HiDream-O1-Imagevs.Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Which one is better?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 leads in both ratings: in our own test and in the arena. Grok Imagine Image 2.0 costs 1.5 times as much per image.

Test images

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

HiDream-O1-Image: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — HiDream-O1-Image18 out of 100

Grok Imagine Image 2.0: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Grok Imagine Image 2.071 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

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

HiDream-O1-Image: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1735022440, estimated cost $0.010486, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

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

HiDream-O1-Image image SHA 256: 9ac2cbe23ee6a63b0daacd665a40c3471c52c52fd6ad23e46d3027bb95f8c880

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 95148f93193910361a680d5cff305d51bb06d967cb8b35e7ec732bd8501beccc

Infographic

HiDream-O1-Image: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1456348218, estimated cost $0.010486, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

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

HiDream-O1-Image image SHA 256: 258eece8b53e4df0c990b78dee2e02ec57569b1c823c3feff2ab54671240d66f

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 732d7d3978293b5acd7aba0ec8534056bfa9bd5f6d2024c5eb7275d5bf203ba6

Product photography

HiDream-O1-Image: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=124666889, estimated cost $0.010486, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

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

HiDream-O1-Image image SHA 256: 5a9cd3c59556412e4de93a3ef5c4121ec12b6cc02730cad527619c2d8a889783

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 57f2809d2dc95671f5207c2cfc25f629c05be17edfe9bf87ca42d3d33119200e

Typography and layout

HiDream-O1-Image: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=2131088503, estimated cost $0.010486, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

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

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

HiDream-O1-Image image SHA 256: 418a9b974b87b751ad2e4e98cdf6b8d7e2f8f352aed63d25be84c02377f310d1

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 4dae1c4c90d277eed2983780d71f40b4758238ea15a020047c1329fb220e5b51

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,115

HiDream-O1-Image

Rank 19 of 21

1,317

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Rank 5 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

HiDream-O1-Image

Rank 77 of 108

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Rank 16 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.04

HiDream-O1-Image

fairly cheap

$0.06

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

fairly cheap

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.

HiDream-O1-Image

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.04 per image, 100 images $4.
License: Open weights.

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Subscription: No xAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €15.90 a month (Runway Standard, with limited credits). 5 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.06 per image, 100 images $6.

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	HiDream-O1-Image	Grok Imagine Image 2.0
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,115	1,317
Arena rank	Rank 19 of 21	Rank 5 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	79,970	10,830
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	34	73
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	18	71
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	31	68
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	45	75
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	43	77
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.04	$0.06
100 images	$4	$6
Profile
Released	May 2026	Aug 7, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	open	proprietary
Access	API, local	API, Web app
Parameters	8 billion	not published
Largest output	2,048 × 2,048 pixels	2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	n/a	5

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

Sources: HiDream-O1-Image model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · Grok Imagine Image 2.0 model source (verified Sep 28, 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 betterHiDream-O1-ImageGrok Imagine Image 2.0

Text to Image Arena9781,166ahead

Image Editing Arena9531,116ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,1211,291ahead

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,1111,287ahead

Text to Image: Art1,1171,328ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,1181,352ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,1301,325ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,1151,317ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,1091,312ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,1051,332ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,1341,349ahead

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

All individual values with sources

Rating	HiDream-O1-Image	Grok Imagine Image 2.0	Source
Text to Image Arena	978	1,166	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing Arena	953	1,116	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,121	1,291	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,111	1,287	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,117	1,328	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,118	1,352	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,130	1,325	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,115	1,317	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,109	1,312	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,105	1,332	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,134	1,349	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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Predecessor and successor

PredecessorGrok Imagine Image 2.0 vs. Grok Imagine Image QualityPredecessor of Grok Imagine Image 2.0