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Head-to-head comparison

FLUX.2 Flex vs. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Compare arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Text-to-image generation and image editing are never blended into an artificial overall score.

8

shared result series

4

shared sample prompts

2026-08-16

latest arena retrieval

Change image model selection

Specifications and cost

General specifications and task-specific pricing

A model can have one price for generating new images and another for editing. Prices therefore remain tied to the corresponding arena configuration.

Specifications and pricing for FLUX.2 Flex and Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large
AttributeFLUX.2 FlexStable Diffusion 3.5 Large
ProviderBlack Forest LabsStability AI
ReleasedNovember 2025October 22, 2024
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, local
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryOpen weights
ParametersNot published8.1 billion
Maximum output4 Megapixel1 Megapixel
Arena configurationFlexNo separate configuration named
Text-to-image price$60 per 1,000 imagesNo arena entry
Editing price$120 per 1,000 imagesNo arena entry
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15

Independent preference tests

Shared arena benchmarks

Artificial Analysis and Arena derive scores from blind comparisons. Raters see outputs for the same prompt and choose the image they prefer. Separate series cover text rendering, photorealism, portraits, art, commercial design, and image editing. Confidence intervals indicate how certain a measured lead is.

8 shared result series
FLUX.2 FlexStable Diffusion 3.5 Large
Arena Text to Image: 3D modelingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
FLUX.2 Flex1,171.967 arena pointsHigher arena score
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large963.912 arena points
Arena Text to Image: ArtBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
FLUX.2 Flex1,155.954 arena pointsHigher arena score
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large997.688 arena points
Arena Text to Image: CartoonBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
FLUX.2 Flex1,162.335 arena pointsHigher arena score
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large945.603 arena points
Arena Text to Image: Commercial designBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
FLUX.2 Flex1,173.137 arena pointsHigher arena score
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large937.14 arena points
Arena Text to Image: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
FLUX.2 Flex1,156.466 arena pointsHigher arena score
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large938.302 arena points
Arena Text to Image: PhotorealismBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
FLUX.2 Flex1,146.683 arena pointsHigher arena score
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large928.086 arena points
Arena Text to Image: PortraitsBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
FLUX.2 Flex1,144.533 arena pointsHigher arena score
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large941.134 arena points
Arena Text to Image: Text renderingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
FLUX.2 Flex1,172.004 arena pointsHigher arena score
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large921.402 arena points
Arena benchmark scores for FLUX.2 Flex and Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large
BenchmarkFLUX.2 FlexStable Diffusion 3.5 LargeSource
Arena Text to Image: 3D modeling
1,171.967 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 19, 95% confidence interval: ±7.03, 15,066 ratings
963.912 arena points
Rank 73, 95% confidence interval: ±15.9, 1,629 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Art
1,155.954 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 28, 95% confidence interval: ±6.38, 21,779 ratings
997.688 arena points
Rank 70, 95% confidence interval: ±9.46, 5,340 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Cartoon
1,162.335 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 26, 95% confidence interval: ±5.15, 55,850 ratings
945.603 arena points
Rank 73, 95% confidence interval: ±6.34, 12,274 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Commercial design
1,173.137 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 21, 95% confidence interval: ±4.95, 55,246 ratings
937.14 arena points
Rank 74, 95% confidence interval: ±11.06, 3,051 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Overall
1,156.466 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 25, 95% confidence interval: ±3.42, 149,402 ratings
938.302 arena points
Rank 74, 95% confidence interval: ±4.5, 23,396 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Photorealism
1,146.683 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 33, 95% confidence interval: ±4.87, 63,801 ratings
928.086 arena points
Rank 74, 95% confidence interval: ±7.07, 9,405 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Portraits
1,144.533 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 34, 95% confidence interval: ±5.82, 33,696 ratings
941.134 arena points
Rank 73, 95% confidence interval: ±8.89, 5,704 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Text rendering
1,172.004 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 22, 95% confidence interval: ±5.14, 49,969 ratings
921.402 arena points
Rank 74, 95% confidence interval: ±10.85, 3,222 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16

Visual comparison

Sample images from documented runs

Our images complement preference data, but do not replace it. The prompt, request count, and selection rule match. Provider resolution, quality tier, randomness, and prompt processing remain visible limitations, so this is not a fully controlled laboratory test.

