Image model vs image model
FLUX.2 Dev vs Recraft V4.1 Utility
People picked Recraft V4.1 Utility’s picture over FLUX.2 Dev’s about 54% of the time in blind votes. FLUX.2 Dev costs 2.9× less ($0.012 against $0.035 an image), so it wins when “good enough” will do.
At a glance
Longer bar means the bigger number. Elo bars start at 800.
Blind votes · how often people would pick each picture
FLUX.2 Dev Recraft V4.1 Utility
Price per image · 1024×1024, lower is better
Text to image · arena Elo, higher is better
Where they sit among all 56 image models
Up and to the left is better pictures for less money. Hover or tap a dot for its numbers, then click it to compare that model with FLUX.2 Dev. Models the arena hasn’t rated yet sit in the grey lane at the bottom.
Which one to pick
Pick FLUX.2 Dev if
- price matters: 100 images cost $1.20, against $3.50 with Recraft V4.1 Utility
- you need to edit pictures you upload; Recraft V4.1 Utility only makes new ones here
- you want open weights you can run yourself
Pick Recraft V4.1 Utility if
- you want the better picture: in blind votes people chose its image over FLUX.2 Dev’s about 54% of the time
The specs
| Spec | FLUX.2 Dev | Recraft V4.1 Utility |
|---|---|---|
| Price per image | $0.012 ($0.024 per edit) | $0.035 |
| 100 images | $1.20 | $3.50 |
| Text-to-image Elo | 1000 (#46 in the arena) | 1026 ±11 (#29 in the arena) |
| Editing Elo | 1000 (#47 in the arena) | Not scored yet |
| Arena votes | 18,040 | 7,452 |
| Edits uploaded pictures | Yes | No |
| Largest size | — | — |
| Open weights | Yes | No |
| Zero data retention | — | No |
| Lab | Black Forest Labs | Recraft |
| Official name | FLUX.2 [dev] | Recraft V4.1 Utility |
| Released | November 2025 | May 2026 |
Elo ± is the 95% margin. Prices are for one 1024×1024 image from the Vercel AI Gateway and fal.ai.
Questions
Which is better, FLUX.2 Dev or Recraft V4.1 Utility?
People picked Recraft V4.1 Utility’s picture over FLUX.2 Dev’s about 54% of the time in blind votes. FLUX.2 Dev costs 2.9× less ($0.012 against $0.035 an image), so it wins when “good enough” will do.
Which is cheaper, FLUX.2 Dev or Recraft V4.1 Utility?
FLUX.2 Dev: $0.012 for a 1024×1024 image, against $0.035 for Recraft V4.1 Utility. 100 images cost $1.20 and $3.50.
Can FLUX.2 Dev and Recraft V4.1 Utility edit images?
FLUX.2 Dev can change a picture you upload. Recraft V4.1 Utility only makes new pictures from a prompt here.
How can I compare FLUX.2 Dev and Recraft V4.1 Utility myself?
Open the comparison, type one prompt and both models draw it side by side, each with what it cost and how long it took. You sign up with Google before your first run, and new accounts start with free credit.
Related comparisons
Where the numbers come from
Quality scores are Elo ratings from the Artificial Analysis image arenas, where people vote between two pictures made from the same prompt without knowing which model made which. The vote split comes from the Elo gap. Prices are for one 1024×1024 image from the Vercel AI Gateway and fal.ai; models billed per token are estimated at the quality the arena scored. The sample pictures are our own runs. Updated October 25, 2026.