Qwen-Image-2.1vs.FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
Which one is better?
In our own test both are on par. FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] has no arena rating yet. Neither has an API price.
Same prompt, two images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
![FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run](/_astro-img/1d385c515fb46a11/1024.avif)
Result for “Product photography”:Qwen-Image-2.1 ahead
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
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
Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=1591420783, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=1661036738, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: b29bb7e207ad464957ee060bbf0655104bcbece703360254e48daa3ec35a62d7
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: a2b5cfe16c918f33c56d04a35a8cea5433ea17db1f41ab3f3ccefdc20791a3d1
Infographic
Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=1283422012, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, prior anonymous attempt refused before inference (ZeroGPU quota), completed through authenticated browser, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=261169301, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 316e38ed63ff401f86a7ceee9cc65c74413e0e9c7c899a6e6bf453acc2940dac
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: 8ec7449c0fd1b68f984aaa28dda6cb4d74a053cd88af42c10d79fac31980ffbe
Product photography
Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=196359631, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=3307245438, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 041f559d4261865b327fcae4f8bb0bd3b176c55a3b1255a042ab3e0fc4f9bc4b
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: 367531e667dd9156abe9666dc571fc122174a66788d726b2b4ab06d9c8226d9d
Typography and layout
Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=158818011, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=4284980986, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 4670269190f492154c05e3f18c4eb9e3938910ca1aca32503b6a1ceb16d39b38
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: d14a3243cc28d6996fd549722f34d49227f278151c441fa635f955e1c8140414
The numbers at a glance
Qwen-Image-2.1
Rank 14 of 22
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
not in the arena
Qwen-Image-2.1
Rank 37 of 74
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
Rank 57 of 74
Qwen-Image-2.1
no API price
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
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.
Qwen-Image-2.1
- Subscription
- No Alibaba subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.59 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 5 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- No API price known. Access: local, Web app.
- License
- Open weights, Qwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license.
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
- Subscription
- No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.39 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 23 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- No API price known. Access: API.
- 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 · 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 | Qwen-Image-2.1 | FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better | 1,225 | n/a |
| Arena rank | Rank 14 of 22 | n/a |
| Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating | 19,604 | n/a |
| GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 | 56 | 31 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 50 | 14 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 72 | 21 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 21 | 55 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 82 | 33 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | n/a | n/a |
| 100 images | n/a | n/a |
| Profile | ||
| Released | Sep 20, 2026 | n/a |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | openQwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license | unknown |
| Lifecycle | no notice | Edit-first model line; API also supports image creation from text, but the main GraduallyBench tasks are not edit-based |
| Access | local, Web app | API |
| Parameters | not published | not published |
| Largest output | 2K | not consistently published |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | 5 | 23 |
API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.
Sources: Qwen-Image-2.1 model source, status source (verified Sep 22, 2026) · FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] model source, status 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 Qwen-Image-2.1 and FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
Compare another matchup
More matchups
Related image model comparisons
Compare Qwen-Image-2.1 and FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] with other important image models.