Image model vs image model
Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 vs LongCat Image
People picked Gemini Nano Banana 2.1’s picture over LongCat Image’s about 86% of the time in blind votes, and it costs 3.9× less: $0.034 against $0.13 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
Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 LongCat Image
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 Gemini Nano Banana 2.1. Models the arena hasn’t rated yet sit in the grey lane at the bottom.
Which one to pick
Pick Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 if
- you want the better picture: in blind votes people chose its image over LongCat Image’s about 86% of the time
- price matters: 100 images cost $3.36, against $13.00 with LongCat Image
- you need to edit pictures you upload; LongCat Image only makes new ones here
Pick LongCat Image if
- you want open weights you can run yourself
The specs
| Spec | Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 | LongCat Image |
|---|---|---|
| Price per image | $0.034 | $0.13 |
| 100 images | $3.36 | $13.00 |
| Text-to-image Elo | 1176 ±12 (#4 in the arena) | 856 ±19 (#92 in the arena) |
| Editing Elo | 1151 ±13 (#5 in the arena) | Not scored yet |
| Arena votes | 6,210 | 2,146 |
| Edits uploaded pictures | Yes | No |
| Largest size | 4K | — |
| Open weights | No | Yes |
| Zero data retention | No | — |
| Lab | Meituan | |
| Official name | Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 | LongCat Image |
| Released | October 2026 | December 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, Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 or LongCat Image?
People picked Gemini Nano Banana 2.1’s picture over LongCat Image’s about 86% of the time in blind votes, and it costs 3.9× less: $0.034 against $0.13 an image.
Which is cheaper, Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 or LongCat Image?
Gemini Nano Banana 2.1: $0.034 for a 1024×1024 image, against $0.13 for LongCat Image. 100 images cost $3.36 and $13.00.
Can Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 and LongCat Image edit images?
Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 can change a picture you upload. LongCat Image only makes new pictures from a prompt here.
How can I compare Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 and LongCat Image 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.
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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.