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

Grok Imagine Image vs FLUX.2 [max]

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

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
Black Forest Labs
FLUX.2 [max]
Released Dec 16, 2025
- Text to image
- Image editing
- Arena1,261
- From$0.07/image
- Max size—
Full specs Remove FLUX.2 [max]
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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 ImageGrok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25) · FLUX.2 [max] 1,161 (#28) — blind human votes
Preferred for image editingGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image 1,329 (#24) · FLUX.2 [max] 1,261 (#35) — blind human votes
Lowest entry priceGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image from $0.02/image (1K–2K) · FLUX.2 [max] from $0.07/image (1 MP)
NewestGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026 · FLUX.2 [max] Dec 16, 2025
Widest inputsSame inputsGrok Imagine Image: Text prompts, Reference images · FLUX.2 [max]: Text prompts, Reference images
Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image yes · FLUX.2 [max] yes
Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
Most API hostsGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image: 3 · FLUX.2 [max]: 1

02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Grok Imagine Image vs FLUX.2 [max] specifications side by side
Specification	Grok Imagine ImagexAI	FLUX.2 [max]Black Forest Labs
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better	1,169 ±3#25 of 82 · 286,515 votes (best)	1,161 ±4#28 of 82 · 123,144 votes
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better	1,329 ±2#24 of 61 · 805,966 votes (best)	1,261 ±3#35 of 61 · 375,796 votes
Price
Starting price	$0.02/image 1K–2K (best)	$0.07/image 1 MP
Extra charges	$0.002 per input image	—
How it is billed	Per image	Billed per megapixel.
Output
Produces	Images	Images
Resolutions	1K · 2K	—
Highest resolution	2K	—
Largest image	2K	—
Images per request	Up to 10 (best)	Up to 1
Inputs
Text prompts	Yes	Yes
Reference images (editing)	Yes	Yes
Max reference images	5	8 (best)
Access
Weights	Proprietary	Proprietary
API model ID	`grok-imagine-image`	—
API hosts	3 (best)	1
Released	Jan 28, 2026	Dec 16, 2025

03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Grok Imagine Image or FLUX.2 [max]?

For text to image, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image (Grok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25) · FLUX.2 [max] 1,161 (#28)). For image editing, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image (Grok Imagine Image 1,329 (#24) · FLUX.2 [max] 1,261 (#35)). 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); FLUX.2 [max] costs from $0.07/image (1 MP). Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between Grok Imagine Image and FLUX.2 [max]?

Grok Imagine Image is an image model from xAI (Jan 28, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. FLUX.2 [max] is an image model from Black Forest Labs (Dec 16, 2025), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

Grok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026; FLUX.2 [max] Dec 16, 2025.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image yes; FLUX.2 [max] yes.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

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