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

Imagen 3 vs Ideogram v2

Preferred for text to image: Imagen 3 · Newest: Imagen 3 · Widest inputs: Ideogram v2. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. Google

    Imagen 3

    Released Oct 15, 2024

    • Text to image
    • Arena1,057
    • From$0.04/image
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove Imagen 3

  2. Ideogram

    Ideogram v2

    Released Aug 21, 2024

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,013
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove Ideogram v2

  3. Add a model

    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 text to imageImagen 3Imagen 3 1,057 (#65) · Ideogram v2 1,013 (#74) — blind human votes
  • NewestImagen 3Imagen 3 Oct 15, 2024 · Ideogram v2 Aug 21, 2024
  • Widest inputsIdeogram v2Imagen 3: Text prompts · Ideogram v2: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingIdeogram v2Takes a reference image as input: Imagen 3 no · Ideogram v2 yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsSame reachImagen 3: 1 · Ideogram v2: 1
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Imagen 3 vs Ideogram v2 specifications side by side
SpecificationImagen 3GoogleIdeogram v2Ideogram
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,057 ±3#65 of 82 · 359,756 votes (best)1,013 ±4#74 of 82 · 72,090 votes
Price
Starting price$0.04/image standard—
How it is billedPer image—
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)NoYes
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API hosts11
ReleasedOct 15, 2024Aug 21, 2024
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Imagen 3 or Ideogram v2?

For text to image, voters prefer Imagen 3 (Imagen 3 1,057 (#65) · Ideogram v2 1,013 (#74)). 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?

Imagen 3 costs from $0.04/image (standard). Ideogram v2 has no published per-image price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between Imagen 3 and Ideogram v2?

Imagen 3 is an image model from Google (Oct 15, 2024), taking text prompts and producing images. Ideogram v2 is an image model from Ideogram (Aug 21, 2024), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

Imagen 3 Oct 15, 2024; Ideogram v2 Aug 21, 2024.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Imagen 3 no; Ideogram v2 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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