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

Grok Imagine Image vs GLM-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. 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

  2. Z.ai (Zhipu)

    GLM-Image

    Released Jan 14, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,012
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove GLM-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 ImageGrok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25) · GLM-Image 1,012 (#76) — blind human votes
  • NewestGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026 · GLM-Image Jan 14, 2026
  • Widest inputsSame inputsGrok Imagine Image: Text prompts, Reference images · GLM-Image: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image yes · GLM-Image yes
  • Self-hostingGLM-ImageDownloadable weights (MIT)
  • Most API hostsGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image: 3 · GLM-Image: 1
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Grok Imagine Image vs GLM-Image specifications side by side
SpecificationGrok Imagine ImagexAIGLM-ImageZ.ai (Zhipu)
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,169 ±3#25 of 82 · 286,515 votes (best)1,012 ±9#76 of 82 · 4,854 votes
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,329 ±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 billedPer image—
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions1K · 2K—
Highest resolution2K—
Largest image2K—
Images per requestUp to 10—
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images5—
Access
WeightsProprietaryOpenMIT
API model IDgrok-imagine-image—
API hosts3 (best)1
ReleasedJan 28, 2026Jan 14, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

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

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

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

Which is newer?

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

Which can edit an existing image?

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

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

GLM-Image. Downloadable weights (MIT).

04 — Keep comparing

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