Best AI Image Models 2026: GPT Image 2.5, Nano Banana, Grok
Best AI image models compared: GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Sunburst, Nano Banana 2.1 and Grok Imagine Image 2.0 on one prompt, with LMArena ranks and credit costs.
Oraclip Team
The best AI image models in October 2026 are GPT Image 2.5 (Flare and Sunburst) from OpenAI, Nano Banana 2.1 from Google and Grok Imagine Image 2.0 from xAI. All four are new in the last two months, all four render readable text, and all four are in Oraclip. This guide compares the best AI image models on one shared prompt, on public leaderboards and on credit cost, so you can pick the right one for posters, product shots, edits or drafts. Facts were checked on October 22, 2026.
Best AI image models at a glance
| GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | GPT Image 2.5 Flare | Grok Imagine Image 2.0 | Nano Banana 2.1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Made by | OpenAI | OpenAI | xAI | |
| Released | September 8, 2026 | September 8, 2026 | August 8, 2026 | October 6, 2026 |
| LMArena text-to-image (Oct 7) | #1, 1,425 | #2, 1,398 | #4, 1,334 | #6, 1,328 |
| LMArena image edit (Oct 7) | 1,514 | 1,481 | 1,439 | 1,426 |
| Sizes in Oraclip | 1K, 2K, 4K | 1K, 2K, 4K | 1K | 1K, 2K, 4K |
| References in Oraclip | 16 | 16 | 5 | 10 |
| Credits at 1K / 2K / 4K | 31 / 51 / 81 | 31 / 51 / 81 | 21 (1K only) | 21 / 31 / 46 |
| Our test render time | 80 s | 37 s | 25 s | 227 s |
GPT Image 2 (#3 on LMArena text-to-image at 1,383) is also still in Oraclip, with low, medium and high quality tiers.
One prompt, four models
We sent the same prompt to each model at 1K in a 2:3 frame: a vintage screen-printed travel poster for a fictional seaside town, with the headline "PORT LUMEN", a footer line "Ferries daily · Since 1923", a red and white lighthouse, two sailboats and a sunset. One take each, no edits.
What stood out:
- Text: all four spelled both lines correctly. Nano Banana 2.1 set the footer in capitals although the prompt used mixed case.
- Style: Sunburst and Nano Banana 2.1 came closest to a real screen print, with flat colour areas and paper grain. Grok Imagine Image 2.0 painted softer clouds and more texture.
- Composition: Sunburst and Nano Banana 2.1 made the lighthouse the hero. Grok placed it small, in the distance.
- Speed: Grok was fastest (25 s), Nano Banana 2.1 slowest (227 s) in this run.
Best AI image model for each job
- Text-heavy posters, menus and ads: GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst. Top of both LMArena boards and the cleanest lettering in our test.
- Fast iteration at good quality: GPT Image 2.5 Flare, at the same credits as Sunburst and less than half the wait.
- Cheap drafts, thumbnails and social graphics: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 at 21 credits and the shortest wait, if 1K is enough.
- Many references and consistent characters or products: Nano Banana 2.1 (10 references in Oraclip) or GPT Image 2.5 (16).
- Large prints at the lowest cost: Nano Banana 2.1 at 4K for 46 credits, against 81 for GPT Image 2.5.
- The cheapest possible sketch: GPT Image 2 at low quality, 6 credits at 1K.
The models in brief
GPT Image 2.5 comes in two versions. OpenAI describes Flare as about 50% faster than GPT Image 2 and the default for most apps, and Sunburst as the precision model. Details in the GPT Image 2.5 guide.
Nano Banana 2.1 is Google's update to Nano Banana 2, with better quality, consistency and text rendering, mask-based editing and Google Search grounding in the Gemini API. See GPT Image 2 vs Nano Banana 2.1.
Grok Imagine Image 2.0 is xAI's typography-focused image model, with region editing and background removal in xAI's own apps. See the Grok Imagine Image 2.0 guide.
Credits for the best AI image models in Oraclip
| Model | 1K | 2K | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | 31 | 51 | 81 |
| GPT Image 2.5 Flare | 31 | 51 | 81 |
| Grok Imagine Image 2.0 | 21 | — | — |
| Nano Banana 2.1 | 21 | 31 | 46 |
| GPT Image 2 (medium) | 48 | 97 | 161 |
The cost shows before every image, and failed images are refunded. Plans are on the pricing page.
How to compare image models in Oraclip
- Open the Oraclip creator and switch to image mode.
- Pick a model in the image model menu and generate.
- Change the model and send the same prompt again. Each result stays in the conversation, so you can compare side by side.
- Keep the winner, or send it to the image to video AI tool to animate it.
Best AI image models FAQ
What is the best AI image model right now?
On LMArena (October 7, 2026), GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst is #1 for both text-to-image and image editing. The best model for you still depends on size, references, speed and budget.
Which AI image model is cheapest in Oraclip?
GPT Image 2 at low quality, from 6 credits at 1K. Among the newest models, Grok Imagine Image 2.0 and Nano Banana 2.1 are both 21 credits at 1K.
Which AI image model is best for text in images?
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ranks highest, and in our poster test all four new models spelled the text correctly. For long or dense text, start with Sunburst.
Which model takes the most reference images?
GPT Image 2.5 (Flare or Sunburst) and GPT Image 2 take up to 16 in Oraclip, Nano Banana 2.1 up to 10 and Grok Imagine Image 2.0 up to 5.
Are these AI image models free?
No. Each image costs credits in Oraclip, from 21 credits for the newest models at 1K. Signing up is free.
Try the best AI image models side by side
Run one of your own prompts through two or three of the best AI image models and keep the one that fits. Open the Oraclip creator to start. Looking for video instead? See the best AI video models.
Sources (checked October 22, 2026): OpenAI: Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5 · xAI: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 · Google AI for Developers: Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 · Google DeepMind: Nano Banana 2.1 model card · LMArena: text-to-image leaderboard · LMArena: image edit leaderboard