Best AI image generator: 7 tools, same 5 prompts, real outputs
Picking the best AI image generator is easier when you can see the same prompts side by side. We wrote 5 standard prompts and a pass or fail checklist first, then ran them through every image generator we could reach, and we show every output here, failures included.
Updated October 25, 2026
Short answer
Tested on October 25, 2026: we ran the same standard prompts through 7 image generators. ChatGPT (GPT Image), FLUX (Black Forest Labs), Qwen Image (Alibaba), and Recraft passed every prompt; Seedream (ByteDance) 4 of 5, Google Gemini (Nano Banana) 3 of 5, and Krea 3 of 5. Prices were checked on the official pages on October 25, 2026.
Comparison
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns
Price = cheapest paid plan on the official pricing page. Click a source link to see the page we checked. Test results are dated results of the route named on each card, not a judgement of the company.
$0.03 usage-basedStable Image Coresourcechecked October 25, 2026
Yes
Not confirmed
Not tested yet
Test results, prompt by prompt
Every output below is the real, unedited result of one run (in text answers only long dashes are normalized to a plain dash). Pass means every required checklist item was met.
Model: openai/gpt-image-2 · Run through: OpenRouter API (openai/gpt-image-2), served by the model vendor · Tested October 25, 2026
Product shotPass
Light from left window, clean
Prompt
Studio product photo of a matte sage green ceramic coffee mug standing on a light oak wooden table, soft window light from the left, shallow depth of field, plain neutral background. No text, no logos.
Checklist
A single mug is the clear subject
Mug is sage green (muted grey-green)
Mug stands on a light wooden surface
Looks like a photograph, not an illustration
No text or logo anywhere
Mug geometry intact (one handle, no melted rim)
Light visibly comes from the left (nice to have)
openai/gpt-image-2 · Tested October 25, 2026
Poster with short English textPass
Both lines exact
Prompt
Minimalist event poster for a weekend farmers market. Large headline text that reads exactly "FRESH MARKET" and a smaller line below it that reads exactly "Saturday 8 AM". Flat illustration of carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens at the bottom. Warm orange and cream color palette.
Checklist
Headline spelled exactly FRESH MARKET
Second line spelled exactly Saturday 8 AM (case may differ)
No extra garbled or invented words
Vegetables illustrated (at least two of carrot, tomato, greens)
Reads as a poster layout (portrait or square, clear hierarchy) (nice to have)
Warm orange palette (nice to have)
openai/gpt-image-2 · Tested October 25, 2026
IllustrationPass
Cat wears a small shirt (not asked)
Prompt
Children's book illustration of a small orange cat sitting and reading an open book under a large banyan tree at sunset, soft watercolor textures, warm colors.
Checklist
Exactly one orange cat
An open book in front of or held by the cat
A large tree is present
Illustration style (not a photo)
Cat anatomy plausible (no extra limbs or heads)
Sunset light (nice to have)
Tree reads as a banyan (aerial roots) (nice to have)
openai/gpt-image-2 · Tested October 25, 2026
Photoreal scenePass
Prompt
Photorealistic landscape photo of green rice terraces at sunrise with a small wooden hut on one terrace, mist in the valley below, natural colors, shot on a 35mm camera.
Checklist
Stepped rice terraces clearly visible
A small wooden hut is present
Mist or haze in the valley
Photorealistic (no painterly or CGI look)
No text, watermark or obvious artifacts
Sunrise light (nice to have)
openai/gpt-image-2 · Tested October 25, 2026
Logo-free icon setPass
6 icons 3x2, dark blue
Prompt
A set of six flat line icons on a white background arranged in a 3 by 2 grid: home, search, calendar, camera, shopping cart, settings gear. Consistent 2px stroke, single dark blue color, no text, no brand logos.
