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Image model comparison · 2 models · Updated Nov 2, 2026

FLUX.1 [dev] vs Imagen 3

Preferred for text to image: Imagen 3 · Newest: Imagen 3 · Image editing: Neither edits images. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. Black Forest Labs

    FLUX.1 [dev]

    Released Aug 1, 2024

    • Text to image
    • Arena969
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove FLUX.1 [dev]

  2. Google

    Imagen 3

    Released Oct 15, 2024

    • Text to image
    • Arena1,057
    • From$0.04/image
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove Imagen 3

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    Make it a three-way comparison.

01 — At a glance

Where they differ

Quality is the arena score from blind, side-by-side human votes. Price, length and resolution come from each lab’s own listings.

  • Preferred for text to imageImagen 3FLUX.1 [dev] 969 (#78) · Imagen 3 1,057 (#65) — blind human votes
  • NewestImagen 3FLUX.1 [dev] Aug 1, 2024 · Imagen 3 Oct 15, 2024
  • Widest inputsSame inputsFLUX.1 [dev]: Text prompts · Imagen 3: Text prompts
  • Image editingNeither edits imagesTakes a reference image as input: FLUX.1 [dev] no · Imagen 3 no
  • Self-hostingFLUX.1 [dev]Downloadable weights (FLUX.1 [dev] Non-Commercial License)
  • Most API hostsSame reachFLUX.1 [dev]: 1 · Imagen 3: 1
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

FLUX.1 [dev] vs Imagen 3 specifications side by side
SpecificationFLUX.1 [dev]Black Forest LabsImagen 3Google
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better969 ±4#78 of 82 · 49,221 votes1,057 ±3#65 of 82 · 359,756 votes (best)
Price
Starting price—$0.04/image standard
How it is billed—Per image
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)NoNo
Access
WeightsOpenFLUX.1 [dev] Non-Commercial LicenseProprietary
API hosts11
ReleasedAug 1, 2024Oct 15, 2024
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, FLUX.1 [dev] or Imagen 3?

For text to image, voters prefer Imagen 3 (FLUX.1 [dev] 969 (#78) · Imagen 3 1,057 (#65)). Arena scores come from blind, side-by-side human votes on the same prompts; when the gap is inside both models’ error margins we call it a tie. Test your own prompts before you commit.

Which is cheaper?

Imagen 3 costs from $0.04/image (standard). FLUX.1 [dev] has no published per-image price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between FLUX.1 [dev] and Imagen 3?

FLUX.1 [dev] is an image model from Black Forest Labs (Aug 1, 2024), taking text prompts and producing images. Imagen 3 is an image model from Google (Oct 15, 2024), taking text prompts and producing images.

Which is newer?

FLUX.1 [dev] Aug 1, 2024; Imagen 3 Oct 15, 2024.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: FLUX.1 [dev] no; Imagen 3 no.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

FLUX.1 [dev]. Downloadable weights (FLUX.1 [dev] Non-Commercial License).

04 — Keep comparing

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