15 Best SDXL Models and Checkpoints for 2025: Complete Guide

SDXL's ecosystem has matured significantly. From photorealistic to anime, from artistic to specialized, there's an SDXL model for every need. After testing dozens of checkpoints, here are the ones actually worth your hard drive space.

Quick Answer: Juggernaut XL is the best all-around SDXL model for most users. For photorealism specifically, RealVisXL V5 leads. For anime, Pony Diffusion V6 dominates. For artistic work, Dreamshaper XL excels. Start with Juggernaut XL and expand based on your specific needs.

Quick Comparison: Top SDXL Models

Top Tier: Essential Models

1. Juggernaut XL (RunDiffusion)

Best for: Everything. The Swiss Army knife of SDXL.

Juggernaut XL has become the default recommendation for good reason. It handles virtually any prompt well, from portraits to landscapes to fantasy.

Strengths:

• Excellent at everything
• Great default aesthetic
• Handles diverse prompts
• Works well with LoRAs
• Consistent quality

Weaknesses:

• Jack of all trades means not the absolute best at any one thing
• Can be too "clean" for some tastes

Recommended settings:

• Steps: 25-30
• CFG: 5-7
• Sampler: DPM++ 2M Karras

Download: Civitai

2. RealVisXL V5

Best for: Photorealistic images, portraits, product shots

When you need images that look like photographs, RealVisXL delivers. Skin textures, lighting, and overall realism are exceptional.

Strengths:

• Industry-leading photorealism
• Excellent skin rendering
• Natural lighting
• Good with fashion/portraits

Weaknesses:

• Struggles with stylized content
• Can be "too realistic" for some uses
• Anime/illustration not its strength

Recommended settings:

• Steps: 30-40
• CFG: 4-6
• Sampler: DPM++ 2M Karras

Best for: AI influencers, product photography, realistic portraits

3. Pony Diffusion V6 XL

Best for: Anime, illustration, furry art, stylized content

Pony has become THE model for anime and illustration work. Its unique tag system requires learning, but results are exceptional.

Strengths:

• Best anime quality
• Excellent character consistency
• Huge LoRA ecosystem
• Great with complex poses
• Strong community support

Weaknesses:

• Different prompting style (Booru tags)
• Learning curve for tag system
• Not for photorealism
• Can be "too anime" without adjustment

Recommended settings:

• Steps: 25-30
• CFG: 6-8
• Requires Pony-specific prompting

Note: Uses Danbooru/e621 tag format, not natural language.

4. Dreamshaper XL

Best for: Artistic, fantasy, creative imagery

When you want images with artistic flair rather than photorealism, Dreamshaper excels. Great for fantasy, surreal, and creative work.

Strengths:

• Beautiful artistic rendering
• Excellent fantasy content
• Creative interpretation
• Good with abstract concepts

Weaknesses:

• Less suitable for realistic work
• Can be unpredictable
• Style may not fit all uses

Recommended settings:

• Steps: 30-40
• CFG: 7-9
• Sampler: Euler a for more variation

Second Tier: Specialized Excellence

5. Copax TimeLess XL

Best for: Cinematic portraits, moody atmospheres

Beautiful model for portrait work with cinematic qualities. Great skin rendering and atmospheric lighting.

Strengths:

• Gorgeous portraits
• Cinematic feel
• Excellent lighting
• Good skin tones

Weaknesses:

• Narrower use case
• Less versatile than Juggernaut

6. LEOSAM's HelloWorld XL

Best for: Clean, versatile generation

Well-balanced model that handles most prompts cleanly. Good alternative to Juggernaut.

Strengths:

• Clean outputs
• Versatile
• Good prompt following
• Consistent results

Weaknesses:

• Less distinctive style
• Jack of all trades

7. Animagine XL 3.1

Best for: Clean anime with consistent style

Focused anime model with cleaner aesthetic than Pony. Good for those wanting anime without the Booru tag system.