Checklist
Exactly six icons
All six subjects recognizable (home, search, calendar, camera, cart, gear)
Model: black-forest-labs/flux.2-pro · Run through: OpenRouter API (black-forest-labs/flux.2-pro), served by Black Forest Labs · Tested October 25, 2026
Product shotPass
Prompt
Studio product photo of a matte sage green ceramic coffee mug standing on a light oak wooden table, soft window light from the left, shallow depth of field, plain neutral background. No text, no logos.
Checklist
A single mug is the clear subject
Mug is sage green (muted grey-green)
Mug stands on a light wooden surface
Looks like a photograph, not an illustration
No text or logo anywhere
Mug geometry intact (one handle, no melted rim)
Light visibly comes from the left (nice to have)
black-forest-labs/flux.2-pro · Tested October 25, 2026
Poster with short English textPass
Both lines exact
Prompt
Minimalist event poster for a weekend farmers market. Large headline text that reads exactly "FRESH MARKET" and a smaller line below it that reads exactly "Saturday 8 AM". Flat illustration of carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens at the bottom. Warm orange and cream color palette.
Checklist
Headline spelled exactly FRESH MARKET
Second line spelled exactly Saturday 8 AM (case may differ)
No extra garbled or invented words
Vegetables illustrated (at least two of carrot, tomato, greens)
Reads as a poster layout (portrait or square, clear hierarchy) (nice to have)
Warm orange palette (nice to have)
black-forest-labs/flux.2-pro · Tested October 25, 2026
IllustrationPass
Prompt
Children's book illustration of a small orange cat sitting and reading an open book under a large banyan tree at sunset, soft watercolor textures, warm colors.
Checklist
Exactly one orange cat
An open book in front of or held by the cat
A large tree is present
Illustration style (not a photo)
Cat anatomy plausible (no extra limbs or heads)
Sunset light (nice to have)
Tree reads as a banyan (aerial roots) (nice to have)
black-forest-labs/flux.2-pro · Tested October 25, 2026
Photoreal scenePass
Prompt
Photorealistic landscape photo of green rice terraces at sunrise with a small wooden hut on one terrace, mist in the valley below, natural colors, shot on a 35mm camera.
Checklist
Stepped rice terraces clearly visible
A small wooden hut is present
Mist or haze in the valley
Photorealistic (no painterly or CGI look)
No text, watermark or obvious artifacts
Sunrise light (nice to have)
black-forest-labs/flux.2-pro · Tested October 25, 2026
Logo-free icon setPass
Icons are grey, not dark blue (nice-to-have missed); calendar grid faint
Prompt
A set of six flat line icons on a white background arranged in a 3 by 2 grid: home, search, calendar, camera, shopping cart, settings gear. Consistent 2px stroke, single dark blue color, no text, no brand logos.
Checklist
Exactly six icons
All six subjects recognizable (home, search, calendar, camera, cart, gear)
Arranged in a 3 by 2 grid
No text labels and no brand logos
Single dark blue color, line style (nice to have)
Consistent stroke weight (nice to have)
black-forest-labs/flux.2-pro · Tested October 25, 2026
Model: qwen/qwen-image-3 · Run through: OpenRouter API (qwen/qwen-image-3), served by the model vendor · Tested October 25, 2026
Product shotPass
Prompt
Studio product photo of a matte sage green ceramic coffee mug standing on a light oak wooden table, soft window light from the left, shallow depth of field, plain neutral background. No text, no logos.
Checklist
A single mug is the clear subject
Mug is sage green (muted grey-green)
Mug stands on a light wooden surface
Looks like a photograph, not an illustration
No text or logo anywhere
Mug geometry intact (one handle, no melted rim)
Light visibly comes from the left (nice to have)
qwen/qwen-image-3 · Tested October 25, 2026
Poster with short English textPass
Both lines exact; small leaf badge added
Prompt
Minimalist event poster for a weekend farmers market. Large headline text that reads exactly "FRESH MARKET" and a smaller line below it that reads exactly "Saturday 8 AM". Flat illustration of carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens at the bottom. Warm orange and cream color palette.
