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

FLUX.1 [dev] vs Stable Diffusion XL

Newest: FLUX.1 [dev] · Widest inputs: Stable Diffusion XL · Image editing: Stable Diffusion XL. Not enough arena votes yet for a quality score, so this is a spec comparison.

  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. Stability AI

    Stable Diffusion XL

    Released Jul 9, 2023

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena—
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove Stable Diffusion XL

  3. Add a model

    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.

  • NewestFLUX.1 [dev]FLUX.1 [dev] Aug 1, 2024 · Stable Diffusion XL Jul 9, 2023
  • Widest inputsStable Diffusion XLFLUX.1 [dev]: Text prompts · Stable Diffusion XL: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingStable Diffusion XLTakes a reference image as input: FLUX.1 [dev] no · Stable Diffusion XL yes
  • Self-hostingFLUX.1 [dev]Downloadable weights (FLUX.1 [dev] Non-Commercial License)
  • Most API hostsSame reachFLUX.1 [dev]: 1 · Stable Diffusion XL: 1
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

FLUX.1 [dev] vs Stable Diffusion XL specifications side by side
SpecificationFLUX.1 [dev]Black Forest LabsStable Diffusion XLStability AI
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better969 ±4#78 of 82 · 49,221 votes—
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)NoYes
Access
WeightsOpenFLUX.1 [dev] Non-Commercial LicenseProprietary
API hosts11
ReleasedAug 1, 2024Jul 9, 2023
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, FLUX.1 [dev] or Stable Diffusion XL?

Neither model has enough arena votes for a reliable quality score yet, so this page compares specs only. Run the same three or four prompts through each and judge the results.

What is the difference between FLUX.1 [dev] and Stable Diffusion XL?

FLUX.1 [dev] is an image model from Black Forest Labs (Aug 1, 2024), taking text prompts and producing images. Stable Diffusion XL is an image model from Stability AI (Jul 9, 2023), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

FLUX.1 [dev] Aug 1, 2024; Stable Diffusion XL Jul 9, 2023.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: FLUX.1 [dev] no; Stable Diffusion XL yes.

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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