FLUX.2 Maxvs.Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium
Which one is better?
In our own test, FLUX.2 Max leads. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium has no arena rating yet. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium has no API price.
Same prompt, two images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
Result for “Character and detail”:FLUX.2 Max ahead
What the rating looks at: Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency.
“Ahead”: better in all three rating rounds. “Slightly ahead”: a higher value, but not in every round.
Test protocol of the images
Both models receive the same archived prompt in 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. The images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.
Character and detail
FLUX.2 Max: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:23 PM. Source
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:17 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: a0a2cef301582c47a8dca69ccd1c52212c37ca6c058d7185a880a7856713cd9e
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium image SHA 256: 6b8aa732e94479ad302904096c5031908141e4083ee099f080185aa04c2ea800
Infographic
FLUX.2 Max: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:24 PM. Source
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:17 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: 9321457355d5a9630073632fb6441bf388da1c4ee8e5d58e58cd0603ce756a09
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium image SHA 256: 61b12e227431387098e51c6ce6d059be9d8df9c85263b994bee62602e2ddfd16
Product photography
FLUX.2 Max: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:23 PM. Source
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:16 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: dd6ad8d1ec45154727d9ddf573ef10da5225899820055318d23bcd4e5a1e930c
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium image SHA 256: 2412a20e61c118ce7ab7ff83e285b96eb32d5c0f1171cc769e153db6655b8f67
Typography and layout
FLUX.2 Max: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM. Source
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:16 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: 3eb2daf01c749ee25d86c2e4f55d6d3d81cfb4590eb0343f9a4bb3d0a70d19bc
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium image SHA 256: bc854c3269ea8bada6f764545f4a09abedc110219018c09f2fa5708a14d9af7e
The numbers at a glance
FLUX.2 Max
Rank 16 of 22
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium
not in the arena
FLUX.2 Max
Rank 20 of 74
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium
Rank 69 of 74
FLUX.2 Max
fairly expensive
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium
no API price
Ranks among the 22 image models with an arena rating and the 74 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.
FLUX.2 Max
- Subscription
- No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 28 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- $0.07 per image, 100 images $7.
Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium
- 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 Oct 28, 2026 · GraduallyBench from Nov 1, 2026 · API prices from Oct 28, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (34 days old)
All data side by side
The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.
| Kennzahl | FLUX.2 Max | Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better | 1,161 | n/a |
| Arena rank | Rank 16 of 22 | n/a |
| Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating | 123,144 | n/a |
| GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 | 63 | 16 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 68 | 17 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 52 | 13 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 85 | 16 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 48 | 20 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | $0.07 | n/a |
| 100 images | $7 | n/a |
| Profile | ||
| Released | December 2025 | Oct 29, 2024 |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | proprietary | open |
| Access | API, Web app | API, local |
| Parameters | not published | 2.5 billion |
| Largest output | 4 Megapixel | not consistently published |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | 28 | n/a |
API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.
Sources: FLUX.2 Max model source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium model source (verified Nov 1, 2026)
Arena ratings by category
From blind votes on LMArena. “Ahead” means the lead is clear.
No shared arena score in the stored snapshot
The stored benchmark database contains no measurement for FLUX.2 Max and Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
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