Checklist
Headline spelled exactly FRESH MARKET
Second line spelled exactly Saturday 8 AM (case may differ)
No extra garbled or invented words
Vegetables illustrated (at least two of carrot, tomato, greens)
Reads as a poster layout (portrait or square, clear hierarchy) (nice to have)
Warm orange palette (nice to have)
qwen/qwen-image-3 · Tested October 25, 2026
IllustrationPass
Prompt
Children's book illustration of a small orange cat sitting and reading an open book under a large banyan tree at sunset, soft watercolor textures, warm colors.
Checklist
Exactly one orange cat
An open book in front of or held by the cat
A large tree is present
Illustration style (not a photo)
Cat anatomy plausible (no extra limbs or heads)
Sunset light (nice to have)
Tree reads as a banyan (aerial roots) (nice to have)
qwen/qwen-image-3 · Tested October 25, 2026
Photoreal scenePass
Prompt
Photorealistic landscape photo of green rice terraces at sunrise with a small wooden hut on one terrace, mist in the valley below, natural colors, shot on a 35mm camera.
Checklist
Stepped rice terraces clearly visible
A small wooden hut is present
Mist or haze in the valley
Photorealistic (no painterly or CGI look)
No text, watermark or obvious artifacts
Sunrise light (nice to have)
qwen/qwen-image-3 · Tested October 25, 2026
Logo-free icon setPass
Prompt
A set of six flat line icons on a white background arranged in a 3 by 2 grid: home, search, calendar, camera, shopping cart, settings gear. Consistent 2px stroke, single dark blue color, no text, no brand logos.
Checklist
Exactly six icons
All six subjects recognizable (home, search, calendar, camera, cart, gear)
Model: recraft/recraft-v4 · Run through: OpenRouter API (recraft/recraft-v4), served by Recraft · Tested October 25, 2026
Product shotPass
Speckled glaze, mug filled with steaming coffee (not asked)
Prompt
Studio product photo of a matte sage green ceramic coffee mug standing on a light oak wooden table, soft window light from the left, shallow depth of field, plain neutral background. No text, no logos.
Checklist
A single mug is the clear subject
Mug is sage green (muted grey-green)
Mug stands on a light wooden surface
Looks like a photograph, not an illustration
No text or logo anywhere
Mug geometry intact (one handle, no melted rim)
Light visibly comes from the left (nice to have)
recraft/recraft-v4 · Tested October 25, 2026
Poster with short English textPass
Both lines exact, line-drawing vegetables
Prompt
Minimalist event poster for a weekend farmers market. Large headline text that reads exactly "FRESH MARKET" and a smaller line below it that reads exactly "Saturday 8 AM". Flat illustration of carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens at the bottom. Warm orange and cream color palette.
Checklist
Headline spelled exactly FRESH MARKET
Second line spelled exactly Saturday 8 AM (case may differ)
No extra garbled or invented words
Vegetables illustrated (at least two of carrot, tomato, greens)
Reads as a poster layout (portrait or square, clear hierarchy) (nice to have)
Warm orange palette (nice to have)
recraft/recraft-v4 · Tested October 25, 2026
IllustrationPass
Cat small in frame
Prompt
Children's book illustration of a small orange cat sitting and reading an open book under a large banyan tree at sunset, soft watercolor textures, warm colors.
Checklist
Exactly one orange cat
An open book in front of or held by the cat
A large tree is present
Illustration style (not a photo)
Cat anatomy plausible (no extra limbs or heads)
Sunset light (nice to have)
Tree reads as a banyan (aerial roots) (nice to have)
recraft/recraft-v4 · Tested October 25, 2026
Photoreal scenePass
Hut very small; flooded terraces
Prompt
Photorealistic landscape photo of green rice terraces at sunrise with a small wooden hut on one terrace, mist in the valley below, natural colors, shot on a 35mm camera.
