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

GLM-Image vs Grok Imagine Image

Preferred for text to image: Grok Imagine Image · Newest: Grok Imagine Image · Self-hosting: GLM-Image. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. Z.ai (Zhipu)

    GLM-Image

    Released Jan 14, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,012
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove GLM-Image

  2. xAI

    Grok Imagine Image

    Released Jan 28, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,329
    • From$0.02/image
    • Max size2K
    Full specs Remove Grok Imagine Image

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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 imageGrok Imagine ImageGLM-Image 1,012 (#76) · Grok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25) — blind human votes
  • NewestGrok Imagine ImageGLM-Image Jan 14, 2026 · Grok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026
  • Widest inputsSame inputsGLM-Image: Text prompts, Reference images · Grok Imagine Image: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: GLM-Image yes · Grok Imagine Image yes
  • Self-hostingGLM-ImageDownloadable weights (MIT)
  • Most API hostsGrok Imagine ImageGLM-Image: 1 · Grok Imagine Image: 3
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

GLM-Image vs Grok Imagine Image specifications side by side
SpecificationGLM-ImageZ.ai (Zhipu)Grok Imagine ImagexAI
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,012 ±9#76 of 82 · 4,854 votes1,169 ±3#25 of 82 · 286,515 votes (best)
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better—1,329 ±2#24 of 61 · 805,966 votes
Price
Starting price—$0.02/image 1K–2K
Extra charges—$0.002 per input image
How it is billed—Per image
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions—1K · 2K
Highest resolution—2K
Largest image—2K
Images per request—Up to 10
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images—5
Access
WeightsOpenMITProprietary
API model ID—grok-imagine-image
API hosts13 (best)
ReleasedJan 14, 2026Jan 28, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, GLM-Image or Grok Imagine Image?

For text to image, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image (GLM-Image 1,012 (#76) · Grok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25)). 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?

Grok Imagine Image costs from $0.02/image (1K–2K). GLM-Image has no published per-image price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between GLM-Image and Grok Imagine Image?

GLM-Image is an image model from Z.ai (Zhipu) (Jan 14, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. Grok Imagine Image is an image model from xAI (Jan 28, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

GLM-Image Jan 14, 2026; Grok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: GLM-Image yes; Grok Imagine Image yes.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

GLM-Image. Downloadable weights (MIT).

04 — Keep comparing

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