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GPT Image 2.5 Flarevs.Recraft V4.1

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Recraft V4.1 has no arena rating yet. Recraft V4.1 has no API price.

Same prompt, two images

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

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
GPT Image 2.5 Flare82 out of 100
Recraft V4.1: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
Recraft V4.137 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:GPT Image 2.5 Flare slightly ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

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

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

Recraft V4.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:37 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 85b17c41b19389cae3ea073ef582e6065a321d741978e772987d22e3ea3e3b08

Recraft V4.1 image SHA 256: b4e53e88552e5850d1ca0858ae7351851544281c853d625fbe6e028a16920195

Infographic

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

Recraft V4.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:37 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: bc752abfce1c0d27b73e4084c3e7d82c4c0f71e0e5af97a80f4b24326cc4686e

Recraft V4.1 image SHA 256: adaec4b62c06d7fc4107f8d61bbf8742b412abcdd17c22d01f8f21b194a6d3b6

Product photography

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

Recraft V4.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:37 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 69fedb7d635d1329c461ff1ee9e5cf8384119e218e3b3bdb93b9e11f728335d8

Recraft V4.1 image SHA 256: e6651efeb56090323aeb160fa80eeb4faab85c3b8dac61a684b6a975b2450530

Typography and layout

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

Recraft V4.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:37 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: cc90d54a99e1bad9e0cc8e4196746fb1d56a2fdd2a9ee101dbbf270ef5e4b6a8

Recraft V4.1 image SHA 256: c4f8387fba9aaf0223c56a3224559e21f670e14c38eb7d64b235b675ef1008c3

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,401

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 2 of 22

n/a

Recraft V4.1

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
59

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 32 of 74

57

Recraft V4.1

Rank 34 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.21

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

expensive

n/a

Recraft V4.1

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.

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Subscription
No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.39 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 61 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.21 per image, 100 images $21.07.

Recraft V4.1

Subscription
Free to use at Recraft (Recraft Free, with limited credits), more from ≈ €12.78 a month (Recraft Basic, with limited credits). Through other providers from ≈ €6.39 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 27 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
Weights
unknown.

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.

KennzahlGPT Image 2.5 FlareRecraft V4.1
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,401n/a
Arena rankRank 2 of 22n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating39,218n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1005957
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition4857
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details3873
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency8237
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization6661
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.21n/a
100 images$21.07n/a
Profile
ReleasedSep 8, 2026May 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryunknown
AccessAPIAPI, Web app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest outputnot consistently published2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model6127

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

Sources: GPT Image 2.5 Flare model source (verified Sep 22, 2026) · Recraft V4.1 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 GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Recraft V4.1 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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