GPT Image 2.5 Flarevs.LongCat-Image
Which one is better?
In our own test, GPT Image 2.5 Flare leads. LongCat-Image has no arena rating yet. LongCat-Image has no API price.
Test images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
Result for “Infographic”:GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
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 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source
LongCat-Image: fal, image_size=square_hd; exact native pixels are not request-configurable, n=1, seed=1234871882, Estimate reserves 2 MP at Fal's $0.13 per MP rate, estimated cost $0.260000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:06 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 85b17c41b19389cae3ea073ef582e6065a321d741978e772987d22e3ea3e3b08
LongCat-Image image SHA 256: 7c2d3cbf8efa756277fc1e20af0c0c7c4febec50b30244eb9b85c02c236e97ca
Infographic
GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source
LongCat-Image: fal, image_size=square_hd; exact native pixels are not request-configurable, n=1, seed=886012823, Estimate reserves 2 MP at Fal's $0.13 per MP rate, estimated cost $0.260000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:06 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: bc752abfce1c0d27b73e4084c3e7d82c4c0f71e0e5af97a80f4b24326cc4686e
LongCat-Image image SHA 256: ce6df19ed744009c81aec8257cef3e5a4de7ea0d4985c709335ec1b50c3381fb
Product photography
GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source
LongCat-Image: fal, image_size=square_hd; exact native pixels are not request-configurable, n=1, seed=1319752608, Estimate reserves 2 MP at Fal's $0.13 per MP rate, estimated cost $0.260000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:06 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 69fedb7d635d1329c461ff1ee9e5cf8384119e218e3b3bdb93b9e11f728335d8
LongCat-Image image SHA 256: 1f95d4152dfa60c5056df13bf813563a75863f4a34419344e1a59a800a46f689
Typography and layout
GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:52 PM. Source
LongCat-Image: fal, image_size=square_hd; exact native pixels are not request-configurable, n=1, seed=943200407, Estimate reserves 2 MP at Fal's $0.13 per MP rate, estimated cost $0.260000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:06 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: cc90d54a99e1bad9e0cc8e4196746fb1d56a2fdd2a9ee101dbbf270ef5e4b6a8
LongCat-Image image SHA 256: 1d6b72ae389c339ff3011ee3c59bd77b12b5157f1fadcf0932c96ebe5313836b
The numbers at a glance
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Rank 2 of 21
LongCat-Image
not in the arena
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Rank 18 of 108
LongCat-Image
Rank 80 of 108
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
expensive
LongCat-Image
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.
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.
LongCat-Image
- Subscription
- n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
- Via API
- No API price known. Access: 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.
| Kennzahl | GPT Image 2.5 Flare | LongCat-Image |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better | 1,399 | n/a |
| Arena rank | Rank 2 of 21 | n/a |
| Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating | 53,925 | n/a |
| GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 | 72 | 33 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 64 | 41 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 69 | 29 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 63 | 24 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 91 | 37 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | $0.21 | n/a |
| 100 images | $21.07 | n/a |
| Profile | ||
| Released | Sep 8, 2026 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | proprietary | open |
| Access | API | local |
| Parameters | not published | 6 billion |
| Largest output | not consistently published | not consistently published |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | 61 | n/a |
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) · LongCat-Image 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 LongCat-Image from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
More comparisons
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