kitio.aiStable Diffusion WebUI Forge vs CHARL-E
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge starts at Free and CHARL-E starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Lower VRAM use
- FLUX support
- Built-in ControlNet
- A1111 extension support
- One-click Windows package
- One-click Stable Diffusion install
- Automatic weight download
- Sampler and seed settings
- Gallery of generated images
- Fully offline generation
| Feature | Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge | CHARL-E |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Faster fork of the AUTOMATIC1111 interface with newer model support | One-click Mac app for running Stable Diffusion offline |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | lllyasviel | Charlie Holtz |
| Based in | – | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge starts at Free and CHARL-E starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Plans
Everything
$0
100% free to use. No paid plans to pick between.
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge
- Faster than the original UI
- Runs on smaller GPUs
- Familiar interface
- Some extensions incompatible
- Update cadence is irregular
- Still needs local setup
CHARL-E
- Free and open source
- Private, runs offline
- No technical setup needed
- Requires an M1 or M2 Mac
- Only basic generation settings
- Can be slow on lower-end hardware
Which one should you choose?
Choose Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge if you want:
- Faster than the original UI
- Runs on smaller GPUs
- Familiar interface
Watch out: some extensions incompatible.
Choose CHARL-E if you want:
- Free and open source
- Private, runs offline
- No technical setup needed
Watch out: requires an m1 or m2 mac.
Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge vs CHARL-E FAQ
What is the difference between Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge and CHARL-E?
Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge: Faster fork of the AUTOMATIC1111 interface with newer model support. CHARL-E: One-click Mac app for running Stable Diffusion offline. Both are image tools.
Is Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge or CHARL-E cheaper?
Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge starts at Free and CHARL-E starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge and CHARL-E have free plans?
Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge: Yes, fully free. CHARL-E: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge?
Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge is made by lllyasviel.
Who makes CHARL-E?
CHARL-E is made by Charlie Holtz, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge or CHARL-E?
Choose Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge if you value faster than the original ui and runs on smaller gpus. Choose CHARL-E if you value free and open source and private, runs offline.