What is the best AI text-to-image model?

Based on blind community voting, Nano Banana 2 is currently the #1 ranked AI text-to-image model with an Elo rating of 1270. Rankings update in real time as new votes come in.

How are AI text-to-image models ranked on Lumenfall?

Lumenfall Arena ranks AI models through blind community voting. In each matchup, two models generate from the same prompt and voters pick the better result without seeing model names. Votes are processed using TrueSkill, a Bayesian rating algorithm developed by Microsoft Research, that produces a single Elo score reflecting each model's relative quality.

What is an Elo rating for AI models?

An Elo rating is a numerical score representing a model's skill relative to other models. Under the hood, Lumenfall uses TrueSkill, which tracks two values per model: mu (estimated skill) and sigma (uncertainty). The displayed Elo is calculated as 1000 + 10 x (mu - 3*sigma), a conservative lower bound. A model must prove itself consistently across many matchups to earn a high rating.

Best AI Models for Creativity

Creativity · Text-to-Image

Elo rankings from blind votes across 6 challenges in this category.

ImagineArt 1.5 (Preview)

Grok Imagine Image Pro

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Highlights

10 images

Price · Performance

Best models, by

Every ranked model plotted by price against its Elo. The upper-left frontier is the best value: top quality at the lowest cost.

Best Text-to-Image Models by Price

1 model without pricing omitted.

Best AI Models for Creativity

38 models ranked · Last update: June 26, 2026 1:20 PM

#	Model	Price	¢/img	Speed	Elo
1	Nano Banana 2 Google	$$	2.2¢		1270
2	GPT Image 1.5 OpenAI	$	0.9¢		1261
3	FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo fal	$	0.8¢		1261
4	Nano Banana Pro Google	$$$	6.7¢		1260
5	FLUX.2 [dev] Flash fal	$	0.5¢		1256
6	FLUX.2 [pro] Black Forest Labs	$$	1.5¢		1251
7	FLUX.2 [max] Black Forest Labs	$$	3¢		1250
8	GPT Image 2 OpenAI	$$	3.9¢		1242
9	Seedream 4.5 ByteDance	$$	4¢		1240
10	ImagineArt 1.5 (Preview) Vyro AI	$$	3¢	—	1240

11	FLUX.1 [dev] Black Forest Labs	$$	2.5¢		1235
12	Recraft V4 Pro Recraft AI	$$$$	25¢		1231
13	Grok Imagine Image Pro xAI	$$$	7¢		1226
14	Recraft V4 Recraft AI	$$	4¢		1225
15	Nano Banana Google	$$	3.9¢		1222
16	FLUX.2 [dev] Black Forest Labs	$$	1.2¢		1222
17	Seedream 4.0 ByteDance	$$	3¢		1221
18	Z-Image Turbo Alibaba	$	0.5¢		1220
19	Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Stability AI	$$$	6.5¢	—	1219
20	GPT Image 1 Mini OpenAI	$	0.5¢		1215
21	Lucid Origin Leonardo AI	$$	2¢	—	1214
22	FLUX.2 [flex] Black Forest Labs	$$$	6¢		1213
23	Imagen 4.0 Ultra Generate 001 Google	$$$	6¢	—	1208
24	Grok Imagine Image xAI	$$	2¢		1208
25	Seedream 5.0 Lite ByteDance	$$	3.5¢		1207
26	Qwen Image 2512 Alibaba	$$	2¢		1201
27	Wan 2.6 Alibaba	$$	3¢		1198
28	FLUX.1 [schnell] FP8 Black Forest Labs	Free	Free		1186
29	Qwen Image 2.0 Alibaba	$$	3.5¢		1177
30	FLUX.2 [klein] 4B Black Forest Labs	$	0.1¢		1175

Rivalries

Aggregate head-to-head across the arena

Seedream 4.5 Nano Banana Pro

25% 4 challenges 63%

FLUX.2 [pro] Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

58% 3 challenges 42%

Qwen Image 2512 Grok Imagine Image

56% 2 challenges 44%

Imagen 4.0 Ultra Generate 001 FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo

22% 3 challenges 67%

Think a model is ranked wrong? Cast your vote

Highlighted challenges

Text-to-Image 3D Imaging & Modeling Photorealism

Geometric Composition

A spatial-reasoning test. Each object has a precise relationship (inside, on top, behind, seen through the glass), so it measures whether a model follows explicit placement instructions and handles transparency and refraction rather than just approximating the scene.

Text-to-Image Portraits Cartoon, Anime & Fantasy

Fantasy Warrior

A character-portrait test focused on fine materials. It checks how well a model renders engraved metal under warm torchlight, layered textures (leather, cloth, braided hair), and lifelike eyes and skin without drifting into a plastic, over-smoothed look.

View all challenges

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Models · slot A

Creativity · Text-to-Image

Highlights

Best models, by

Best Text-to-Image Models by Price

Best Text-to-Image Models by Speed

Best AI Models for Creativity

Rivalries

Highlighted challenges

Geometric Composition

Fantasy Warrior

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