GPT Image 2vs.GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Is the extra cost worth it?

Probably not. In our own test both are on par. In the arena, GPT Image 2.5 Flare leads. Both cost about the same per image.

Test images

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

GPT Image 2: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — GPT Image 266 out of 100

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — GPT Image 2.5 Flare91 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:GPT Image 2.5 Flare slightly ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Numbers, labels, and visual organization.

“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

GPT Image 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:13 PM. Source

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

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

GPT Image 2 image SHA 256: 82f6e2369ab4fb6efb0ef48feeff0d14f1d6087c64c35113a983456f0f0879ac

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 85b17c41b19389cae3ea073ef582e6065a321d741978e772987d22e3ea3e3b08

Infographic

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

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

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

GPT Image 2 image SHA 256: 6c15466e258e2b14a8e862959cb6a67b4f7a23896ea5d42c5a5618d848847711

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: bc752abfce1c0d27b73e4084c3e7d82c4c0f71e0e5af97a80f4b24326cc4686e

Product photography

GPT Image 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:13 PM. Source

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

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

GPT Image 2 image SHA 256: 471c71b30618afb1a8a67ab8363308d67f99c65ef6740ca72417806d06d3c346

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 69fedb7d635d1329c461ff1ee9e5cf8384119e218e3b3bdb93b9e11f728335d8

Typography and layout

GPT Image 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:59 PM. Source

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

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

GPT Image 2 image SHA 256: 434cf9939b9be2a2c2711e13d027c9438c47038bb32229ceeaf405d2e89d2afc

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: cc90d54a99e1bad9e0cc8e4196746fb1d56a2fdd2a9ee101dbbf270ef5e4b6a8

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,381

GPT Image 2

Rank 3 of 21

1,401

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 2 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

GPT Image 2

Rank 15 of 108

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 18 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.21

GPT Image 2

expensive

$0.21

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

expensive

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.

GPT Image 2

Subscription: No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.34 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 61 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.21 per image, 100 images $21.10.

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Subscription: No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.34 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 61 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.21 per image, 100 images $21.07.

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 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 3, 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.

Kennzahl	GPT Image 2	GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,381	1,401
Arena rank	Rank 3 of 21	Rank 2 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	103,385	39,218
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	73	72
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	75	64
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	89	69
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	60	63
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	66	91
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.21	$0.21
100 images	$21.10	$21.07
Profile
Released	April 2026	Sep 8, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	4K	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	61	61

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

Sources: GPT Image 2 model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · GPT Image 2.5 Flare model 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 betterGPT Image 2GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Text to Image Arena1,1891,207level

Image Editing Arena1,1371,183ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,3631,378level

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,3391,358level

Text to Image: Art1,3701,387ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,4021,431ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,3851,387level

Text to Image: Overall1,3811,401ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,3781,415ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,4261,439level

Text to Image: Text rendering1,4231,435level

Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,4591,495ahead

Image Editing: Multi-image editing1,4541,477ahead

Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editing1,4841,478level

Image Editing: Overall1,4601,482ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 3, 2026 · LMArena from Oct 28, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	GPT Image 2	GPT Image 2.5 Flare	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,189	1,207	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,137	1,183	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,363	1,378	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,339	1,358	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,370	1,387	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,402	1,431	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,385	1,387	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,381	1,401	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,378	1,415	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,426	1,439	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,423	1,435	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation	1,459	1,495	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Multi-image editing	1,454	1,477	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editing	1,484	1,478	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,460	1,482	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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Predecessor and successor

PredecessorGPT Image 2 vs. GPT Image 1.5Predecessor of GPT Image 2
SuccessorGPT Image 2 vs. GPT Image 2.5 SunburstSuccessor of GPT Image 2
No predecessor recorded for GPT Image 2.5 Flare
GPT Image 2.5 Flare has no successor yet

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