Qwen-Image Edit vs FLUX.1 Kontext Max
Preferred for image editing: Qwen-Image Edit · Newest: Qwen-Image Edit · Self-hosting: No open weights. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.
Alibaba (Qwen)Qwen-Image Edit
- Arena1,241
- From—
- Max size—
Black Forest LabsFLUX.1 Kontext Max
- Arena1,182
- From—
- Max size—
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Make it a three-way comparison.
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 editingQwen-Image EditQwen-Image Edit 1,241 (#39) · FLUX.1 Kontext Max 1,182 (#52) — blind human votes
- NewestQwen-Image EditQwen-Image Edit Aug 19, 2025 · FLUX.1 Kontext Max May 29, 2025
- Widest inputsSame inputsQwen-Image Edit: Text prompts, Reference images · FLUX.1 Kontext Max: Text prompts, Reference images
- Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Qwen-Image Edit yes · FLUX.1 Kontext Max yes
- Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
- Most API hostsSame reachQwen-Image Edit: 1 · FLUX.1 Kontext Max: 1
Every spec in one table
Dashes mean the data is not published.
| Specification | Qwen-Image EditAlibaba (Qwen) | FLUX.1 Kontext MaxBlack Forest Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Quality (blind human votes) | ||
| Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better | — | 1,075 ±3#61 of 82 · 65,501 votes |
| Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better | 1,241 ±3#39 of 61 · 2,021,753 votes (best) | 1,182 ±3#52 of 61 · 390,855 votes |
| Output | ||
| Produces | Images | Images |
| Inputs | ||
| Text prompts | Yes | Yes |
| Reference images (editing) | Yes | Yes |
| Access | ||
| Weights | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| API hosts | 1 | 1 |
| Released | Aug 19, 2025 | May 29, 2025 |
Which should you choose?
Which is better, Qwen-Image Edit or FLUX.1 Kontext Max?
For image editing, voters prefer Qwen-Image Edit (Qwen-Image Edit 1,241 (#39) · FLUX.1 Kontext Max 1,182 (#52)). 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.
What is the difference between Qwen-Image Edit and FLUX.1 Kontext Max?
Qwen-Image Edit is an image model from Alibaba (Qwen) (Aug 19, 2025), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. FLUX.1 Kontext Max is an image model from Black Forest Labs (May 29, 2025), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.
Which is newer?
Qwen-Image Edit Aug 19, 2025; FLUX.1 Kontext Max May 29, 2025.
Which can edit an existing image?
Takes a reference image as input: Qwen-Image Edit yes; FLUX.1 Kontext Max yes.
Can I run any of these on my own hardware?
No open weights. Both are available only through APIs and apps.
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