Head to head
Esc

Models · slot A

to navigate to pick

Recraft V4 Recraft AI Recraft V4.1 Recraft AI

Settled by community votes across 13 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.

Recraft V4

25.6 arena score

#11 of 62 in Text-to-Image

Skill signature · Text-to-Image

Recraft V4.1

17.6 arena score

#53 of 62 in Text-to-Image

Vote tally

Where the votes landed

Recraft V4

0%

win rate

Ties

0%

Recraft V4.1

0%

win rate

Shared challenges 13

Challenge by challenge

The strongest take from each model on every shared challenge, with the AI judge's read.

Geometric Composition

Text-to-Image

“A glass cube on a wooden table. Inside the cube is a small blue sphere. On top of the cube sits a red book. A green plant is behind the cube, partially visible through the glass. Soft window light from the left.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Natural photographic texture on the book and table.
  • + Excellent glass refraction showing the plant through the cube.
  • + Soft, realistic window lighting.
  • The sphere is quite large relative to the 'small' descriptor in the prompt.
  • The book is cut off at the edges of the frame.

Recraft V4.1

  • + Better adherence to the 'small' scale of the blue sphere.
  • + Superior composition with the entire scene visible and better depth of field.
  • + Clean glass edges and high-quality internal reflections.
  • The sphere appears to be floating mid-air inside the cube without a visible support, which looks slightly surreal.
  • The lighting is a bit more directional and less 'soft window light' than the other image.

Verdict: Both models followed the complex spatial instructions perfectly. Recraft V4.1 is the winner due to better overall composition and accurate scaling of the 'small' sphere, whereas Recraft V4 cropped the book awkwardly and made the sphere very large.

Candid Street Photography

Text-to-Image

“A candid street photo of an elderly Japanese man repairing a red bicycle in light rain, reflections on wet pavement, shallow depth of field, 50mm lens, natural skin texture, imperfect framing, motion blur from passing cars, cinematic but realistic, no stylization.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent full-body composition and spatial storytelling
  • + Accurate handling of physics like water droplets and reflections
  • + High-quality rendering of the bicycle and background elements
  • The motion blur on the car is slightly less pronounced than requested

Recraft V4.1

  • + Stronger adherence to the 'motion blur from passing cars' instruction
  • + Detailed skin texture and wet clothing effects
  • + Effective use of shallow depth of field
  • The bicycle geometry is broken where the frame meets the rear wheel
  • The tight crop loses some of the 'street photo' context compared to image A

Verdict: Recraft V4 produces a much more coherent image with better structural integrity for the bicycle and a more natural 'candid' composition. While Recraft V4.1 captures the rain and motion blur effects very well, it suffers from significant anatomical errors in the bicycle's frame and a cramped layout.

Fantasy Warrior

Text-to-Image

“Close portrait of a battle-worn paladin in ornate engraved plate armor, hair braided with small beads, faint scars and dirt on the skin, warm torchlight reflecting off metal, shallow depth of field, bokeh sparks, lifelike eyes, highly detailed texture on leather straps and cloth underlayer.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent rendition of the engraved plate armor with high-contrast metallic sheen.
  • + Superior depiction of the dirt and grime texture on the skin.
  • + Perfectly symmetrical braids that clearly feature the requested beads.
  • The character's expression is somewhat rigid and less lifelike than the competitor.
  • The background torches look slightly clipped or less integrated into the bokeh.

Recraft V4.1

  • + Extremely lifelike and emotional eyes with realistic light reflections.
  • + The scar on the forehead is more distinct and realistically rendered than the blemishes in Model A.
  • + Dynamic composition with a slight head tilt that feels less like a studio pose.
  • The beads in the hair are less prominent and consistent compared to the prompt requirements.
  • The engraving on the armor is a bit smoother and less 'ornate' than in Model A.

Verdict: Both models performed exceptionally well on this prompt. Recraft V4 excels in the technical execution of the armor's engravings and the specific detailing of the hair beads, while Recraft V4.1 produces a far more lifelike and cinematic portrait with superior eye rendering and a more convincing facial scar. Recraft V4.1 is the winner due to its naturalistic texture and lighting, though Recraft V4 captures the 'ornate' request slightly better.

Modern Clean Menu

Text-to-Image

“Modern minimalist restaurant menu design, white background with colorful food photos in grid, sections for appetizers/pizza/mains, bold sans-serif fonts, vibrant accents, clean professional layout for casual dining.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent grid layout that directly integrates photos with their respective items.
  • + Perfect text rendering with high readability and consistent alignment.
  • + Professional, clean aesthetic that feels like a finished marketing asset.
  • The descriptions for some items are missing, leaving inconsistent whitespace.

