FLUX.2 Flexvs.GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, GPT Image 2.5 Flare leads. GPT Image 2.5 Flare costs 3.5 times as much per image.

Test images

Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.

FLUX.2 Flex: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — FLUX.2 Flex98 out of 100

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — GPT Image 2.5 Flare64 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:FLUX.2 Flex ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show the exact German headline MONDFALTER and the exact subline BERLIN NACH LISSABON. Use a restrained midnight-blue and warm-cream palette, one stylized moth, strong Swiss-grid typography, generous negative space, and no additional words or logos.

What the rating looks at: Legible text, hierarchy, and composition.

“Ahead”: better in all three rating rounds. “Slightly ahead”: a higher value, but not in every round.

Test protocol of the images

Each test attempt uses the same archived prompt and one request. The first output of that attempt counts. Repeats after technical test failures are disclosed for the affected images. Files are normalized to 1,024 × 1,024 pixels without cropping. Provider resolution, randomness, quality tier and prompt processing can still differ. The images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

FLUX.2 Flex: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 43b43d5782192d7284de2b824dd1caaaa6b25032d22fc3f8565d438b137089f3

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 85b17c41b19389cae3ea073ef582e6065a321d741978e772987d22e3ea3e3b08

Infographic

FLUX.2 Flex: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 105f60cdeb71a27021ffff1ad3c0ad919df4e5c74ad83b4628fbd64a8d795a09

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: bc752abfce1c0d27b73e4084c3e7d82c4c0f71e0e5af97a80f4b24326cc4686e

Product photography

FLUX.2 Flex: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 9fef39b1500635ddbf78bcb8d3d9a68463ce952aa1fab89d12f6efe023907de7

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 69fedb7d635d1329c461ff1ee9e5cf8384119e218e3b3bdb93b9e11f728335d8

Typography and layout

FLUX.2 Flex: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:52 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 324f87bf898593446a400abb43bd00eee015fa0a1dc160db0f864402fc0b38af

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: cc90d54a99e1bad9e0cc8e4196746fb1d56a2fdd2a9ee101dbbf270ef5e4b6a8

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,156

FLUX.2 Flex

Rank 16 of 21

1,399

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 2 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

FLUX.2 Flex

Rank 11 of 108

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 18 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.06

FLUX.2 Flex

fairly cheap

$0.21

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

expensive

Ranks among the 21 image models with an arena rating and the 108 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.

FLUX.2 Flex

Subscription: No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 26 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.06 per image, 100 images $6.

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Subscription: No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.36 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 61 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.21 per image, 100 images $21.07.

Subscriptions only count plans that name exactly this model. Subscription prices include VAT, API prices are in dollars.

Arena rating (LMArena) from Nov 6, 2026 · GraduallyBench from Nov 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 6, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (38 days old)

All data side by side

The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.

Kennzahl	FLUX.2 Flex	GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,156	1,399
Arena rank	Rank 16 of 21	Rank 2 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	156,849	53,925
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	73	72
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	98	64
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	63	69
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	75	63
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	57	91
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.06	$0.21
100 images	$6	$21.07
Profile
Released	November 2025	Sep 8, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	4 Megapixel	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	26	61

API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.

Sources: FLUX.2 Flex model source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · GPT Image 2.5 Flare model source (verified Sep 22, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

From blind votes on LMArena. “Ahead” means the lead is clear.

Arena rating per categoryfrom votes by users · higher is betterFLUX.2 FlexGPT Image 2.5 Flare

Text to Image Arena1,0281,208ahead

Image Editing Arena9961,182ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,1731,382ahead

Text to Image: Art1,1551,387ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,1631,427ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,1721,385ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,1561,399ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,1451,416ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,1441,439ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,1721,432ahead

Image Editing: Multi-image editing1,2341,476ahead

Image Editing: Overall1,2251,482ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 6, 2026 · LMArena from Nov 6, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	FLUX.2 Flex	GPT Image 2.5 Flare	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,028	1,208	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing Arena	996	1,182	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,173	1,382	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,155	1,387	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,163	1,427	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,172	1,385	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,156	1,399	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,145	1,416	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,144	1,439	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,172	1,432	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing: Multi-image editing	1,234	1,476	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,225	1,482	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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