Grok Imagine Image 2.0vs.Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Qwen Image 2.1 Pro has no arena rating yet. Qwen Image 2.1 Pro has no API price.

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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Grok Imagine Image 2.086 out of 100

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Qwen Image 2.1 Pro29 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:Grok Imagine Image 2.0 ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show the exact German headline MONDFALTER and the exact subline BERLIN NACH LISSABON. Use a restrained midnight-blue and warm-cream palette, one stylized moth, strong Swiss-grid typography, generous negative space, and no additional words or logos.

What the rating looks at: Legible text, hierarchy, and composition.

“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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:46 AM. Source

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.046000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:37 PM. Source

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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 95148f93193910361a680d5cff305d51bb06d967cb8b35e7ec732bd8501beccc

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro image SHA 256: 5cc1b66564896a15198281314423f63a70fd897c4542588230dfe0e946beb76c

Infographic

Grok Imagine Image 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:47 AM. Source

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.046000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:37 PM. Source

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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 732d7d3978293b5acd7aba0ec8534056bfa9bd5f6d2024c5eb7275d5bf203ba6

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro image SHA 256: f1eee1f8f0d3355879d5c91b7ae006a95b0511a37f7382b8f6241cb22b3959a0

Product photography

Grok Imagine Image 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:45 AM. Source

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.046000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:36 PM. Source

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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 57f2809d2dc95671f5207c2cfc25f629c05be17edfe9bf87ca42d3d33119200e

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro image SHA 256: 08d93301c324d132b3f5df149f95d57d725c068e6f15b193521f1eb253a1f176

Typography and layout

Grok Imagine Image 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:44 AM. Source

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.046000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:36 PM. Source

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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 4dae1c4c90d277eed2983780d71f40b4758238ea15a020047c1329fb220e5b51

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro image SHA 256: 31be32c6b34f27d2ff60eae3979c211ba8c2e0296595ec13e62f6f249c967058

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,317

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Rank 5 of 22

n/a

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Rank 6 of 74

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

Rank 45 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.06

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

fairly cheap

n/a

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

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.

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Subscription: No xAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €15.98 a month (Runway Standard, with limited credits). 5 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.06 per image, 100 images $6.

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API.
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.

Kennzahl	Grok Imagine Image 2.0	Qwen Image 2.1 Pro
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,317	n/a
Arena rank	Rank 5 of 22	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	10,902	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	74	52
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	86	29
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	76	87
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	57	67
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	78	26
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.06	n/a
100 images	$6	n/a
Profile
Released	Aug 7, 2026	n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	unknown
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	2K	2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	5	n/a

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

Sources: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 model source (verified Sep 28, 2026) · Qwen Image 2.1 Pro 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 Grok Imagine Image 2.0 and Qwen Image 2.1 Pro from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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First image modelSecond image model

More matchups

Compare Grok Imagine Image 2.0 and Qwen Image 2.1 Pro with other important image models.

View the complete image model comparison

Same prompt, two images

The numbers at a glance

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

Compare another matchup

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