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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
1,382

GPT Image 2

Rank 3 of 21

1,399

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 2 of 21

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

GPT Image 2

Rank 15 of 108

72

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 ≈ €6.36 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 ≈ €6.36 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 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.

KennzahlGPT Image 2GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,3821,399
Arena rankRank 3 of 21Rank 2 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating106,73753,925
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1007372
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition7564
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details8969
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency6063
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization6691
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.21$0.21
100 images$21.10$21.07
Profile
ReleasedApril 2026Sep 8, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryproprietary
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output4Knot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model6161

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 ArenaGPT Image 2: 1,188GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,208level
Image Editing ArenaGPT Image 2: 1,136GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,182GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: 3D modelingGPT Image 2: 1,365GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,382level
Text to Image: Agentic image generationGPT Image 2: 1,338GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,363level
Text to Image: ArtGPT Image 2: 1,371GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,387GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: CartoonGPT Image 2: 1,403GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,427GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: Commercial designGPT Image 2: 1,386GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,385level
Text to Image: OverallGPT Image 2: 1,382GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,399GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: PhotorealismGPT Image 2: 1,379GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,416GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: PortraitsGPT Image 2: 1,426GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,439level
Text to Image: Text renderingGPT Image 2: 1,424GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,432level
Image Editing: Agentic image generationGPT Image 2: 1,460GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,492GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Image Editing: Multi-image editingGPT Image 2: 1,454GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,476GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editingGPT Image 2: 1,488GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,476level
Image Editing: OverallGPT Image 2: 1,460GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,482GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 6, 2026 · LMArena from Nov 6, 2026

All individual values with sources
RatingGPT Image 2GPT Image 2.5 FlareSource
Text to Image Arena1,1881,208Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing Arena1,1361,182Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling1,3651,382LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,3381,363LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Art1,3711,387LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon1,4031,427LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design1,3861,385LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Overall1,3821,399LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism1,3791,416LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits1,4261,439LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering1,4241,432LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,4601,492LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing: Multi-image editing1,4541,476LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editing1,4881,476LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing: Overall1,4601,482LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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