Image model vs image model
FLUX.2 Klein 9B vs FLUX.1 Kontext Max
People rate their pictures about the same in blind votes, so the cheaper FLUX.2 Klein 9B is the better buy: $0.006 against $0.08 an image.
At a glance
Longer bar means the bigger number. Elo bars start at 800.
Price per image · 1024×1024, lower is better
Editing · arena Elo, higher is better
Same prompt, both models
We give every image model the same fixed prompts. Here is what FLUX.2 Klein 9B and FLUX.1 Kontext Max made. Each made one picture per prompt; nothing was picked or retouched.
Photo
“A cozy bookshop on a rainy Tokyo street at night, warm window light, reflections on wet pavement, 35mm film photo”
FLUX.2 Klein 9B
FLUX.1 Kontext Max
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 Klein 9B. Models the arena hasn’t rated yet sit in the grey lane at the bottom.
Which one to pick
Pick FLUX.2 Klein 9B if
- price matters: 100 images cost $0.60, against $8.00 with FLUX.1 Kontext Max
- you mostly edit pictures: it scores higher in the editing arena (Elo 1015 against 932)
- you want open weights you can run yourself
The specs
| Spec | FLUX.2 Klein 9B | FLUX.1 Kontext Max |
|---|---|---|
| Price per image | $0.006 ($0.022 per edit) | $0.08 |
| 100 images | $0.60 | $8.00 |
| Text-to-image Elo | 929 ±10 (#75 in the arena) | 929 ±12 (#76 in the arena) |
| Editing Elo | 1015 ±13 (#43 in the arena) | 932 ±19 (#64 in the arena) |
| Arena votes | 10,730 | 5,276 |
| Edits uploaded pictures | Yes | Yes |
| Largest size | — | — |
| Open weights | Yes | No |
| Zero data retention | — | No |
| Lab | Black Forest Labs | Black Forest Labs |
| Official name | FLUX.2 [klein] 9B | FLUX.1 Kontext Max |
| Released | January 2026 | May 2025 |
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 Klein 9B or FLUX.1 Kontext Max?
People rate their pictures about the same in blind votes, so the cheaper FLUX.2 Klein 9B is the better buy: $0.006 against $0.08 an image.
Which is cheaper, FLUX.2 Klein 9B or FLUX.1 Kontext Max?
FLUX.2 Klein 9B: $0.006 for a 1024×1024 image, against $0.08 for FLUX.1 Kontext Max. 100 images cost $0.60 and $8.00.
Can FLUX.2 Klein 9B and FLUX.1 Kontext Max edit images?
Yes, both can change a picture you upload. In the Artificial Analysis editing arena FLUX.2 Klein 9B has an Elo of 1015 and FLUX.1 Kontext Max 932.
How can I compare FLUX.2 Klein 9B and FLUX.1 Kontext Max 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.