Skip to main content

Midjourney V8.1vs.Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Which one is better?

In our own test, Grok Imagine Image 2.0 leads. Midjourney V8.1 has no arena rating yet. Midjourney V8.1 has no API price.

Test images

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

Midjourney V8.1: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Midjourney V8.114 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

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: cf522740817fefe58b263fa9a0d07d249c42211eca7d7c9b013f7145a7d2a8ea

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 95148f93193910361a680d5cff305d51bb06d967cb8b35e7ec732bd8501beccc

Infographic

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: ac36188f88f37f23c2c405355d8dd12594085e1450d732fa419d8cec9a6c598f

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 732d7d3978293b5acd7aba0ec8534056bfa9bd5f6d2024c5eb7275d5bf203ba6

Product photography

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: 992f2486be40bc361a638b4b266909d334883c05fe4763cf5e243358c688bfdd

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 57f2809d2dc95671f5207c2cfc25f629c05be17edfe9bf87ca42d3d33119200e

Typography and layout

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: af3d2c5042b108a7fe2eb49bae072d30030e6b6cf814875ef9ce7074ceafc4ce

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 4dae1c4c90d277eed2983780d71f40b4758238ea15a020047c1329fb220e5b51

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
n/a

Midjourney V8.1

not in the arena

1,317

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Rank 5 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
38

Midjourney V8.1

Rank 73 of 108

73

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Rank 16 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
n/a

Midjourney V8.1

no API price

$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.

Midjourney V8.1

Subscription
At Midjourney from ≈ €10.60 a month (Midjourney Basic). 4 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: Web app.

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.

KennzahlMidjourney V8.1Grok Imagine Image 2.0
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is bettern/a1,317
Arena rankn/aRank 5 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer ratingn/a10,830
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1003873
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition1471
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details5068
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency5175
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization3577
API price
Per imagelower is bettern/a$0.06
100 imagesn/a$6
Profile
ReleasedApr 14, 2026Aug 7, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryproprietary
AccessWeb appAPI, Web app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output2K2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model45

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

Sources: Midjourney V8.1 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.

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

The stored benchmark database contains no measurement for Midjourney V8.1 and Grok Imagine Image 2.0 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

More comparisons

Compare Midjourney V8.1 and Grok Imagine Image 2.0 with the models people compare them with most often.

Compare another matchup