Image model vs image model
Qwen Image 3 vs Recraft V4.1 Flash
People picked Qwen Image 3’s picture over Recraft V4.1 Flash’s about 67% of the time in blind votes. Recraft V4.1 Flash costs 5.7× less ($0.04 against $0.007 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
Qwen Image 3 Recraft V4.1 Flash
Price per image · 1024×1024, lower is better
Text to image · arena Elo, higher is better
Where they sit among all 57 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 Qwen Image 3. Models the arena hasn’t rated yet sit in the grey lane at the bottom.
Which one to pick
Pick Qwen Image 3 if
- you want the better picture: in blind votes people chose its image over Recraft V4.1 Flash’s about 67% of the time
- you need to edit pictures you upload; Recraft V4.1 Flash only makes new ones here
Pick Recraft V4.1 Flash if
- price matters: 100 images cost $0.70, against $4.00 with Qwen Image 3
The specs
| Spec | Qwen Image 3 | Recraft V4.1 Flash |
|---|---|---|
| Price per image | $0.04 | $0.007 |
| 100 images | $4.00 | $0.70 |
| Text-to-image Elo | 1070 ±12 (#18 in the arena) | 949 ±12 (#70 in the arena) |
| Editing Elo | 1068 ±13 (#29 in the arena) | Not scored yet |
| Arena votes | 6,090 | 5,770 |
| Edits uploaded pictures | Yes | No |
| Largest size | — | — |
| Open weights | No | No |
| Zero data retention | — | No |
| Lab | Alibaba | Recraft |
| Official name | Qwen Image 3 | Recraft V4.1 Flash |
| Released | July 2026 | September 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, Qwen Image 3 or Recraft V4.1 Flash?
People picked Qwen Image 3’s picture over Recraft V4.1 Flash’s about 67% of the time in blind votes. Recraft V4.1 Flash costs 5.7× less ($0.04 against $0.007 an image), so it wins when “good enough” will do.
Which is cheaper, Qwen Image 3 or Recraft V4.1 Flash?
Recraft V4.1 Flash: $0.007 for a 1024×1024 image, against $0.04 for Qwen Image 3. 100 images cost $0.70 and $4.00.
Can Qwen Image 3 and Recraft V4.1 Flash edit images?
Qwen Image 3 can change a picture you upload. Recraft V4.1 Flash only makes new pictures from a prompt here.
How can I compare Qwen Image 3 and Recraft V4.1 Flash 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.