Checklist
Stepped rice terraces clearly visible
A small wooden hut is present
Mist or haze in the valley
Photorealistic (no painterly or CGI look)
No text, watermark or obvious artifacts
Sunrise light (nice to have)
recraft/recraft-v4 · Tested October 25, 2026
Logo-free icon setPass
Six icons laid out 2 columns x 3 rows; cart drawn oddly but recognizable
Prompt
A set of six flat line icons on a white background arranged in a 3 by 2 grid: home, search, calendar, camera, shopping cart, settings gear. Consistent 2px stroke, single dark blue color, no text, no brand logos.
Checklist
Exactly six icons
All six subjects recognizable (home, search, calendar, camera, cart, gear)
Model: bytedance-seed/seedream-4.5 · Run through: OpenRouter API (bytedance-seed/seedream-4.5), served by Seed · Tested October 25, 2026
Product shotPass
Prompt
Studio product photo of a matte sage green ceramic coffee mug standing on a light oak wooden table, soft window light from the left, shallow depth of field, plain neutral background. No text, no logos.
Checklist
A single mug is the clear subject
Mug is sage green (muted grey-green)
Mug stands on a light wooden surface
Looks like a photograph, not an illustration
No text or logo anywhere
Mug geometry intact (one handle, no melted rim)
Light visibly comes from the left (nice to have)
bytedance-seed/seedream-4.5 · Tested October 25, 2026
Poster with short English textPass
Both lines exact
Prompt
Minimalist event poster for a weekend farmers market. Large headline text that reads exactly "FRESH MARKET" and a smaller line below it that reads exactly "Saturday 8 AM". Flat illustration of carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens at the bottom. Warm orange and cream color palette.
Checklist
Headline spelled exactly FRESH MARKET
Second line spelled exactly Saturday 8 AM (case may differ)
No extra garbled or invented words
Vegetables illustrated (at least two of carrot, tomato, greens)
Reads as a poster layout (portrait or square, clear hierarchy) (nice to have)
Warm orange palette (nice to have)
bytedance-seed/seedream-4.5 · Tested October 25, 2026
IllustrationPass
Prompt
Children's book illustration of a small orange cat sitting and reading an open book under a large banyan tree at sunset, soft watercolor textures, warm colors.
Checklist
Exactly one orange cat
An open book in front of or held by the cat
A large tree is present
Illustration style (not a photo)
Cat anatomy plausible (no extra limbs or heads)
Sunset light (nice to have)
Tree reads as a banyan (aerial roots) (nice to have)
bytedance-seed/seedream-4.5 · Tested October 25, 2026
Photoreal scenePass
Prompt
Photorealistic landscape photo of green rice terraces at sunrise with a small wooden hut on one terrace, mist in the valley below, natural colors, shot on a 35mm camera.
Checklist
Stepped rice terraces clearly visible
A small wooden hut is present
Mist or haze in the valley
Photorealistic (no painterly or CGI look)
No text, watermark or obvious artifacts
Sunrise light (nice to have)
bytedance-seed/seedream-4.5 · Tested October 25, 2026
Logo-free icon setFail
9 boxed icons in 3x3, including 3 extra unrequested icons
Prompt
A set of six flat line icons on a white background arranged in a 3 by 2 grid: home, search, calendar, camera, shopping cart, settings gear. Consistent 2px stroke, single dark blue color, no text, no brand logos.
Checklist
Exactly six icons
All six subjects recognizable (home, search, calendar, camera, cart, gear)
Arranged in a 3 by 2 grid
No text labels and no brand logos
Single dark blue color, line style (nice to have)
Consistent stroke weight (nice to have)
bytedance-seed/seedream-4.5 · Tested October 25, 2026
Model: google/gemini-3-pro-image · Run through: OpenRouter API (google/gemini-3-pro-image), served by Google · Tested October 25, 2026
Product shotPass
Prompt
Studio product photo of a matte sage green ceramic coffee mug standing on a light oak wooden table, soft window light from the left, shallow depth of field, plain neutral background. No text, no logos.
