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FLUX.2 Flexvs.Qwen-Image-2.1

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, Qwen-Image-2.1 leads. Both are in the lower half there, though. Qwen-Image-2.1 has no API price.

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
Qwen-Image-2.1: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Qwen-Image-2.154 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

Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=1591420783, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 43b43d5782192d7284de2b824dd1caaaa6b25032d22fc3f8565d438b137089f3

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: b29bb7e207ad464957ee060bbf0655104bcbece703360254e48daa3ec35a62d7

Infographic

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

Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=1283422012, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, prior anonymous attempt refused before inference (ZeroGPU quota), completed through authenticated browser, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 105f60cdeb71a27021ffff1ad3c0ad919df4e5c74ad83b4628fbd64a8d795a09

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 316e38ed63ff401f86a7ceee9cc65c74413e0e9c7c899a6e6bf453acc2940dac

Product photography

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

Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=196359631, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 9fef39b1500635ddbf78bcb8d3d9a68463ce952aa1fab89d12f6efe023907de7

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 041f559d4261865b327fcae4f8bb0bd3b176c55a3b1255a042ab3e0fc4f9bc4b

Typography and layout

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

Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=158818011, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 324f87bf898593446a400abb43bd00eee015fa0a1dc160db0f864402fc0b38af

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 4670269190f492154c05e3f18c4eb9e3938910ca1aca32503b6a1ceb16d39b38

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,156

FLUX.2 Flex

Rank 16 of 21

1,227

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 14 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
73

FLUX.2 Flex

Rank 11 of 108

65

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 40 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.06

FLUX.2 Flex

fairly cheap

n/a

Qwen-Image-2.1

no API price

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.

Qwen-Image-2.1

Subscription
No Alibaba subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.54 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 5 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: local, Web app.
License
Open weights, Qwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license.

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.

KennzahlFLUX.2 FlexQwen-Image-2.1
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,1561,227
Arena rankRank 16 of 21Rank 14 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating156,84919,378
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1007365
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition9854
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details6390
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency7534
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization5783
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.06n/a
100 images$6n/a
Profile
ReleasedNovember 2025Sep 20, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryopenQwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license
AccessAPI, Web applocal, Web app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output4 Megapixel2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model265

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) · Qwen-Image-2.1 model source, status 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 FlexQwen-Image-2.1
Text to Image ArenaFLUX.2 Flex: 1,028Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,045level
Image Editing ArenaFLUX.2 Flex: 996Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,080Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
Text to Image: 3D modelingFLUX.2 Flex: 1,173Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,214Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
Text to Image: ArtFLUX.2 Flex: 1,155Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,235Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
Text to Image: CartoonFLUX.2 Flex: 1,163Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,234Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
Text to Image: Commercial designFLUX.2 Flex: 1,172Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,237Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
Text to Image: OverallFLUX.2 Flex: 1,156Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,227Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
Text to Image: PhotorealismFLUX.2 Flex: 1,145Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,230Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
Text to Image: PortraitsFLUX.2 Flex: 1,144Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,256Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
Text to Image: Text renderingFLUX.2 Flex: 1,172Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,250Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
Image Editing: OverallFLUX.2 Flex: 1,225Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,364Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead

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

All individual values with sources
RatingFLUX.2 FlexQwen-Image-2.1Source
Text to Image Arena1,0281,045Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing Arena9961,080Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling1,1731,214LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Art1,1551,235LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon1,1631,234LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design1,1721,237LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Overall1,1561,227LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism1,1451,230LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits1,1441,256LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering1,1721,250LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing: Overall1,2251,364LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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