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Qwen Image 2.0 Provs.Midjourney V8.1

Which one is better?

In our own test, Qwen Image 2.0 Pro leads. Neither is in the arena. Midjourney V8.1 has no API price.

Test images

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

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro81 out of 100
Midjourney V8.1: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Midjourney V8.114 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:Qwen Image 2.0 Pro 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

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source

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

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

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro image SHA 256: 05f19da3e2d0eedb17d098c1b21abf8c83c663afa59083f0ce7a67a948e8a263

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: cf522740817fefe58b263fa9a0d07d249c42211eca7d7c9b013f7145a7d2a8ea

Infographic

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:22 PM. Source

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

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

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro image SHA 256: 003fbe859de5df62a4f49e3d590c00f5036e208149d81226d1835871fd1e0410

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: ac36188f88f37f23c2c405355d8dd12594085e1450d732fa419d8cec9a6c598f

Product photography

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source

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

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

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro image SHA 256: b811a440655cae766c039dfc8f9efb1756be5dce63ef22cd95deb1fe7dab6a3a

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: 992f2486be40bc361a638b4b266909d334883c05fe4763cf5e243358c688bfdd

Typography and layout

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM. Source

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

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

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro image SHA 256: 4eb4915afa71f6a8c76979dcecadd70beabd3869f11ca092a725fd7b6c87b4f2

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: af3d2c5042b108a7fe2eb49bae072d30030e6b6cf814875ef9ce7074ceafc4ce

The numbers at a glance

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

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro

not in the arena

n/a

Midjourney V8.1

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
72

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro

Rank 17 of 108

38

Midjourney V8.1

Rank 73 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.075

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro

fairly expensive

n/a

Midjourney V8.1

no API price

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 2.0 Pro

Subscription
At Alibaba only in team or business plans, from ≈ €21.20 a month per seat (Token Plan Team Team Standard Seat). 3 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.075 per image, 100 images $7.50.

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.

Subscriptions only count plans that name exactly this model. Subscription prices include VAT, API prices are in dollars.

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.

KennzahlQwen Image 2.0 ProMidjourney V8.1
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is bettern/an/a
Arena rankn/an/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer ratingn/an/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1007238
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition8114
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details5850
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency8951
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization6235
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.075n/a
100 images$7.50n/a
Profile
ReleasedApril 2026Apr 14, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryproprietary
AccessAPIWeb app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output2,048 × 2,048 pixels2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model34

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

Sources: Qwen Image 2.0 Pro model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · Midjourney V8.1 model source (verified Aug 15, 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 2.0 Pro and Midjourney V8.1 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

More comparisons

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