0 (the default model in rembg) Skip it
Its model page says it is released under CC BY-NC 4.0 for non-commercial use, and that commercial use needs an agreement with its maker, Bria, who also sells a paid connection for production use.
Licence. CC BY-NC 4.0. Cost. Free software.
- Source page, read 2026-10-08
FLUX dev models and FLUX.2 klein 9B Skip it
Free to download, but licensed under the FLUX Non-Commercial License. Converted copies of the files inherit the same terms. The model page we read does not say whether pictures made with it may be sold, so read the licence text yourself before selling anything made with these. FLUX.1 schnell (Apache-2.0) is the open alternative from the same maker.
Licence. FLUX Non-Commercial License. Cost. Free software.
- Source page, read 2026-10-08
Qwen-Image 2.1 Skip it
Released under a research licence, so not for commercial work. The same family has Apache-2.0 versions (Qwen-Image-2512 and Qwen-Image-Edit-2511) that you can use instead.
Licence. Qwen Research License. Cost. Free software.
- Source page, read 2026-10-08
HunyuanVideo-1.5 Skip it
A video model under the Tencent Hunyuan Community License. The Atlas rates it unusable for commercial work.
Licence. Tencent Hunyuan Community License. Cost. Free software.
- Source page, read 2026-10-08
How to check a model licence in two minutes
Open the model's page and find the licence name. Apache-2.0 and MIT allow commercial use. Anything with “NC”, “Non-Commercial” or “Research” in its name does not.
Free to download is not the same as free to sell. A licence covers the model files, and it can say something different about the pictures the model makes. When the page does not say, ask the maker or choose a model whose licence is plain.
Copies inherit the terms. A smaller or converted version of a non-commercial model is still non-commercial.
Questions
Can I use FLUX commercially?
The FLUX.2 klein 4B model is Apache-2.0, so yes. The FLUX dev models and FLUX.2 klein 9B use the FLUX Non-Commercial License, which does not allow commercial use of the model.
Is rembg free for commercial use?
Its default model, RMBG-2.0, is CC BY-NC 4.0, which is non-commercial. Choose a BiRefNet model inside rembg instead; BiRefNet is MIT.
Do I need a powerful computer?
Not always. Z-Image-Turbo has smaller versions for graphics cards with little memory, and ComfyUI can stream parts of a model to fit a smaller card.
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