IP-Adapter
Use an image as a prompt — style and subject transfer for diffusion models.
- Stars
- 6.7K
- Forks
- 435
- Open issues
- 301
- Last commit
- 2024-06-28
Live from the GitHub API · updated 2026-10-15
What is IP-Adapter?
IP-Adapter is a lightweight adapter that lets diffusion models take an image prompt alongside the text prompt. It is widely used for style transfer, consistent characters and face-guided generation, and is supported natively in Diffusers, ComfyUI and the WebUIs.
Key features
- Image prompts for SD1.5 and SDXL
- Face-focused variants (IP-Adapter FaceID)
- Combines with ControlNet and text prompts
System requirements
- Platforms
- Windows · macOS · Linux
- VRAM
- 6 GB+
- Python
- 3.8+
How to install IP-Adapter
Summarized from the project’s README. Projects change quickly — check the GitHub page for the latest instructions.
Via Diffusers
- 1Install Diffusers.
pip install diffusers transformers accelerate - 2Load the adapter into a pipeline.
pipe.load_ip_adapter("h94/IP-Adapter", subfolder="models", weight_name="ip-adapter_sd15.bin") image = pipe(prompt="best quality", ip_adapter_image=style_image).images[0]
Strengths
- Small and fast
- Supported almost everywhere
Limitations
- Research code; most people use it through ComfyUI or Diffusers
IP-Adapter alternatives compared
| Software | Stars | License | Platforms | VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IP-Adapter Use an image as a prompt — style and subject transfer for diffusion models. | 6.7K | Apache-2.0 | 6 GB+ | |
| InstantID Identity-preserving generation from a single face photo. | 12K | Apache-2.0 | 16 GB+ recommended for the demo | |
| PhotoMaker Customize realistic photos of a person from a few reference images. | 10.1K | Apache-2.0 | 11 GB+ (per README) | |
| ControlNet for SD WebUI ControlNet extension for the A1111 WebUI: pose, depth, edges and more. | 17.8K | GPL-3.0 | 6 GB+ recommended | |
| ComfyUI Node-based interface for diffusion models — images, video and audio. | 137.6K | GPL-3.0 | 4 GB minimum for SD1.5; 12 GB+ recommended for FLUX and video models | |
| Stable Diffusion WebUI (AUTOMATIC1111) The classic browser UI for Stable Diffusion with a massive extension ecosystem. | 165.1K | AGPL-3.0 | 4 GB minimum (with --medvram/--lowvram), 8 GB+ recommended |
Related models
FAQ
Is IP-Adapter free?
Yes — IP-Adapter is open-source software released under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license (and any model weight licenses) before commercial use.
Does IP-Adapter run on Windows, Mac and Linux?
IP-Adapter supports: Windows, macOS, Linux.
What hardware do I need for IP-Adapter?
VRAM: 6 GB+
How do I install IP-Adapter?
1. Install Diffusers. 2. Load the adapter into a pipeline.
What are the best IP-Adapter alternatives?
Popular alternatives include InstantID, PhotoMaker, ControlNet for SD WebUI, ComfyUI. See the comparison table on this page.
Can I use IP-Adapter online without installing it?
If you just want results, AiLoft runs top image models such as GPT Image 2.5 and Nano Banana Pro in the browser — no GPU or setup required.
Skip the install — generate images in your browser
No GPU, drivers or Python needed. Use GPT Image 2.5 and Nano Banana Pro online and compare them side by side.