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

Grok Imagine Image vs Recraft V4

Preferred for text to image: Grok Imagine Image · Newest: Recraft V4 · Widest inputs: Grok Imagine 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. Recraft

    Recraft V4

    Released Feb 17, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Arena1,115
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove Recraft V4

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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) · Recraft V4 1,115 (#50) — blind human votes
  • NewestRecraft V4Grok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026 · Recraft V4 Feb 17, 2026
  • Widest inputsGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image: Text prompts, Reference images · Recraft V4: Text prompts
  • Image editingGrok Imagine ImageTakes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image yes · Recraft V4 no
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image: 3 · Recraft V4: 1
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Grok Imagine Image vs Recraft V4 specifications side by side
SpecificationGrok Imagine ImagexAIRecraft V4Recraft
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,169 ±3#25 of 82 · 286,515 votes (best)1,115 ±3#50 of 82 · 149,367 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)YesNo
Max reference images5—
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API model IDgrok-imagine-image—
API hosts3 (best)1
ReleasedJan 28, 2026Feb 17, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Grok Imagine Image or Recraft V4?

For text to image, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image (Grok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25) · Recraft V4 1,115 (#50)). 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). Recraft V4 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 Recraft V4?

Grok Imagine Image is an image model from xAI (Jan 28, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. Recraft V4 is an image model from Recraft (Feb 17, 2026), taking text prompts and producing images.

Which is newer?

Grok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026; Recraft V4 Feb 17, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image yes; Recraft V4 no.

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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