Recraft V4.1

  • + Successfully incorporates vibrant color accents as requested in the prompt.
  • + Includes helpful dietary labels like 'Gluten Free'.
  • + Good variety in the food photography shown in the sidebar.
  • The sidebar grid feels disconnected from the text, making it harder to associate photos with specific dishes.
  • Some text elements, like descriptions, are quite small and thin.
  • The layout has awkward large empty spaces in the center.

Verdict: Recraft V4 is the clear winner as it creates a cohesive, professional 3x3 grid layout where the food photography and text are perfectly integrated. While Recraft V4.1 includes nice color accents and labels, its disjointed layout with images pushed to the far right is less effective for a menu design.

Magic Burger Explosion: Fiery Photorealism Challenge

Text-to-Image

“Ad for 'Magic Burger'. Dynamic, exploded burger with all components (bun, patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sauce) suspended in mid-air. Emphasize photorealistic detail and a sense of motion. Dark, fiery background with glowing embers. Integrate text: 'MAGIC BURGER' as a prominent title, 'LIMITED TIME ONLY' as a secondary message, and '€6.99' in a starburst, all rendered with a fiery, glowing effect.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent photorealistic texture on the meat patty and buns
  • + Clear and legible typography that feels integrated into the scene
  • + Effective use of glowing embers in the background to create depth
  • The cheese looks like individual shards rather than a cohesive slice
  • The bottom bun orientation feels slightly awkward in the composition

Recraft V4.1

  • + Strong fiery text effect that matches the prompt's request for a 'glowing effect'
  • + Dynamic splash of sauce contributes well to the sense of motion
  • + Good use of smoke and sparks to enhance the dark background
  • The '6.99' starburst looks like a flat clip-art sticker rather than a glowing integrated element
  • The burger patty texture is slightly less detailed and realistic than model A

Verdict: Recraft V4 is preferred for its superior photorealism, particularly in the food textures, and a more balanced graphic design approach. While Recraft V4.1 does an excellent job with the fiery text effect, it faulters with the starburst graphic which feels like a low-quality overlay compared to the rest of the image.

Chalkboard Menu

Text-to-Image

“Handwritten-style chalkboard menu in a cozy café, all text rendered in the exact same realistic chalk handwriting style with natural variations in letter size, slight slant, and chalk texture — no printed or digital fonts anywhere on the board. Title at the top in elegant cursive chalk handwriting: ‘TODAY’S SPECIALS – APRIL 30, 2026’. Below it, three menu items also in the same handwritten chalk style: ‘Truffle Mushroom Risotto – $24’, ‘Grilled Octopus with Lemon & Herbs – $28’, ‘Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – $9’. At the very bottom, smaller text in the identical handwritten chalk style (slightly smaller but still clearly legible with the same handwriting characteristics): ‘All items made fresh daily • Ask about our gluten-free options’. Warm ambient café lighting, visible chalk dust and smudges, realistic handwriting imperfections, no clean printed text anywhere.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent composition including a realistic cafe environment and matching chalk illustrations.
  • + Perfect text accuracy covering all requested menu items and prices.
  • The font lacks the requested 'natural variations in letter size' and 'chalk texture', appearing slightly too digital.

Recraft V4.1

  • + Exceptionally realistic chalk texture with varying pressure and authentic powdery aesthetic.
  • + Perfectly captures the 'handwritten' request with natural variations in letter size and spacing.
  • The composition is a tight crop, missing the 'cozy café' atmosphere requested in the prompt.

Verdict: Recraft V4 provides a beautiful, well-composed scene with complete prompt adherence in terms of text content, though the handwriting looks a bit too clean. Recraft V4.1 masterfully captures the texture and soul of real chalk handwriting, though it sacrifices the background environment to focus on the board. Recraft V4.1 is the winner for better executing the core technical request of 'realistic chalk handwriting style'.

The Reversed Rodeo

Text-to-Image

“Horse riding astronaut in space — horse on top, not vice versa. Surreal, highly detailed, cinematic.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent cinematic lighting and atmosphere
  • + Realistic textures on the horse's coat and rocks
  • + Coherent perspective and depth of field
  • Failed the negative constraint: astronaut is riding the horse instead of horse riding the astronaut
  • Stands on rocks rather than appearing fully in space

Recraft V4.1

  • + Vibrant, colorful space background with nebula effects
  • + Dynamic pose for the horse and astronaut
  • + High-detail rendering of the space suit
  • Failed the negative constraint: astronaut is riding the horse instead of horse riding the astronaut
  • Lighting on the astronaut is slightly inconsistent with the primary star source

Verdict: Both Recraft V4 and Recraft V4.1 failed to follow the logical reversal requested in the prompt ('horse on top, not vice versa'), instead providing the standard 'astronaut riding a horse' trope. Recraft V4 is more cinematically balanced with a grounded, gritty feel, while Recraft V4.1 offers a more celestial and fantastical aesthetic, but since both failed the main conceptual challenge, the choice rests on stylistic preference.

