Krea 2 Largevs.MAI-Image-2.6

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, MAI-Image-2.6 leads. Krea 2 Large 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.

Krea 2 Large: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Krea 2 Large86 out of 100

MAI-Image-2.6: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.662 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:Krea 2 Large slightly 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

Krea 2 Large: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, one request, first returned image, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:36 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039287, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

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

Krea 2 Large image SHA 256: 0ff58bb2381d2d753ef76973ac739c5aa556d182192ebb8d6f44ccba0898f991

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

Infographic

Krea 2 Large: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, one request, first returned image, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:37 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039317, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

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

Krea 2 Large image SHA 256: 5b489d9f70c7253124a51d313bfaea1606f1b6c53ef19d238b5aa9601d2ea6ef

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

Product photography

Krea 2 Large: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, one request, first returned image, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:36 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039292, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

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

Krea 2 Large image SHA 256: d4d912904708c24aae1059d5096a11fcb0b78f5be48be2b045ea07ca046914c8

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

Typography and layout

Krea 2 Large: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, one request, first returned image, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:05 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039252, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

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

Krea 2 Large image SHA 256: f34eb736928ed7555e35c096f9da4ab2df41ba8880e54fdf7cd8b3dce6f3480d

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,115

Krea 2 Large

Rank 18 of 21

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Krea 2 Large

Rank 5 of 108

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 28 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.06

Krea 2 Large

fairly cheap

$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

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.

Krea 2 Large

Subscription: Free to use at Krea (Krea Free, with limited credits), more from ≈ €9.51 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). Through other providers from ≈ €6.34 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 16 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.06 per image, 100 images $6.

MAI-Image-2.6

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.039 per image, 100 images $3.89.

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	Krea 2 Large	MAI-Image-2.6
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,115	1,329
Arena rank	Rank 18 of 21	Rank 4 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	68,477	34,596
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	77	68
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	86	62
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	90	88
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	54	63
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	76	61
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.06	$0.039
100 images	$6	$3.89
Profile
Released	May 2026	Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Lifecycle	no notice	Preview in Microsoft Foundry
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	1K	2,359,296 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	16	n/a

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

Sources: Krea 2 Large model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · MAI-Image-2.6 model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 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 betterKrea 2 LargeMAI-Image-2.6

Text to Image Arena1,0341,167ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,1151,325ahead

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,1441,314ahead

Text to Image: Art1,1241,337ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,1191,348ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,1111,332ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,1151,329ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,1291,330ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,1231,339ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,1171,365ahead

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

All individual values with sources

Rating	Krea 2 Large	MAI-Image-2.6	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,034	1,167	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,115	1,325	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,144	1,314	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,124	1,337	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,119	1,348	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,111	1,332	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,115	1,329	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,129	1,330	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,123	1,339	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,117	1,365	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

More comparisons with Krea 2 Large and MAI-Image-2.6

Compare Krea 2 Large and MAI-Image-2.6 with the models people compare them with most often.

Compare another matchup

First image modelSecond image model

Predecessor and successor

No predecessor recorded for Krea 2 Large
Krea 2 Large has no successor yet
No predecessor recorded for MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 has no successor yet

The most popular comparisons

Show all 12 comparisons