Strengths:

• Clean anime style
• Natural language prompting
• Consistent quality
• Less extreme than Pony

Weaknesses:

• Less variety than Pony
• Smaller LoRA ecosystem

8. NightVision XL

Best for: Dark, moody, atmospheric images

Specialized for low-light, dramatic, cinematic content.

Strengths:

• Excellent dark scenes
• Atmospheric lighting
• Dramatic mood

Weaknesses:

• Very specialized
• Not for bright/cheerful content

9. ZavyChromaXL

Best for: Vivid colors, fantasy, vibrant content

When you want punchy, saturated colors and fantasy aesthetics.

Strengths:

• Vivid colors
• Fantasy excellence
• Eye-catching outputs

Weaknesses:

• Can be too saturated
• Not for realistic work

10. Proteus by Dataautogpt3

Best for: Versatile general use

Strong general-purpose model with good flexibility.

Strengths:

• Well-rounded
• Good with diverse content
• Reliable results

Weaknesses:

• Not specialized
• Similar to other general models

Specialized Models

11. epiCRealism XL

Best for: Extreme photorealism

When RealVisXL isn't realistic enough, epiCRealism pushes further.

Strengths:

• Maximum realism
• Incredible detail
• Photo-perfect outputs

Weaknesses:

• Can be TOO realistic
• Uncanny valley risk
• Very specific use case

12. SDXL Lightning/Turbo

Best for: Speed over quality

Single-step generation for rapid iteration.

Strengths:

• Extremely fast
• Good for previews
• Lower resource usage

Weaknesses:

• Quality below full models
• Less detail
• Limited refinement

13. Artium XL

Best for: Digital art, illustration

Clean digital art aesthetic without being anime.

Strengths:

• Professional illustration style
• Clean lines
• Commercial appeal

Weaknesses:

• Specific style
• Not versatile

14. Playground v2.5

Best for: Aesthetic images with unique style

Distinctive aesthetic that stands out from standard SDXL.

Strengths:

• Unique look
• Strong aesthetic
• Good compositions

Weaknesses:

• Very specific style
• May not fit all uses

15. NoobAI XL

Best for: Alternative anime approach

Different take on anime/illustration from Pony.

Strengths:

• Anime quality
• Different from Pony
• Active development

Weaknesses:

• Newer, evolving
• Smaller community

Model Selection Guide

By Use Case

AI Influencer Content:

1. RealVisXL (photorealistic)
2. Juggernaut XL (versatile)
3. Copax TimeLess (portraits)

Anime/Illustration:

1. Pony Diffusion V6 (comprehensive)
2. Animagine XL (cleaner style)
3. NoobAI XL (alternative)

Fantasy/Creative:

1. Dreamshaper XL (artistic)
2. ZavyChromaXL (vibrant)
3. Juggernaut XL (versatile)

Product/Commercial:

1. RealVisXL (products)
2. Juggernaut XL (versatile)
3. epiCRealism (maximum realism)

Dark/Moody:

1. NightVision XL (specialized)
2. Copax TimeLess (cinematic)
3. Juggernaut XL (versatile)

Starter Kit Recommendation

If you're building your model collection, start with:

1. Juggernaut XL - Your workhorse for everything
2. RealVisXL - When you need photorealism
3. Pony Diffusion - If you do any anime/illustration

These three cover 90% of use cases.

Model Compatibility Notes

LoRA Compatibility

Most SDXL LoRAs work across SDXL models, but:

• Pony LoRAs work best with Pony
• Some LoRAs trained on specific models
• Test LoRAs with your chosen model

VAE Considerations

• Most models include baked VAE
• Some benefit from external VAE
• SDXL VAE fix available for color issues

VRAM Requirements

All listed models run on standard SDXL requirements:

• Minimum: 8GB VRAM (with optimizations)
• Recommended: 12GB VRAM
• Optimal: 16GB+ VRAM

Frequently Asked Questions

Which single model should I download?

Juggernaut XL. It handles everything well.

Do I need all these models?