The Capybara Taxi Driver

Text-to-Image

“Photorealistic scene inside a yellow New York taxi at night. A capybara is driving, wearing a yellow taxi driver cap and a dark jacket. It has a calm, professional expression and both front paws on the steering wheel. In the back seat sits a human businesswoman in a coat, looking at her phone with a completely normal, bored expression (as if this is just another normal ride). Through the windows you can see the streets of Manhattan at night with blurred lights. Realistic taxi interior, photorealistic, detailed fur and fabric, 35mm lens, night lighting with reflections, shallow depth of field.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent photorealistic texture on the capybara's fur and the jacket.
  • + Accurate text on the driver's cap reading 'NYC TAXI'.
  • + Better passenger integration with realistic lighting on her face.
  • The capybara's hands/paws are rendered somewhat like human fingers.
  • The rainy exterior contradicts the 'night lights' look slightly.

Recraft V4.1

  • + Natural composition and very realistic city bokeh in the background.
  • + Accurate capybara anatomy for the paws on the steering wheel.
  • + Captures the 'bored' expression of the passenger perfectly.
  • The capybara is missing the 'dark jacket' requested in the prompt.
  • The 'Taxi' sign on top has illegible text.

Verdict: Both models followed the prompt exceptionally well, capturing the surreal humor of the scene with high realism. Recraft V4 adhered more strictly to the clothing instructions (dark jacket and specific taxi cap), while Recraft V4.1 provided a slightly more natural photographic lighting and better animal anatomy for the paws.

The Halloween Invitation

Text-to-Image

“Vintage gothic Halloween party invitation. Dark parchment poster, spooky border with webs and thorns, central glowing jack-o-lantern, bats, twisted trees, moody night sky. Add elegant gothic title text saying "Halloween Party Invitation", a small scroll banner saying "You are invited to a night of frights", and event details at the bottom: Date: 30.10.2026 Time: 7pm Location: The Arches, NYC Spooky but polished, cinematic lighting, square format.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent legibility for all text elements
  • + Accurate inclusion of all requested event details in a clean layout
  • + Intricate spiderweb border effect
  • The 'small scroll banner' is just a flat white rectangle
  • Lacks the 'dark parchment' texture requested in the prompt
  • Jack-o-lantern has more of a wet/realistic look rather than a vintage gothic style

Recraft V4.1

  • + Highly stylistic gothic typography that fits the theme perfectly
  • + Incorporates the vintage parchment texture and thorns mentioned in the prompt
  • + Beautifully rendered scroll banner and cinematic lighting on the pumpkin
  • The date and location text at the bottom is slightly less stylized than the main title
  • The letter 'H' in the main title is slightly overlapping the edge

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 is the winner as it much better captures the 'vintage gothic' and 'parchment' aesthetic requested in the prompt. While Recraft V4 has clearer text at the bottom, Recraft V4.1 provides a superior artistic interpretation with a more convincing scroll banner and thorns, creating a more cohesive invitation design.

Isometric Miniature Diorama Scenes

Text-to-Image

“Create a clear, 45° top-down isometric miniature 3D cartoon scene of Japan's signature dish: sushi, with soft refined textures, realistic PBR materials, gentle lighting, on a small raised diorama base with minimal garnish and plate. Solid light blue background. At top-center: 'JAPAN' in large bold text, 'SUSHI' below it, small flag icon. Perfectly centered, ultra-clean, high-clarity, square format.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent typography rendering and placement
  • + Realistic ice-like texture on the diorama base
  • + High level of detail in the food and plate texture
  • The diorama base looks more like crushed salt or ice than a structured platform
  • The lighting creates a very harsh shadow on the right side

Recraft V4.1

  • + Perfectly captures the 'miniature 3D cartoon' and 'soft refined texture' aesthetic
  • + Clean isometric composition with a clear raised diorama base
  • + Consistent lighting and smooth material quality
  • The flag icon is placed to the side of the text rather than at the top as requested
  • Minor texture repetition on the top surface of the diorama

Verdict: Recraft V4.1 is the winner as it much more accurately captures the '3D cartoon' and 'miniature' style requested in the prompt, whereas Recraft V4 leans toward a photorealistic macro shot. Recraft V4.1 features superior lighting, a cleaner diorama base, and a more pleasant color palette that fits the 'soft refined' description.

