AI image model comparison
Nano Banana 2.1 vs Nano Banana 2
Side by side comparison of Nano Banana 2.1 and Nano Banana 2 on image quality, cost per image, editing features, and more.
Nano Banana 2.1 (Gemini Nano Banana 2.1) is Google's image generation and editing model on the Flash tier, succeeding Nano Banana 2 and Nano Banana Pro.
- Per image
- Not available
- Output / 1M
- $30
- Image Elo
- Not available
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
- 1274
Comparing chat or coding models? Compare text models
At a glance
Quick verdict
Which model wins on the things that matter most when you're making images.
Cheaper per image
Not available
Only one lists a per-image price
Better image quality
Not available
Not enough arena data
Better at editing
Not available
Not enough arena data
Newer release
Nano Banana 2.1
Released October 6, 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
Nano Banana 2.1Not availableNano Banana 2#4 · 65.1% wins1274Image editing
Nano Banana 2.1Not availableNano Banana 2Not availableGraphic design
Nano Banana 2.1Not availableNano Banana 2#4 · 66.3% wins1261Logos
Nano Banana 2.1Not availableNano Banana 2#4 · 62.9% wins1263Pricing
Nano Banana 2.1 vs Nano Banana 2 price per image
What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.
| Metric | Nano Banana 2.1 | Nano Banana 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024) | Not available | $0.067 |
| Image outputPer 1M image tokens | $30 | $60 |
| Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses | Not available | 1,120 |
| Prompt textPer 1M input tokens | $1.50 | $0.50 |
What it costs in practice
Estimated totals at standard resolution.
Single image
1 image
Nano Banana 2.1Not availableNano Banana 2$0.067Social media batch
50 images
Nano Banana 2.1Not availableNano Banana 2$3.36Product catalog
1,000 images
Nano Banana 2.1Not availableNano Banana 2$67.20Specs
Inputs, outputs, and limits
What each model accepts, what it gives back, and how long your prompt can be.
| Metric | Nano Banana 2.1 | Nano Banana 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Accepts | Image, Text | Image, Text |
| Produces | Image, Text | Image, Text |
| Max prompt lengthText plus reference images | 66K tokens | 131K tokens |
| Reasoning step | Optional | Optional |
| Release date | October 6, 2026 | June 18, 2026 |
Features
Supported features
Creative controls available for each model.
| Metric | Nano Banana 2.1 | Nano Banana 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Supported |
| Reproducible seedsSame seed, same image | Supported | Supported |
| Temperature controlTrade consistency for variety | Supported | Supported |
Keep exploring
More on these models
Other head-to-heads, the full model page, and the alternatives list for each model.
Nano Banana 2.1View full model details- Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs Seedream 5.0 Flash
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs Muse Image
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs Nano Banana 2 Lite
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs Nano Banana
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT Image 2
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT Image 2.5 Flare
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT-5.4 Image 2
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs Hy Image 3.5 Preview
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT-5 Image Mini
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs MAI-Image-2.6
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT-5 Image
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs MAI-Image-2.5
- Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT Image 1
Nano Banana 2View full model details- Nano Banana 2 vs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
- Nano Banana 2 vs Seedream 5.0 Flash
- Nano Banana 2 vs Muse Image
- Nano Banana 2 vs Riverflow V2.5 Pro
- Nano Banana 2 vs MAI-Image-2.6
- Nano Banana 2 vs Nano Banana 2 Lite
- Nano Banana 2 vs MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
- Nano Banana 2 vs Nano Banana
- Nano Banana 2 vs GPT Image 2
- Nano Banana 2 vs Nano Banana Pro
- Nano Banana 2 vs MAI-Image-2.5
- Nano Banana 2 vs FLUX.2 Flex
- Nano Banana 2 vs FLUX.2 Pro
- Nano Banana 2 vs Seedream 4.5
- Nano Banana 2 vs Seedream 5.0 Pro
- Nano Banana 2 vs Recraft V4.1 Flash
- Nano Banana 2 vs FLUX 3 Image
- Nano Banana 2 vs Grok Imagine Image 2.0
- Nano Banana 2 vs FLUX 3 Image Klein
- Nano Banana 2 vs Seedream 5.0 Lite
- Nano Banana 2 vs K3 Edit
- Nano Banana 2 vs Grok Imagine Image Quality
- Nano Banana 2 vs Qwen Image 3
- Nano Banana 2 vs FLUX.2 Max
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can Nano Banana 2.1 and Nano Banana 2 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 2.1 and Nano Banana 2 at the same time?
Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see Nano Banana 2.1 and Nano Banana 2 results side by side and keep the one you like.
Why choose? Generate with both.
Send one prompt to Nano Banana 2.1 and Nano Banana 2 at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.