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Qwen-Image-2.1vs.Grok Imagine Image 1.0

Which one is better?

In our own test, Grok Imagine Image 1.0 leads. Grok Imagine Image 1.0 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.

Qwen-Image-2.1: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
Qwen-Image-2.121 out of 100
Grok Imagine Image 1.0: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
Grok Imagine Image 1.057 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:Grok Imagine Image 1.0 slightly ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting under a transparent umbrella at a rainy tram stop in Hamburg at blue hour. She wears a mustard raincoat, navy trousers, red sneakers, a silver helmet, and carries a teal messenger bag. Keep both hands visible, render the bicycle correctly, use realistic wet-street reflections, and include no readable brand names.

What the rating looks at: Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency.

“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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, resolution 1K, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:30 PM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: b29bb7e207ad464957ee060bbf0655104bcbece703360254e48daa3ec35a62d7

Grok Imagine Image 1.0 image SHA 256: f0a1722dd70365a05d18f1872dcf5761f358e13dca81e6ceafca69d17f658412

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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, resolution 1K, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:31 PM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 316e38ed63ff401f86a7ceee9cc65c74413e0e9c7c899a6e6bf453acc2940dac

Grok Imagine Image 1.0 image SHA 256: 7dd25385835faf743c6e97b5a50ebcf5926cf94d862425177c25d8b27281ac8d

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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, resolution 1K, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:30 PM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 041f559d4261865b327fcae4f8bb0bd3b176c55a3b1255a042ab3e0fc4f9bc4b

Grok Imagine Image 1.0 image SHA 256: 95c5d4be59e6c115257f2414c513efd79bf7fd9ac69965ec04677eda2ec5a27a

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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, resolution 1K, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:30 PM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 4670269190f492154c05e3f18c4eb9e3938910ca1aca32503b6a1ceb16d39b38

Grok Imagine Image 1.0 image SHA 256: ab6dfd89aec95ebe7cfd2f3cacb4fbd66123306647c78d621d5c8c6325f3d7c5

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,225

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 14 of 22

n/a

Grok Imagine Image 1.0

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
56

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 37 of 74

76

Grok Imagine Image 1.0

Rank 5 of 74

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

Qwen-Image-2.1

no API price

n/a

Grok Imagine Image 1.0

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.

Grok Imagine Image 1.0

Subscription
n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
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.

KennzahlQwen-Image-2.1Grok Imagine Image 1.0
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,225n/a
Arena rankRank 14 of 22n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating19,604n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1005676
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition5073
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details7289
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency2157
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization8285
API price
Per imagelower is bettern/an/a
100 imagesn/an/a
Profile
ReleasedSep 20, 2026n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locallyopenQwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate licenseunknown
Accesslocal, Web appAPI
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output2Knot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model5n/a

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) · Grok Imagine Image 1.0 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 Qwen-Image-2.1 and Grok Imagine Image 1.0 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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