Image model vs image model
Grok Imagine Image vs Qwen-Image
People picked Grok Imagine Image’s picture over Qwen-Image’s about 66% of the time in blind votes, and they cost about the same ($0.02 against $0.02 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
Grok Imagine Image Qwen-Image
Text to image · arena Elo, higher is better
Editing · 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 Grok Imagine Image. Models the arena hasn’t rated yet sit in the grey lane at the bottom.
Which one to pick
Pick Grok Imagine Image if
- you want the better picture: in blind votes people chose its image over Qwen-Image’s about 66% of the time
- you mostly edit pictures: it scores higher in the editing arena (Elo 1073 against 889)
- your prompts mustn’t be stored: every provider that serves it promises zero data retention
Pick Qwen-Image if
- you want open weights you can run yourself
The specs
| Spec | Grok Imagine Image | Qwen-Image |
|---|---|---|
| Price per image | $0.02 | $0.02 ($0.03 per edit) |
| 100 images | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Text-to-image Elo | 1022 ±11 (#34 in the arena) | 903 ±18 (#83 in the arena) |
| Editing Elo | 1073 ±13 (#25 in the arena) | 889 ±20 (#69 in the arena) |
| Arena votes | 6,330 | 2,339 |
| Edits uploaded pictures | Yes | Yes |
| Largest size | — | — |
| Open weights | No | Yes |
| Zero data retention | Yes | — |
| Lab | SpaceXAI | Alibaba |
| Official name | Grok Imagine Image | Qwen-Image |
| Released | January 2026 | August 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, Grok Imagine Image or Qwen-Image?
People picked Grok Imagine Image’s picture over Qwen-Image’s about 66% of the time in blind votes, and they cost about the same ($0.02 against $0.02 an image).
Which is cheaper, Grok Imagine Image or Qwen-Image?
They cost about the same: Grok Imagine Image $0.02 and Qwen-Image $0.02 for a 1024×1024 image.
Can Grok Imagine Image and Qwen-Image edit images?
Yes, both can change a picture you upload. In the Artificial Analysis editing arena Grok Imagine Image has an Elo of 1073 and Qwen-Image 889.
How can I compare Grok Imagine Image and Qwen-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.
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.