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

Grok Imagine Image Quality vs GPT Image 2

Preferred for image editing: GPT Image 2 · Lowest entry price: GPT Image 2 · Newest: GPT Image 2. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. xAI

    Grok Imagine Image Quality

    Released Apr 3, 2026Deprecated

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,391
    • From$0.05/image
    • Max size2K
    Full specs Remove Grok Imagine Image Quality

  2. OpenAI

    GPT Image 2

    Released Apr 21, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,460
    • From$0.006/image
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove GPT Image 2

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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 image editingGPT Image 2Grok Imagine Image Quality 1,391 (#12) · GPT Image 2 1,460 (#4) — blind human votes
  • Lowest entry priceGPT Image 2Grok Imagine Image Quality from $0.05/image (1K) · GPT Image 2 from $0.006/image (1024×1024, low)
  • NewestGPT Image 2Grok Imagine Image Quality Apr 3, 2026 · GPT Image 2 Apr 21, 2026
  • Widest inputsSame inputsGrok Imagine Image Quality: Text prompts, Reference images · GPT Image 2: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image Quality yes · GPT Image 2 yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsGPT Image 2Grok Imagine Image Quality: 1 · GPT Image 2: 9
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Grok Imagine Image Quality vs GPT Image 2 specifications side by side
SpecificationGrok Imagine Image QualityxAIGPT Image 2OpenAI
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better—1,381 ±4#3 of 82 · 103,385 votes
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,391 ±6#12 of 61 · 38,207 votes1,460 ±3#4 of 61 · 336,785 votes (best)
Price
Starting price$0.05/image 1K$0.006/image 1024×1024, low (best)
Top price$0.07/image 2K$0.211/image 1024×1024, high
Extra charges$0.01 per input image—
How it is billedPer imageBilled per token; measured cost of one square image at each quality setting.
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions1K · 1.5K · 2K—
Highest resolution2K—
Largest image2K—
Images per requestUp to 10Up to 10
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images516 (best)
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API model IDgrok-imagine-image-qualitygpt-image-2
API hosts19 (best)
ReleasedApr 3, 2026Apr 21, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Grok Imagine Image Quality or GPT Image 2?

For image editing, voters prefer GPT Image 2 (Grok Imagine Image Quality 1,391 (#12) · GPT Image 2 1,460 (#4)). 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 Quality costs from $0.05/image (1K), up to $0.07/image (2K); GPT Image 2 costs from $0.006/image (1024×1024, low), up to $0.211/image (1024×1024, high). Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between Grok Imagine Image Quality and GPT Image 2?

Grok Imagine Image Quality is an image model from xAI (Apr 3, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. GPT Image 2 is an image model from OpenAI (Apr 21, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

Grok Imagine Image Quality Apr 3, 2026; GPT Image 2 Apr 21, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image Quality yes; GPT Image 2 yes.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

No open weights. Both are available only through APIs and apps.

04 — Keep comparing

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