Image model vs image model
FLUX 3 Image Klein vs Z-Image Base
People picked FLUX 3 Image Klein’s picture over Z-Image Base’s about 71% of the time in blind votes, and they cost about the same ($0.009 against $0.01 an image).
At a glance
Longer bar means the bigger number. Elo bars start at 800.
Blind votes · how often people would pick each picture
FLUX 3 Image Klein Z-Image Base
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 3 Image Klein. Models the arena hasn’t rated yet sit in the grey lane at the bottom.
Which one to pick
Pick FLUX 3 Image Klein if
- you want the better picture: in blind votes people chose its image over Z-Image Base’s about 71% of the time
- you need to edit pictures you upload; Z-Image Base only makes new ones here
The specs
| Spec | FLUX 3 Image Klein | Z-Image Base |
|---|---|---|
| Price per image | $0.009 | $0.01 |
| 100 images | $0.90 | $1.00 |
| Text-to-image Elo | 1043 ±12 (#21 in the arena) | 891 ±17 (#87 in the arena) |
| Editing Elo | 1072 ±14 (#26 in the arena) | Not scored yet |
| Arena votes | 5,184 | 2,500 |
| Edits uploaded pictures | Yes | No |
| Largest size | 4096x4096 | — |
| Open weights | Yes | Yes |
| Zero data retention | No | — |
| Lab | Black Forest Labs | Alibaba |
| Official name | FLUX 3 Image Klein | Z-Image Base |
| Released | October 2026 | January 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 3 Image Klein or Z-Image Base?
People picked FLUX 3 Image Klein’s picture over Z-Image Base’s about 71% of the time in blind votes, and they cost about the same ($0.009 against $0.01 an image).
Which is cheaper, FLUX 3 Image Klein or Z-Image Base?
They cost about the same: FLUX 3 Image Klein $0.009 and Z-Image Base $0.01 for a 1024×1024 image.
Can FLUX 3 Image Klein and Z-Image Base edit images?
FLUX 3 Image Klein can change a picture you upload. Z-Image Base only makes new pictures from a prompt here.
How can I compare FLUX 3 Image Klein and Z-Image Base 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.