MAI-Image-2.6vs.Muse Image

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, MAI-Image-2.6 leads. MAI-Image-2.6 costs 3.9 times as much per image.

Test 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-2.661 out of 100

Muse Image: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — Muse Image86 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:Muse Image slightly 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

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

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

Muse Image: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, source 1600x1600, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:48 AM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

Muse Image image SHA 256: 356427fe1ec15a444aae4eab2194344c7fe6b17ef205a8db16c1d64dbacb750e

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

Muse Image: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, source 1600x1600, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

Muse Image image SHA 256: c8b096001990f57cb5225f6387485b391a4a5e3c3031e7b0524a4c19e1e01bc8

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

Muse Image: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, source 1600x1600, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:48 AM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

Muse Image image SHA 256: 0cb5d4c3dbe33c840ba87f0e8af255deec9e7e02eb6c7f172310af433e78fdb6

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

Muse Image: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, source 1600x1600, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:48 AM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

Muse Image image SHA 256: b8232890082d6bdd72dd7be99d98a573566a2c62f94597ecdda2bd9110e2e143

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 21

1,269

Muse Image

Rank 7 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 28 of 108

Muse Image

Rank 4 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

fairly cheap

$0.01

Muse Image

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.

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.

Muse Image

Subscription: Free to use at Meta (Meta AI Free). Through other providers from ≈ €9.51 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 6 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.01 per image, 100 images $1.

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	MAI-Image-2.6	Muse Image
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,329	1,269
Arena rank	Rank 4 of 21	Rank 7 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	34,596	53,444
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	68	78
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	62	86
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	88	81
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	63	61
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	61	86
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.039	$0.01
100 images	$3.89	$1
Profile
Released	Jul 31, 2026	Jul 7, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Lifecycle	Preview in Microsoft Foundry	no notice
Access	API	API, Web app
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	2,359,296 pixels	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	n/a	6

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) · Muse Image model source (verified Sep 26, 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-2.6Muse Image

Text to Image Arena1,1671,127ahead

Image Editing Arena1,1511,129level

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,3251,239ahead

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,3141,236ahead

Text to Image: Art1,3371,258ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,3481,276ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,3321,259ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,3291,269ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,3301,281ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,3391,294ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,3651,293ahead

Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,4161,393level

Image Editing: Overall1,4271,400ahead

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

All individual values with sources

Rating	MAI-Image-2.6	Muse Image	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,167	1,127	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,151	1,129	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,325	1,239	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,314	1,236	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,337	1,258	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,348	1,276	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,332	1,259	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,329	1,269	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,330	1,281	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,339	1,294	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,365	1,293	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation	1,416	1,393	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,427	1,400	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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MAI-Image-2.6vs.Muse Image

Test images

The numbers at a glance

MAI-Image-2.6

Muse Image

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

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