Which AI makes the best images?

Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst vs GPT Image 2.5 Flare vs FLUX 3 Image vs Qwen-Image-2.1 vs Midjourney V8.2, compared on the jobs that matter for this question. The verdict comes straight from the scores, so it changes when they do. 100 is the best available today in that job.

New to this? What the scores and labels mean

0 to 100: Our score for one job, like writing or coding, compared with everything else out today. 100 is the best available today. For AI models we build it from public data, such as Arena's blind votes and Epoch AI's independent tests; apps and tools are scored on our own checklist. The same tool can score differently for different jobs, and where two likely ranges overlap, we call it a tie.
Our verdict: Use it: a top choice for most people. Worth trying: good, and worth a go. Depends: good for some people or one kind of job. Wait: too early to tell, or not out for everyone yet. Skip: something else does the job better.
First look: Just released. We say what it is and whether to bother, and give it a score once public results exist.
No score yet: None of the public sources we use covers it yet, or the only evidence is from a source whose numbers we can't use, so we describe it in words instead.
Best buy: Nothing cheaper scores as well for that job.
Best free: The best score for that job that costs nothing, through a free plan or by running on your own computer.
Pay as you go: No monthly plan: you pay for each use, usually through a developer account.
Checked: The day we last confirmed the score and the price against the sources. Prices change often, so check the date.
AI model: The engine underneath, like GPT or Claude. You use it through an app or, if you code, directly.
Open source: Free to download and run on your own computer, so nothing leaves your machine.

How we score, in full

Our verdict

For images, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst (100, pay as you go).
To keep everything on your own computer: Qwen-Image-2.1.
Midjourney V8.2 isn't scored yet, so it isn't counted.

Best marks the top score in each job; when likely ranges overlap, each tied one says Tied. Open in Compare to add or swap items.

Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst vs GPT Image 2.5 Flare vs FLUX 3 Image vs Qwen-Image-2.1 vs Midjourney V8.2: scores by job, price and where it runs
	Nano Banana 2.1Google · AI modelUse it	GPT Image 2.5 SunburstOpenAI · AI modelWorth trying	GPT Image 2.5 FlareOpenAI · AI modelDepends	FLUX 3 ImageBlack Forest Labs · AI modelWorth trying	Qwen-Image-2.1Alibaba · Open sourceDepends	Midjourney V8.2Midjourney · AI modelFirst look: Worth trying
ImagesMaking and editing pictures	73likely 71–75	100Bestlikely 98–100	92likely 90–94	No score yet	48likely 46–49	Not scored yet
Price for these scoresThe plan the scores above are for	FreeChecked 11 Oct	Pay as you goChecked 11 Oct	Pay as you goChecked 11 Oct	Pay as you goChecked 11 Oct	FreeChecked 11 Oct	$10 a monthChecked 11 Oct
Free to try	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
Runs on your computer	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Open source	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
In a line	Near-top image quality for about 3 cents an image, free to try in Gemini. Skip only if you need the very best edits.	Top image model for quality and precise edits, about 21 cents a max-quality image. On a budget, use Nano Banana 2.1.	Second on every image board, at Sunburst's price; OpenAI says it is faster. If waits are fine, Sunburst scores higher.	Top 10 image model that takes up to ten reference images, about 5 cents each. Plain prompts: Nano Banana 2.1 is cheaper.	Best scoring image model you can download and run yourself, but its license bars commercial use. Fine for research.	Paid image tool for a distinctive look; no blind leaderboard ranks it, and images are public below the $60 Pro plan.

Other head-to-heads

Which chat app should I use every day?ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini
Which model is best for coding?Claude Opus 5.5 vs GPT-6.1 Sol vs GPT-6 Astra vs Claude Sonnet 5.5 vs Mistral Large 4
How do I run AI on my own computer?Ollama vs LM Studio (with Bionic agent)
Which AI voice sounds best?Eleven v4 vs Eleven v4 Turbo vs Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS vs Gemini 3.8 Flash-Lite TTS vs GPT-Live 1