MAI-Image-2.5vs.Krea 2 Large

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, MAI-Image-2.5 leads. Krea 2 Large costs 1.2 times as much per image.

Test images

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

MAI-Image-2.5: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.570 out of 100

Krea 2 Large: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — Krea 2 Large90 out of 100

Result for “Product photography”:Krea 2 Large slightly ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing upright on dark green marble. The watch has a cream dial, thin black hands set to 10:10, twelve distinct hour markers, a realistic crown, and a dark brown leather strap. Soft window light from the left, controlled reflections, shallow depth of field, no text, no logo, no extra objects.

What the rating looks at: Materials, reflections, and fine details.

“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-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048508, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 PM. Source

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

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: ca1c58688ae4601975d7e1f7b58bb43a0a999e736f610d9f51cd11e06284bced

Krea 2 Large image SHA 256: 0ff58bb2381d2d753ef76973ac739c5aa556d182192ebb8d6f44ccba0898f991

Infographic

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048538, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 PM. Source

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

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: eaf00a906231e8859f98ef5dc2cce7e8017797819aea453305a4ef0e970d4dbf

Krea 2 Large image SHA 256: 5b489d9f70c7253124a51d313bfaea1606f1b6c53ef19d238b5aa9601d2ea6ef

Product photography

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048513, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:25 PM. Source

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

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: 67d4930b711fac61482231c4bc270cfcdb41c1b0daf653045781fb2126e237dd

Krea 2 Large image SHA 256: d4d912904708c24aae1059d5096a11fcb0b78f5be48be2b045ea07ca046914c8

Typography and layout

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048473, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:03 PM. Source

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

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: 4c8a60555b57b8c3b5ebaa131371d1bba9d31bfafe7aaa772554969f7c28cb08

Krea 2 Large image SHA 256: f34eb736928ed7555e35c096f9da4ab2df41ba8880e54fdf7cd8b3dce6f3480d

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,253

MAI-Image-2.5

Rank 9 of 21

1,115

Krea 2 Large

Rank 18 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

MAI-Image-2.5

Rank 26 of 108

Krea 2 Large

Rank 5 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.048

MAI-Image-2.5

fairly cheap

$0.06

Krea 2 Large

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.

MAI-Image-2.5

Subscription: No Microsoft AI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €19.04 a month (Magnific Premium, with limited credits). 6 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.048 per image, 100 images $4.81.

Krea 2 Large

Subscription: Free to use at Krea (Krea Free, with limited credits), more from ≈ €9.54 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). Through other providers from ≈ €6.36 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 16 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	MAI-Image-2.5	Krea 2 Large
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,253	1,115
Arena rank	Rank 9 of 21	Rank 18 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	61,222	71,664
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	69	77
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	82	86
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	70	90
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	55	54
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	69	76
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.048	$0.06
100 images	$4.81	$6
Profile
Released	June 2026	May 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Lifecycle	Preview in Microsoft Foundry	no notice
Access	API, Web app	API, Web app
Parameters	20 billion	not published
Largest output	1,048,576 pixels	1K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	6	16

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

Sources: MAI-Image-2.5 model source, status source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · Krea 2 Large model source (verified Aug 15, 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-2.5Krea 2 Large

Text to Image Arena1,1201,035ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,2511,116ahead

Text to Image: Art1,2771,122ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,2691,119ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,2591,111ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,2531,115ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,2511,129ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,2551,124ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,2811,116ahead

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

All individual values with sources

Rating	MAI-Image-2.5	Krea 2 Large	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,120	1,035	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,251	1,116	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,277	1,122	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,269	1,119	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,259	1,111	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,253	1,115	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,251	1,129	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,255	1,124	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,281	1,116	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

More comparisons

Compare MAI-Image-2.5 and Krea 2 Large with the models people compare them with most often.

Compare another matchup

First image modelSecond image model

The most popular comparisons

Show all 11 comparisons