AI Image Generators Compared 2026: Nano Banana vs GPT Image

Start with Nano Banana 2.1, the newest Nano Banana and the default in Spicy Studio's Image Lab, and switch when a job needs something it lacks.

Pick GPT Image 2.5 when you need a 3:1 banner or 1:3 strip, five quality levels up to 4K, or OpenAI's newest model. Flare is the fast everyday version and Sunburst the one for precise production edits, at the same price.

Pick GPT Image 2 when you combine many references at 1K or 2K: it takes up to 16 and doesn't charge extra for them.

Pick Nano Banana 2 when volume matters: it's the cheapest Nano Banana and the cheapest of the six at 4K.

Pick Nano Banana Pro when a series already runs on it, or for legible in-image text and up to five recurring people, the strengths Google highlighted at its November 2025 launch.

Pick Spicy Imagine Pro when you want ByteDance's Seedream 5.0 or the lowest 2K price.

Spicy Studio wrote this comparison and offers all six models, so it isn't independent. It compares published specs and credit prices in the Image Lab as of October 2026, not image quality; we ran no benchmarks.

Nano Banana 2.1: 2K costs 12 credits, 4K costs 18.

Nano Banana 2: 10 at 2K, 14 at 4K.

Nano Banana Pro: 12 at 2K, 16 at 4K; see the Pro guide.

Spicy Imagine Pro (Seedream 5.0): 8 at 2K, 15 at 4K.

GPT Image 2.5, Flare or Sunburst: at low, medium, high, xhigh and max quality, 4, 9, 32, 55 and 120 at 1K; 9, 23, 56, 95 and 210 at 2K; 15, 38, 90, 160 and 350 at 4K.

GPT Image 2: at low, medium and high, 5, 10 and 34 at 1K, or 10, 25 and 60 at 2K.

The cheapest single image is GPT Image 2.5 at 1K and low quality (4 credits). At 2K, Spicy Imagine Pro is cheapest (8); at 4K, Nano Banana 2 (14). GPT prices climb steeply at the top of the quality ladder, so keep high and above for finals. On Spicy Basic (€10 for 600 credits), a 2K Nano Banana 2.1 image works out to about €0.20. Plans: pricing.

References. GPT Image 2.5 and GPT Image 2 take up to 16 reference images, the Nano Banana models 14 (useful for consistent characters) and Spicy Imagine Pro 10. Only GPT Image 2.5 charges for them (1 credit each). In Spicy Imagine Pro, refer to uploads as “Figure 1”, “Figure 2” and so on.

Resolution. All six make 2K, all but GPT Image 2 make 4K, and the GPT models also offer 1K. To take a GPT Image 2 result to 4K, Image Upscale costs 10 credits.

Aspect ratios. The Nano Banana models and GPT Image 2 share ten, from 21:9 to 9:16, including 4:5. GPT Image 2.5 adds 2:1, 1:2, 9:21, 3:1 and 1:3. Spicy Imagine Pro has five: 1:1, 3:4, 4:3, 16:9 and 9:16.

Quality setting. Only the GPT models have one, with five levels on 2.5 and three on GPT Image 2. Elsewhere, the price depends on resolution alone.

Speed. Model cards label the Nano Banana models and Spicy Imagine Pro fast and the GPT models medium (labels, not timed tests).

Run your real prompt once on each, at 2K and without references: Nano Banana 2.1 (12 credits), Nano Banana 2 (10), Nano Banana Pro (12), Spicy Imagine Pro (8), GPT Image 2.5 at medium (23) and GPT Image 2 at medium (25). That's 90 credits, exactly a €2 Spark top-up.

Use a prompt that tests the job, such as: “Product photo of a matte green glass perfume bottle on wet black slate, one drop running down the side, softbox light from the left, the label reading ‘FERN No. 4’ in thin gold serif.” Then compare label, shape and light. Prompt help: our prompt engineering guide.

GPT-4o image generation, Flux, Midjourney, Ideogram and Adobe Firefly aren't offered on Spicy Studio, so they aren't compared here. OpenAI's GPT Image models succeeded GPT-4o's built-in image generation; GPT Image 2 and 2.5 are in the Image Lab (GPT-4o background). Seedream 4.5 isn't offered either; for Seedream, use Spicy Imagine Pro (Seedream guide).

When a dedicated design tool fits better, see Ideogram, Firefly and Krea. For video: AI video generators compared.

Two more are for adult content: Spicy UNCENSORED, powered by Seedream 5.0 (from 8 credits at 1K and 10 at 2K, up to 10 references), and Wan 2.7 Image (6 credits, up to 9 references). See the Spicy UNCENSORED guide, the uncensored generators comparison or the 18+ model list. Both are for users 18+ (or the age of majority where you live) and fictional or consenting adults only: never minors, anyone who looks like one, or real people without documented consent.