Checklist
A single mug is the clear subject
Mug is sage green (muted grey-green)
Mug stands on a light wooden surface
Looks like a photograph, not an illustration
No text or logo anywhere
Mug geometry intact (one handle, no melted rim)
Light visibly comes from the left (nice to have)
google/gemini-3-pro-image · Tested October 25, 2026
Poster with short English textPass
Both lines exact
Prompt
Minimalist event poster for a weekend farmers market. Large headline text that reads exactly "FRESH MARKET" and a smaller line below it that reads exactly "Saturday 8 AM". Flat illustration of carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens at the bottom. Warm orange and cream color palette.
Checklist
Headline spelled exactly FRESH MARKET
Second line spelled exactly Saturday 8 AM (case may differ)
No extra garbled or invented words
Vegetables illustrated (at least two of carrot, tomato, greens)
Reads as a poster layout (portrait or square, clear hierarchy) (nice to have)
Warm orange palette (nice to have)
google/gemini-3-pro-image · Tested October 25, 2026
IllustrationPass
Adds glasses, scarf, squirrels, birds and a book title 'Tales of the Banyan' (not asked)
Prompt
Children's book illustration of a small orange cat sitting and reading an open book under a large banyan tree at sunset, soft watercolor textures, warm colors.
Checklist
Exactly one orange cat
An open book in front of or held by the cat
A large tree is present
Illustration style (not a photo)
Cat anatomy plausible (no extra limbs or heads)
Sunset light (nice to have)
Tree reads as a banyan (aerial roots) (nice to have)
google/gemini-3-pro-image · Tested October 25, 2026
Photoreal sceneFail
Image is rendered as a smaller photo inside wide white margins (framing artifact)
Prompt
Photorealistic landscape photo of green rice terraces at sunrise with a small wooden hut on one terrace, mist in the valley below, natural colors, shot on a 35mm camera.
Checklist
Stepped rice terraces clearly visible
A small wooden hut is present
Mist or haze in the valley
Photorealistic (no painterly or CGI look)
No text, watermark or obvious artifacts
Sunrise light (nice to have)
google/gemini-3-pro-image · Tested October 25, 2026
Logo-free icon setFail
9 icons in a 3x3 grid; camera, cart and gear repeated
Prompt
A set of six flat line icons on a white background arranged in a 3 by 2 grid: home, search, calendar, camera, shopping cart, settings gear. Consistent 2px stroke, single dark blue color, no text, no brand logos.
Checklist
Exactly six icons
All six subjects recognizable (home, search, calendar, camera, cart, gear)
Arranged in a 3 by 2 grid
No text labels and no brand logos
Single dark blue color, line style (nice to have)
Consistent stroke weight (nice to have)
google/gemini-3-pro-image · Tested October 25, 2026
Model: krea/krea-2-medium · Run through: OpenRouter API (krea/krea-2-medium), served by the model vendor · Tested October 25, 2026
Product shotPass
Prompt
Studio product photo of a matte sage green ceramic coffee mug standing on a light oak wooden table, soft window light from the left, shallow depth of field, plain neutral background. No text, no logos.
Checklist
A single mug is the clear subject
Mug is sage green (muted grey-green)
Mug stands on a light wooden surface
Looks like a photograph, not an illustration
No text or logo anywhere
Mug geometry intact (one handle, no melted rim)
Light visibly comes from the left (nice to have)
krea/krea-2-medium · Tested October 25, 2026
Poster with short English textFail
Text exact but only carrots drawn (no tomatoes or leafy greens)
Prompt
Minimalist event poster for a weekend farmers market. Large headline text that reads exactly "FRESH MARKET" and a smaller line below it that reads exactly "Saturday 8 AM". Flat illustration of carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens at the bottom. Warm orange and cream color palette.