No. Start with 1-2 based on your use case. Add more as needed.

Can I mix models?

Yes, through model merging. But start with pure models first.

How do I choose between similar models?

Download both, test with your typical prompts, keep the one you prefer.

Do models affect LoRA performance?

Yes. Some LoRAs work better with specific base models.

Where do I download these models?

Civitai for most. Hugging Face for official releases. See our platform comparison.

How often should I update models?

Check monthly for updates. Major version bumps usually worth updating.

Are paid models better than free?

Not necessarily. Best models listed here are all free.

How much storage do I need?

Each SDXL model is 6-7GB. Budget accordingly.

Can I delete base SDXL?

Keep it for testing. Some LoRAs specifically target base SDXL.

Wrapping Up

SDXL's model ecosystem is mature and diverse. The right model depends entirely on your use case:

• General/versatile: Juggernaut XL
• Photorealism: RealVisXL V5
• Anime: Pony Diffusion V6
• Artistic: Dreamshaper XL
• Portraits: Copax TimeLess

Start with one model matching your primary use case. Add others as your needs expand. Quality comes from matching the right model to the right task.

For using these models effectively, see our ComfyUI workflows. For generation without local setup, Apatero.com provides access to quality SDXL generation.

Quick Reference

Download your first model today and start creating.

Model Testing Tips

How to Evaluate a New Model

1. Standard prompt test:

   • Run 3-5 of your typical prompts
   • Compare against your current model
   • Note strengths and weaknesses

2. Edge case test:

   • Try prompts that usually give you trouble
   • Test specific elements (hands, faces, text)
   • Push the model's limits

3. Style consistency test:

   • Generate series with same seed, different prompts
   • Check aesthetic consistency
   • Verify it matches your needs

Model Organization

Keep your models organized:

• Name folders by use case (photorealistic, anime, artistic)
• Keep notes on preferred settings per model
• Archive models you rarely use

Performance Considerations

Disk space:

• Each model: 6-7GB
• 5 models = 30-35GB
• Plan storage accordingly

Loading time:

• First load slower (into VRAM)
• Model switching takes 10-30 seconds
• Keep frequently used models accessible

Quality vs speed:

• Full models: Best quality, standard speed
• Turbo/Lightning: Fastest, lower quality
• Choose based on workflow needs

Future of SDXL Models

Expected Developments

• Continued refinement of existing favorites
• More specialized models for niche use cases
• Better integration with Flux/newer architectures
• Community-driven improvements

SD3.5 Consideration

SD3.5 is Stability's official SDXL successor. While promising, SDXL's mature ecosystem keeps it relevant for:

• Extensive LoRA library
• Proven workflows
• Community support
• Stable, known behavior

Both will coexist. SDXL isn't going anywhere soon.

My Personal Model Stack

For reference, here's what I keep installed:

Always available:

• Juggernaut XL (daily driver)
• RealVisXL V5 (photorealistic work)
• Pony V6 (any anime/illustration)

Loaded when needed:

• Dreamshaper XL (creative projects)
• Copax TimeLess (portrait sessions)
• SDXL Lightning (quick iterations)

This covers virtually every use case while managing disk space reasonably.

Troubleshooting Common Model Issues

Model produces inconsistent results

Possible causes:

• CFG too high (try 5-7)
• Sampler mismatch
• Model might not suit your prompt style

Solutions:

• Start with recommended settings
• Try different samplers
• Adjust CFG scale

Colors look off/oversaturated

Possible causes:

• VAE issues
• Model's default aesthetic
• CFG scale problems

Solutions:

• Try different VAE
• Adjust in post-processing
• Lower CFG scale

Model doesn't match examples

Possible causes:

• Different settings than creator used
• Missing LoRAs
• Different prompt style

Solutions:

• Check model page for recommended settings
• Copy exact prompts from examples
• Verify you have full version (not pruned)

The SDXL ecosystem rewards experimentation. Each model has its sweet spot, and finding it is part of the creative journey.