Qwen-Image-2.1vs.MAI-Image-2.6

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, MAI-Image-2.6 leads. Qwen-Image-2.1 has no API price.

Test 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-2.134 out of 100

MAI-Image-2.6: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.663 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:MAI-Image-2.6 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

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

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

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039287, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: b29bb7e207ad464957ee060bbf0655104bcbece703360254e48daa3ec35a62d7

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

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

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039317, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 316e38ed63ff401f86a7ceee9cc65c74413e0e9c7c899a6e6bf453acc2940dac

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

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

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039292, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 041f559d4261865b327fcae4f8bb0bd3b176c55a3b1255a042ab3e0fc4f9bc4b

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

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

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039252, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 4670269190f492154c05e3f18c4eb9e3938910ca1aca32503b6a1ceb16d39b38

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,225

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 14 of 21

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 40 of 108

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 28 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

n/a

Qwen-Image-2.1

no API price

$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

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.

Qwen-Image-2.1

Subscription: No Alibaba subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.51 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.

MAI-Image-2.6

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.039 per image, 100 images $3.89.

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 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 3, 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	Qwen-Image-2.1	MAI-Image-2.6
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,225	1,329
Arena rank	Rank 14 of 21	Rank 4 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	19,604	34,596
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	65	68
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	54	62
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	90	88
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	34	63
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	83	61
API price
Per imagelower is better	n/a	$0.039
100 images	n/a	$3.89
Profile
Released	Sep 20, 2026	Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	openQwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license	proprietary
Lifecycle	no notice	Preview in Microsoft Foundry
Access	local, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	2K	2,359,296 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	5	n/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) · MAI-Image-2.6 model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 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 betterQwen-Image-2.1MAI-Image-2.6

Text to Image Arena1,0431,167ahead

Image Editing Arena1,0811,151ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,2131,325ahead

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,2311,314ahead

Text to Image: Art1,2341,337ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,2341,348ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,2381,332ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,2251,329ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,2271,330ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,2521,339ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,2501,365ahead

Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,3681,416ahead

Image Editing: Overall1,3621,427ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 3, 2026 · LMArena from Oct 28, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	Qwen-Image-2.1	MAI-Image-2.6	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,043	1,167	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,081	1,151	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,213	1,325	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,231	1,314	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,234	1,337	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,234	1,348	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,238	1,332	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,225	1,329	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,227	1,330	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,252	1,339	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,250	1,365	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation	1,368	1,416	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,362	1,427	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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Predecessor and successor

No predecessor recorded for Qwen-Image-2.1
Qwen-Image-2.1 has no successor yet
No predecessor recorded for MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 has no successor yet

The most popular comparisons

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