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MAI-Image-2.6vs.Ideogram 4.5

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Ideogram 4.5 has no arena rating yet. Ideogram 4.5 costs 2.6 times as much per image.

Same prompt, two images

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

MAI-Image-2.6: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
MAI-Image-2.640 out of 100
Ideogram 4.5: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
Ideogram 4.582 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:Ideogram 4.5 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

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

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

Ideogram 4.5: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=676327336, prompt expansion disabled, quality low, estimated cost $0.030000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:44 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

Ideogram 4.5 image SHA 256: 765cb852ecb10a396bad4bd18c2dc9fcc77221ffff3f0b94ef9eccf4d190b418

Infographic

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

Ideogram 4.5: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1482950298, prompt expansion disabled, quality low, estimated cost $0.030000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:44 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

Ideogram 4.5 image SHA 256: c97b4321e68bf1617a4dc96b5e1f9372344b09b9ff987f07d0e9813e6210c656

Product photography

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

Ideogram 4.5: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1376877115, prompt expansion disabled, quality low, estimated cost $0.030000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:44 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

Ideogram 4.5 image SHA 256: b9427281a64b3103f52f439b8797bd11763f813a8ef142bf79d96e936b349ae1

Typography and layout

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

Ideogram 4.5: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=988679089, prompt expansion disabled, quality low, estimated cost $0.030000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:44 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

Ideogram 4.5 image SHA 256: ebe1fe3dccf258807db9a9063c1034185c1b3e91f0d8c9bd86c53525d374dd9c

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 22

n/a

Ideogram 4.5

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
52

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 46 of 74

56

Ideogram 4.5

Rank 38 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

fairly cheap

$0.10

Ideogram 4.5

expensive

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.

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.

Ideogram 4.5

Subscription
No Ideogram subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.59 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 33 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.10 per image, 100 images $10.
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.

KennzahlMAI-Image-2.6Ideogram 4.5
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,329n/a
Arena rankRank 4 of 22n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating34,596n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1005256
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition3916
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details8459
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency4468
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization4082
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.039$0.10
100 images$3.89$10
Profile
ReleasedJul 31, 2026n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryunknown
LifecyclePreview in Microsoft Foundryno notice
AccessAPIAPI
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output2,359,296 pixelsnot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this modeln/a33

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

Sources: MAI-Image-2.6 model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · Ideogram 4.5 model source (verified Nov 1, 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 betterMAI-Image-2.6Ideogram 4.5
Text to Image ArenaMAI-Image-2.6: 1,166Ideogram 4.5: 1,015MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Image Editing ArenaMAI-Image-2.6: 1,151Ideogram 4.5: 1,070MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Image Editing: Agentic image generationMAI-Image-2.6: 1,416Ideogram 4.5: 1,296MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Image Editing: OverallMAI-Image-2.6: 1,427Ideogram 4.5: 1,347MAI-Image-2.6 ahead

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

All individual values with sources
RatingMAI-Image-2.6Ideogram 4.5Source
Text to Image Arena1,1661,015Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing Arena1,1511,070Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,4161,296LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall1,4271,347LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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