AI image model comparison
Nano Banana Pro vs Nano Banana
Image quality, cost per image, and editing features compared side by side. Or skip the guesswork and generate with both.
Nano Banana Pro is Google’s most advanced image-generation and editing model, built on Gemini 3 Pro.
- Per image
- $0.13
- Output / 1M
- $120
- Image Elo
- 1244
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
Nano Banana
$0.039 vs $0.13, 3.5x cheaper
Better image quality
Nano Banana Pro
1244 vs 1187 Elo in blind votes
Better at editing
Not available
Only one editing score is available
Newer release
Nano Banana Pro
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
Image editing
Graphic design
Logos
Pricing
Nano Banana Pro vs Nano Banana price per image
What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024) | $0.13 | $0.039 |
| Image outputPer 1M image tokens | $120 | $30 |
| Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses | 1,120 | 1,290 |
| Prompt textPer 1M input tokens | $2 | $0.30 |
| Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokens | $2 | $0.30 |
What it costs in practice
Estimated totals at standard resolution.
Single image
1 image
Social media batch
50 images
Product catalog
1,000 images
Specs
Inputs, outputs, and limits
What each model accepts, what it gives back, and how long your prompt can be.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Accepts | Image, Text | Image, Text |
| Produces | Image, Text | Image, Text |
| Max prompt lengthText plus reference images | 131K tokens | 33K tokens |
| Reasoning step | Always on | No |
| Release date | June 18, 2026 | October 7, 2025 |
Features
Supported features
Creative controls available for each model.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image editingAccepts reference or source images | Supported | Supported |
| Text alongside imagesCan explain or caption what it made | Supported | Supported |
| Thinks before drawingPlans the image with a reasoning step | Supported | Not supported |
| Reproducible seedsSame seed, same image | Supported | Supported |
| Temperature controlTrade consistency for variety | Supported | Supported |
Our take
Nano Banana is 3.5x 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 Pro or Nano Banana cheaper?
Nano Banana is cheaper at about $0.039 per standard image, compared with $0.13 for Nano Banana Pro. For 1,000 images that is $38.70 versus $134.40.
Which makes better images, Nano Banana Pro or Nano Banana?
In blind votes on Design Arena, Nano Banana Pro has an image generation Elo of 1244 and Nano Banana has 1187, putting Nano Banana Pro ahead. Taste varies by style, so the best test is running your own prompts through both.
Can Nano Banana Pro 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 Pro 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 Pro and Nano Banana results side by side and keep the one you like.
Why choose? Generate with both.
Send one prompt to Nano Banana Pro and Nano Banana at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.