Muse Imagevs.Nano Banana 2.1

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Nano Banana 2.1 has no arena rating yet. Nano Banana 2.1 has no API price.

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

Muse Image: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Muse Image76 out of 100

Nano Banana 2.1: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Nano Banana 2.160 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:Muse Image 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

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

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

Nano Banana 2.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.036408, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:40 PM. Source

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

Muse Image image SHA 256: 356427fe1ec15a444aae4eab2194344c7fe6b17ef205a8db16c1d64dbacb750e

Nano Banana 2.1 image SHA 256: f89e3f52678670058ce0e1e9b0b5b6ec084e25a212491b5025e76d7525fb8707

Infographic

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

Nano Banana 2.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.036560, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:40 PM. Source

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

Muse Image image SHA 256: c8b096001990f57cb5225f6387485b391a4a5e3c3031e7b0524a4c19e1e01bc8

Nano Banana 2.1 image SHA 256: ce5c4b7af2575ccf9964cfeea2e4f0bb75cdad21aea29c4201e693fa307e435b

Product photography

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

Nano Banana 2.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.036546, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:39 PM. Source

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

Muse Image image SHA 256: 0cb5d4c3dbe33c840ba87f0e8af255deec9e7e02eb6c7f172310af433e78fdb6

Nano Banana 2.1 image SHA 256: 289b144f7d5348e9324d229e5508d5698c09035f2cbdea474845a84b852e859e

Typography and layout

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

Nano Banana 2.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.036497, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:39 PM. Source

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

Muse Image image SHA 256: b8232890082d6bdd72dd7be99d98a573566a2c62f94597ecdda2bd9110e2e143

Nano Banana 2.1 image SHA 256: d27b58baa4115177a46fae2d71e258c5f4de9243fc66df93983ef6127df2f320

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,269

Muse Image

Rank 7 of 22

n/a

Nano Banana 2.1

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Muse Image

Rank 7 of 74

Nano Banana 2.1

Rank 11 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.01

Muse Image

cheap

n/a

Nano Banana 2.1

no API price

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.

Muse Image

Subscription: Free to use at Meta (Meta AI Free). Through other providers from ≈ €9.59 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 6 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.01 per image, 100 images $1.

Nano Banana 2.1

Subscription: At Google from €4.99 a month (Google AI Plus, with limited credits). Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 42 plans in Germany.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
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.

Kennzahl	Muse Image	Nano Banana 2.1
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,269	n/a
Arena rank	Rank 7 of 22	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	53,444	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	74	69
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	76	60
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	90	80
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	64	67
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	66	71
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.01	n/a
100 images	$1	n/a
Profile
Released	Jul 7, 2026	Oct 6, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	unknown
Access	API, Web app	API, Web app
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	not consistently published	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	6	42

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

Sources: Muse Image model source (verified Sep 26, 2026) · Nano Banana 2.1 model source (verified Nov 1, 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 Muse Image and Nano Banana 2.1 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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More matchups

Compare Muse Image and Nano Banana 2.1 with other important image models.

View the complete image model comparison

Same prompt, two images

The numbers at a glance

Muse Image

Nano Banana 2.1

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

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