Image model vs image model
Recraft V4.1 Utility vs Z-Image Base
People picked Recraft V4.1 Utility’s picture over Z-Image Base’s about 69% of the time in blind votes. Z-Image Base costs 3.5× less ($0.035 against $0.01 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
Recraft V4.1 Utility 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 Recraft V4.1 Utility. Models the arena hasn’t rated yet sit in the grey lane at the bottom.
Which one to pick
Pick Recraft V4.1 Utility if
- you want the better picture: in blind votes people chose its image over Z-Image Base’s about 69% of the time
Pick Z-Image Base if
- price matters: 100 images cost $1.00, against $3.50 with Recraft V4.1 Utility
- you want open weights you can run yourself
The specs
| Spec | Recraft V4.1 Utility | Z-Image Base |
|---|---|---|
| Price per image | $0.035 | $0.01 |
| 100 images | $3.50 | $1.00 |
| Text-to-image Elo | 1026 ±11 (#29 in the arena) | 891 ±17 (#87 in the arena) |
| Editing Elo | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Arena votes | 7,452 | 2,500 |
| Edits uploaded pictures | No | No |
| Largest size | — | — |
| Open weights | No | Yes |
| Zero data retention | No | — |
| Lab | Recraft | Alibaba |
| Official name | Recraft V4.1 Utility | Z-Image Base |
| Released | May 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, Recraft V4.1 Utility or Z-Image Base?
People picked Recraft V4.1 Utility’s picture over Z-Image Base’s about 69% of the time in blind votes. Z-Image Base costs 3.5× less ($0.035 against $0.01 an image), so it wins when “good enough” will do.
Which is cheaper, Recraft V4.1 Utility or Z-Image Base?
Z-Image Base: $0.01 for a 1024×1024 image, against $0.035 for Recraft V4.1 Utility. 100 images cost $1.00 and $3.50.
Can Recraft V4.1 Utility and Z-Image Base edit images?
Not on ModelCompare: both only make new pictures from a prompt here.
How can I compare Recraft V4.1 Utility 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.