AI image model comparison

Nano Banana 2 vs Nano Banana

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

google logo

Google

Nano Banana 2

Gemini 3.1 Flash Image

Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, a.k.a. "Nano Banana 2," is Google’s latest state of the art image generation and editing model, delivering Pro-level visual quality at Flash speed.

Per image
$0.067
Output / 1M
$60
Image Elo
1277
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 $0.067, 1.7x cheaper

Better image quality

google logo

Nano Banana 2

1277 vs 1187 Elo in blind votes

Better at editing

Not available

Not enough arena data

Newer release

google logo

Nano Banana 2

Released June 18, 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

google logoNano Banana 2#4 · 65.1% wins1277
google logoNano Banana#10 · 55.6% wins1187

Image editing

google logoNano Banana 2Not available
google logoNano BananaNot available

Graphic design

google logoNano Banana 2#4 · 66.3% wins1262
google logoNano Banana#10 · 56.9% wins1168

Logos

google logoNano Banana 2#4 · 62.9% wins1262
google logoNano Banana#11 · 51.4% wins1170

Pricing

Nano Banana 2 vs Nano Banana price per image

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

Metricgoogle logoNano Banana 2google logoNano Banana
Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024)$0.067$0.039
Image outputPer 1M image tokens$60$30
Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses1,1201,290
Prompt textPer 1M input tokens$0.50$0.30
Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokens$0.50$0.30

What it costs in practice

Estimated totals at standard resolution.

Single image

1 image

google logoNano Banana 2$0.067
google logoNano Banana$0.039

Social media batch

50 images

google logoNano Banana 2$3.36
google logoNano Banana$1.93

Product catalog

1,000 images

google logoNano Banana 2$67.20
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.

Metricgoogle logoNano Banana 2google logoNano Banana
AcceptsImage, TextImage, Text
ProducesImage, TextImage, Text
Max prompt lengthText plus reference images131K tokens33K tokens
Reasoning stepOptionalNo
Release dateJune 18, 2026October 7, 2025

Features

Supported features

Creative controls available for each model.

Metricgoogle logoNano Banana 2google logoNano Banana
Image editingAccepts reference or source imagesSupportedSupported
Text alongside imagesCan explain or caption what it madeSupportedSupported
Thinks before drawingPlans the image with a reasoning stepSupportedNot supported
Reproducible seedsSame seed, same imageSupportedSupported
Temperature controlTrade consistency for varietySupportedSupported

Our take

Nano Banana is 1.7x 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 Nano Banana 2 or Nano Banana cheaper?

Nano Banana is cheaper at about $0.039 per standard image, compared with $0.067 for Nano Banana 2. For 1,000 images that is $38.70 versus $67.20.

Which makes better images, Nano Banana 2 or Nano Banana?

In blind votes on Design Arena, Nano Banana 2 has an image generation Elo of 1277 and Nano Banana has 1187, putting Nano Banana 2 ahead. Taste varies by style, so the best test is running your own prompts through both.

Can Nano Banana 2 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 Nano Banana 2 and Nano Banana at the same time?

Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see Nano Banana 2 and Nano Banana results side by side and keep the one you like.

google logogoogle logo

Why choose? Generate with both.

Send one prompt to Nano Banana 2 and Nano Banana at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.