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

Recraft V4 vs Grok Imagine Image

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. Recraft

    Recraft V4

    Released Feb 17, 2026

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

  2. 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

  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 imageGrok Imagine ImageRecraft V4 1,115 (#50) · Grok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25) — blind human votes
  • NewestRecraft V4Recraft V4 Feb 17, 2026 · Grok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026
  • Widest inputsGrok Imagine ImageRecraft V4: Text prompts · Grok Imagine Image: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingGrok Imagine ImageTakes a reference image as input: Recraft V4 no · Grok Imagine Image yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsGrok Imagine ImageRecraft V4: 1 · Grok Imagine Image: 3
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Recraft V4 vs Grok Imagine Image specifications side by side
SpecificationRecraft V4RecraftGrok Imagine ImagexAI
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,115 ±3#50 of 82 · 149,367 votes1,169 ±3#25 of 82 · 286,515 votes (best)
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better—1,329 ±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 billed—Per image
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions—1K · 2K
Highest resolution—2K
Largest image—2K
Images per request—Up to 10
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)NoYes
Max reference images—5
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API model ID—grok-imagine-image
API hosts13 (best)
ReleasedFeb 17, 2026Jan 28, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Recraft V4 or Grok Imagine Image?

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

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

Which is newer?

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

Which can edit an existing image?

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

Related comparisons