AI image model comparison

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 vs Nano Banana 2

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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 is an image generation and editing model from xAI.

Per image
$0.04
Output / 1M
$9.58
Image Elo
Not available
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

At a glance

Quick verdict

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

Cheaper per image

x-ai logo

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

$0.04 vs $0.067, 1.7x cheaper

Better image quality

Not available

Not enough arena data

Better at editing

Not available

Not enough arena data

Newer release

x-ai logo

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Released August 11, 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

x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0Not available
google logoNano Banana 2#4 · 65.1% wins1277

Image editing

x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0Not available
google logoNano Banana 2Not available

Graphic design

x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0Not available
google logoNano Banana 2#4 · 66.3% wins1262

Logos

x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0Not available
google logoNano Banana 2#4 · 62.9% wins1262

Pricing

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 vs Nano Banana 2 price per image

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

Metricx-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0google logoNano Banana 2
Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024)$0.04$0.067
Image outputPer 1M image tokens$9.58$60
Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses4,1751,120
Prompt textPer 1M input tokensIncluded$0.50
Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokens$10000$0.50

What it costs in practice

Estimated totals at standard resolution.

Single image

1 image

x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0$0.04
google logoNano Banana 2$0.067

Social media batch

50 images

x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0$2
google logoNano Banana 2$3.36

Product catalog

1,000 images

x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0$40
google logoNano Banana 2$67.20

Specs

Inputs, outputs, and limits

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

Metricx-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0google logoNano Banana 2
AcceptsImage, TextImage, Text
ProducesImageImage, Text
Max prompt lengthText plus reference images66K tokens131K tokens
Reasoning stepNoOptional
Release dateAugust 11, 2026June 18, 2026

Features

Supported features

Creative controls available for each model.

Metricx-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0google logoNano Banana 2
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 supportedSupported
Reproducible seedsSame seed, same imageSupportedSupported
Temperature controlTrade consistency for varietySupportedSupported

Our take

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 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 Grok Imagine Image 2.0 or Nano Banana 2 cheaper?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 is cheaper at about $0.04 per standard image, compared with $0.067 for Nano Banana 2. For 1,000 images that is $40 versus $67.20.

Can Grok Imagine Image 2.0 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 Grok Imagine Image 2.0 and Nano Banana 2 at the same time?

Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see Grok Imagine Image 2.0 and Nano Banana 2 results side by side and keep the one you like.

x-ai logogoogle logo

Why choose? Generate with both.

Send one prompt to Grok Imagine Image 2.0 and Nano Banana 2 at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.