Adorable Baby Animals in Sunny Meadow

Text-to-Image

“Hyper-photorealistic scene of fluffy baby animals—a golden retriever puppy, tabby kitten, baby bunny, and red fox kit—with big expressive eyes and ultra-detailed soft fur, playfully chasing butterflies and tumbling together in a lush wildflower meadow, warm golden sunrise light with god rays and dew sparkles, joyful wholesome vibe, 8K masterpiece.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent fur texture rendering on all four animals
  • + Beautiful light interaction with the butterflies and flora
  • + Perfectly captures the 'joyful' and 'tumbling' energy of the prompt
  • The fox kit has slightly anatomically awkward front legs
  • The background is very busy, leading to some clipping of butterfly wings

Recraft V4.1

  • + Superb lighting and god rays that emphasize the sunrise
  • + Better interaction with the butterfly as a central focus
  • + Composition feels more balanced with a clear hierarchy
  • The golden retriever's mouth and teeth have some minor blurring artifacts
  • Slightly less 'hyper-photorealistic' and more 'cinematic digital art' in style

Verdict: Both models followed the prompt exceptionally well, capturing all four animals and the specific lighting conditions. Recraft V4 excels in the 'tumbling' action and individual fur detail, while Recraft V4.1 provides a more poetic composition with superior lighting and god rays that feel more atmospheric.

Vintage Cafe Logo

Text-to-Image

“Vintage minimalist restaurant logo for "Caffè Florian", retro cloche dome with steam and "Est. 1720" banner, classic typography, warm brown and cream tones, subtle texture on light background, vector emblem style.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent typography with a unique, stylized flair.
  • + Sophisticated use of hatching and shading on the cloche for a vintage feel.
  • + Strong logo composition with balanced negative space.
  • Failed to include the requested 'banner' for the establishment date.
  • Text for 'Est. 1720' is somewhat small and less prominent.

Recraft V4.1

  • + Perfect adherence to all prompt elements, including the banner.
  • + Clean and elegant classic serif typography.
  • + Simple and effective minimalist vector style.
  • The font choice, while classic, is a bit generic compared to Model A.
  • Line work on the steam is slightly thin relative to the rest of the emblem.

Verdict: Both models followed the prompt well, but Recraft V4.1 is the winner for its superior prompt adherence, accurately including the requested 'banner' which Recraft V4 missed. While Recraft V4 offered more creative and textured typography, Recraft V4.1 provided a more complete and professional translation of the specific design requirements.

Apollo 11: Journey to Tranquility

Text-to-Image

“Create a clean, modern vector infographic poster about the Apollo 11 mission. NASA-inspired palette (navy, white, muted red, light gray). Flat-vector style, crisp lines, consistent iconography, subtle gradients only. Steps (stop at landing): 1. Launch (Saturn Vicon) 2. Earth Orbit (Earth + orbit ring icon) 3. Translunar (trajectory arc icon) 4. Lunar Orbit (Moon + orbit ring icon) 5. Descent (lunar module descending icon) 6. Landing (lunar module on the surface icon) Small supporting elements (minimal text): • Crew strip: three silhouette icons with only last names: Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins. • Landing site marker: Moon pin labeled "Tranquility" only. Layout constraints: generous margins, large readable labels, clean background with subtle stars. Vector-only, print-poster look, high resolution.”

Recraft V4
Recraft V4.1

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

  • + Excellent typography with a mix of weight and style for hierarchy
  • + Clean icon design with great use of negative space
  • + Logical layout that follows a flow even without numbered steps
  • The 'Descent' and 'Landing' icons are identical
  • Small spacing issues with the 'Tranquility' pin being distant from the landing step

Recraft V4.1

  • + Strong NASA-inspired color palette with a striking dark background
  • + Clearly numbered steps enhance the infographic utility
  • + Included an arrow for the translunar trajectory as specifically requested
  • Numbered steps contain a sequence error (two step 04s and no step 05)
  • The Earth icon uses red for land masses, which is visually jarring and less intuitive
  • Text rendering for labels is slightly more generic and less designed than Model A

Verdict: Recraft V4 produced a much more professional and aesthetically pleasing vector layout with superior typography and icon consistency. While Recraft V4.1 followed the numbering instructions and use of a dark navy background more closely, its logic failure in the step numbering (01, 02, 03, 04, 04, 06) and the odd color choices for the Earth make it less successful as a finished infographic.

Next steps

Explore each model