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FLUX.2 Flexvs.Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Which one is better?

FLUX.2 Flex leads in both ratings: in our own test and in the arena. Both are in the lower half there, though. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large 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
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large31 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

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=7087247023770270000, estimated cost $0.068157, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 43b43d5782192d7284de2b824dd1caaaa6b25032d22fc3f8565d438b137089f3

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large image SHA 256: e748006fe56e442ad347e3f994f18b86ee1739f20dcee063aa7a03ee710c5d54

Infographic

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

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=12166653711354006000, estimated cost $0.068157, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 105f60cdeb71a27021ffff1ad3c0ad919df4e5c74ad83b4628fbd64a8d795a09

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large image SHA 256: 4eb0fd741ef42e6d3fee4b1280cdfb098a0a04009b139051963895892e349f1e

Product photography

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

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=13346308312015933000, estimated cost $0.068157, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 9fef39b1500635ddbf78bcb8d3d9a68463ce952aa1fab89d12f6efe023907de7

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large image SHA 256: ea9a7401dee8859ec2cb96af9f7ca29a177ef2202f52f629d8ce9f5839bd4061

Typography and layout

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

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=16632333557910893000, estimated cost $0.068157, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 324f87bf898593446a400abb43bd00eee015fa0a1dc160db0f864402fc0b38af

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large image SHA 256: e2994b1883a245b1c8c447957d121ea89d93aafff149029aa4e8507dbb769f9a

The numbers at a glance

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

FLUX.2 Flex

Rank 16 of 21

938

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Rank 21 of 21

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

FLUX.2 Flex

Rank 11 of 108

27

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Rank 87 of 108

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

FLUX.2 Flex

fairly cheap

n/a

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

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.

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Subscription
n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API
No API price known. Access: API, local.
License
Open weights.

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 FlexStable Diffusion 3.5 Large
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,156938
Arena rankRank 16 of 21Rank 21 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating156,84923,396
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1007327
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition9831
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details6317
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency7523
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization5739
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.06n/a
100 images$6n/a
Profile
ReleasedNovember 2025Oct 22, 2024
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryopen
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, local
Parametersnot published8.1 billion
Largest output4 Megapixel1 Megapixel
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model26n/a

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) · Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large model source (verified Aug 15, 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 FlexStable Diffusion 3.5 Large
Text to Image: 3D modelingFLUX.2 Flex: 1,173Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: 963FLUX.2 Flex ahead
Text to Image: ArtFLUX.2 Flex: 1,155Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: 997FLUX.2 Flex ahead
Text to Image: CartoonFLUX.2 Flex: 1,163Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: 945FLUX.2 Flex ahead
Text to Image: Commercial designFLUX.2 Flex: 1,172Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: 937FLUX.2 Flex ahead
Text to Image: OverallFLUX.2 Flex: 1,156Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: 938FLUX.2 Flex ahead
Text to Image: PhotorealismFLUX.2 Flex: 1,145Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: 928FLUX.2 Flex ahead
Text to Image: PortraitsFLUX.2 Flex: 1,144Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: 942FLUX.2 Flex ahead
Text to Image: Text renderingFLUX.2 Flex: 1,172Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: 921FLUX.2 Flex ahead

LMArena from Nov 6, 2026

All individual values with sources
RatingFLUX.2 FlexStable Diffusion 3.5 LargeSource
Text to Image: 3D modeling1,173963LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Art1,155997LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon1,163945LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design1,172937LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Overall1,156938LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism1,145928LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits1,144942LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering1,172921LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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