AI image model comparison

FLUX.3 Image vs Nano Banana

Image quality, cost per image, and editing features compared side by side. Or skip the guesswork and generate with both.

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Black Forest Labs

FLUX.3 Image

FLUX.3 Image is Black Forest Labs' flagship image generation and editing model.

Per image
$0.041
Output / 1M
$9.82
Image Elo
Not available
google logo

Google

Nano Banana

Gemini 2.5 Flash Image

Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, a.k.a. "Nano Banana," is now generally available. It is a state of the art image generation model with contextual understanding.

Per image
$0.039
Output / 1M
$30
Image Elo
1187

At a glance

Quick verdict

Which model wins on the things that matter most when you're making images.

Cheaper per image

google logo

Nano Banana

$0.039 vs $0.041, 1.1x cheaper

Better image quality

Not available

Not enough arena data

Better at editing

Not available

Not enough arena data

Newer release

black-forest-labs logo

FLUX.3 Image

Released October 1, 2026

Quality

Image quality rankings

Elo ratings from Design Arena, where people vote between two anonymous images made from the same prompt. Higher is better.

Image generation

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 ImageNot available
google logoNano Banana#10 · 55.6% wins1187

Image editing

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 ImageNot available
google logoNano BananaNot available

Graphic design

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 ImageNot available
google logoNano Banana#10 · 56.9% wins1168

Logos

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 ImageNot available
google logoNano Banana#11 · 51.4% wins1170

Pricing

FLUX.3 Image vs Nano Banana price per image

What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.

Metricblack-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Imagegoogle logoNano Banana
Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024)$0.041$0.039
Image outputPer 1M image tokens$9.82$30
Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses4,1751,290
Prompt textPer 1M input tokensIncluded$0.30
Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokensIncluded$0.30

What it costs in practice

Estimated totals at standard resolution.

Single image

1 image

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Image$0.041
google logoNano Banana$0.039

Social media batch

50 images

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Image$2.05
google logoNano Banana$1.93

Product catalog

1,000 images

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Image$41
google logoNano Banana$38.70

Specs

Inputs, outputs, and limits

What each model accepts, what it gives back, and how long your prompt can be.

Metricblack-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Imagegoogle logoNano Banana
AcceptsImage, TextImage, Text
ProducesImageImage, Text
Max prompt lengthText plus reference images47K tokens33K tokens
Reasoning stepNoNo
Release dateOctober 1, 2026October 7, 2025

Features

Supported features

Creative controls available for each model.

Metricblack-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Imagegoogle logoNano Banana
Image editingAccepts reference or source imagesSupportedSupported
Text alongside imagesCan explain or caption what it madeNot supportedSupported
Thinks before drawingPlans the image with a reasoning stepNot supportedNot supported
Reproducible seedsSame seed, same imageSupportedSupported
Temperature controlTrade consistency for varietyNot supportedSupported

Our take

Nano Banana is 1.1x cheaper per image. The right pick depends on your workload, so the quickest way to settle it is to send the same prompt to both and compare.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is FLUX.3 Image or Nano Banana cheaper?

Nano Banana is cheaper at about $0.039 per standard image, compared with $0.041 for FLUX.3 Image. For 1,000 images that is $38.70 versus $41.

Can FLUX.3 Image and Nano Banana edit existing images?

Yes. Both accept reference images, so you can upload a photo and ask for changes like a new background, different lighting, or added text.

Can I use FLUX.3 Image and Nano Banana at the same time?

Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see FLUX.3 Image and Nano Banana results side by side and keep the one you like.

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Why choose? Generate with both.

Send one prompt to FLUX.3 Image and Nano Banana at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.