Checklist
Headline spelled exactly FRESH MARKET
Second line spelled exactly Saturday 8 AM (case may differ)
No extra garbled or invented words
Vegetables illustrated (at least two of carrot, tomato, greens)
Reads as a poster layout (portrait or square, clear hierarchy) (nice to have)
Warm orange palette (nice to have)
krea/krea-2-medium · Tested October 25, 2026
IllustrationPass
Prompt
Children's book illustration of a small orange cat sitting and reading an open book under a large banyan tree at sunset, soft watercolor textures, warm colors.
Checklist
Exactly one orange cat
An open book in front of or held by the cat
A large tree is present
Illustration style (not a photo)
Cat anatomy plausible (no extra limbs or heads)
Sunset light (nice to have)
Tree reads as a banyan (aerial roots) (nice to have)
krea/krea-2-medium · Tested October 25, 2026
Photoreal scenePass
Prompt
Photorealistic landscape photo of green rice terraces at sunrise with a small wooden hut on one terrace, mist in the valley below, natural colors, shot on a 35mm camera.
Checklist
Stepped rice terraces clearly visible
A small wooden hut is present
Mist or haze in the valley
Photorealistic (no painterly or CGI look)
No text, watermark or obvious artifacts
Sunrise light (nice to have)
krea/krea-2-medium · Tested October 25, 2026
Logo-free icon setFail
Wrong set: two houses, two search icons, unclear icons; no calendar, camera, cart or gear; icons tiny
Prompt
A set of six flat line icons on a white background arranged in a 3 by 2 grid: home, search, calendar, camera, shopping cart, settings gear. Consistent 2px stroke, single dark blue color, no text, no brand logos.
Checklist
Exactly six icons
All six subjects recognizable (home, search, calendar, camera, cart, gear)
Arranged in a 3 by 2 grid
No text labels and no brand logos
Single dark blue color, line style (nice to have)
Consistent stroke weight (nice to have)
krea/krea-2-medium · Tested October 25, 2026
Not tested yet
These tools are listed with checked prices, but we have no practical test for them yet. They do not count toward the ranking.
Adobe Firefly Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Bing Image Creator Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
ChatGPT Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Fotor Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Grok Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Ideogram Not tested yet: the only API route we can use for it (fal.ai) refused all calls on 25 Oct 2026 because the account balance ran out.
Leonardo.Ai Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Meta AI Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Microsoft Copilot Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Midjourney Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Picsart Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Pixlr Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Qwen Chat Not tested yet: it has no public API we can run our standard prompts through, and we only publish results from runs we did ourselves.
Stability AI (Stable Diffusion) Not tested yet: the only API route we can use for it (fal.ai) refused all calls on 25 Oct 2026 because the account balance ran out.
How we test
The prompts and the pass or fail checklist were written on October 25, 2026, before any tool was run. Each tool got the same prompts and settings. A prompt passes only when every required checklist item is met; the notes say what was off. Results come from the API model behind each product, not from its app.
Questions
How do you decide if an AI image generator passed a prompt?
Each prompt has a checklist written before any image was made, for example exact spelling of the poster text or the right number of icons. A prompt passes only when every required item is visible in the output. The notes under each image say what was off.
Are these results from the apps or from the API?
From the API model behind each product, because that is the only way to run identical prompts and settings. The app you use may add its own settings or a newer model, so treat the results as a comparison of the underlying models.
Which tool did best in your test?
ChatGPT (GPT Image), FLUX (Black Forest Labs), Qwen Image (Alibaba), and Recraft passed every prompt in our run of October 25, 2026. The full results, including failures, are in the gallery above.
Which of these have a free plan?
According to the official pricing pages (checked October 25, 2026): ChatGPT (GPT Image), Qwen Image (Alibaba), Recraft, Google Gemini (Nano Banana), Krea, Adobe Firefly, Bing Image Creator, ChatGPT, Fotor, Grok, Ideogram, Leonardo.Ai, Meta AI, Microsoft Copilot, Qwen Chat, and Stability AI (Stable Diffusion).
Why might this page say it is not in search engines?
We only ask search engines to index a list once at least 5 tools have a fresh price check and 5 graded prompts. Until then the page stays visible to visitors but out of search results.