Largely standardized comparison protocol. Both models receive the same archived prompt, exactly one request, and the first result counts. Files are normalized to 1,024 × 1,024 pixels without cropping. Provider resolution, randomness, quality tier, and prompt processing can still differ. These images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency

FLUX.2 Flex, Character and detail
FLUX.2 Flex
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Character and detail
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large
Prompt and settings

Create a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting under a transparent umbrella at a rainy tram stop in Hamburg at blue hour. She wears a mustard raincoat, navy trousers, red sneakers, a silver helmet, and carries a teal messenger bag. Keep both hands visible, render the bicycle correctly, use realistic wet-street reflections, and include no readable brand names.

FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=7087247023770270000, estimated cost $0.068157, model ID fal-ai/stable-diffusion-v35-large, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 43b43d5782192d7284de2b824dd1caaaa6b25032d22fc3f8565d438b137089f3

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: fe5b22589e6505017dc44f4729b1bb60b15820ba3673354d03a69c8b82831953

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, image SHA 256: e748006fe56e442ad347e3f994f18b86ee1739f20dcee063aa7a03ee710c5d54

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, request SHA 256: 5d005ee24926d68b7d2299b8ecbe4e14919f652761f6de2568a043f2a6258da0

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

FLUX.2 Flex, Infographic
FLUX.2 Flex
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Infographic
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large
Prompt and settings

Create a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly four numbered steps in this order: 1 LICHT, 2 WASSER, 3 CO₂, 4 ZUCKER + SAUERSTOFF. Use a clean editorial science style with one plant cross-section, simple arrows, high contrast, legible labels, and no other text.

FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=12166653711354006000, estimated cost $0.068157, model ID fal-ai/stable-diffusion-v35-large, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 105f60cdeb71a27021ffff1ad3c0ad919df4e5c74ad83b4628fbd64a8d795a09

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: 11d4ec056332340dc822c82021ef10c6a6aa92de6e44dc931a90b7cbb6f14146

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, image SHA 256: 4eb0fd741ef42e6d3fee4b1280cdfb098a0a04009b139051963895892e349f1e

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, request SHA 256: 8b8014fc63f520d73ff57d3d8df5eae880097383167d44918b963f2830d09940

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

FLUX.2 Flex, Product photography
FLUX.2 Flex
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Product photography
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large
Prompt and settings

Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing upright on dark green marble. The watch has a cream dial, thin black hands set to 10:10, twelve distinct hour markers, a realistic crown, and a dark brown leather strap. Soft window light from the left, controlled reflections, shallow depth of field, no text, no logo, no extra objects.

FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=13346308312015933000, estimated cost $0.068157, model ID fal-ai/stable-diffusion-v35-large, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 9fef39b1500635ddbf78bcb8d3d9a68463ce952aa1fab89d12f6efe023907de7

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: 1c864c5e5d7f1e7008f15466fd0786f801ae94b17939b4f10de9a61c27766a59

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, image SHA 256: ea9a7401dee8859ec2cb96af9f7ca29a177ef2202f52f629d8ce9f5839bd4061

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, request SHA 256: 21e2c14d1b6315c30134e1390f531349608855d4ef1a87527e6d0ba57b2974ca

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

FLUX.2 Flex, Typography and layout
FLUX.2 Flex
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Typography and layout
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large
Prompt and settings

Create 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.

FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=16632333557910893000, estimated cost $0.068157, model ID fal-ai/stable-diffusion-v35-large, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 324f87bf898593446a400abb43bd00eee015fa0a1dc160db0f864402fc0b38af

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: a0aa716f2a302bdfa59820d2e2c27cc56f730e8e2e4d5b64223d29a6979e1475

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, image SHA 256: e2994b1883a245b1c8c447957d121ea89d93aafff149029aa4e8507dbb769f9a

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, request SHA 256: 530872e813e988ba95025956a3743c6111120af963d90b8970a8bf3eced5547b

How to read this comparison

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

A higher arena score means this specific configuration was preferred more often in blind comparisons.

Typography, character consistency, local execution, licensing, and price may matter more to your workload than overall visual appeal.

Prices cover 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels using settings documented by Artificial Analysis. Subscriptions and special rates are excluded.

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