Qwen-Image-2.1vs.Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, Grok Imagine Image 2.0 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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run — Grok Imagine Image 2.075 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:Grok Imagine Image 2.0 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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:46 AM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: b29bb7e207ad464957ee060bbf0655104bcbece703360254e48daa3ec35a62d7

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 95148f93193910361a680d5cff305d51bb06d967cb8b35e7ec732bd8501beccc

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 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:47 AM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 316e38ed63ff401f86a7ceee9cc65c74413e0e9c7c899a6e6bf453acc2940dac

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 732d7d3978293b5acd7aba0ec8534056bfa9bd5f6d2024c5eb7275d5bf203ba6

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 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:45 AM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 041f559d4261865b327fcae4f8bb0bd3b176c55a3b1255a042ab3e0fc4f9bc4b

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 57f2809d2dc95671f5207c2cfc25f629c05be17edfe9bf87ca42d3d33119200e

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 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:44 AM. Source

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

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 4670269190f492154c05e3f18c4eb9e3938910ca1aca32503b6a1ceb16d39b38

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 image SHA 256: 4dae1c4c90d277eed2983780d71f40b4758238ea15a020047c1329fb220e5b51

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,227

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 14 of 21

1,317

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Rank 5 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 40 of 108

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Rank 16 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

n/a

Qwen-Image-2.1

no API price

$0.06

Grok Imagine Image 2.0

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 ≈ €9.54 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 2.0

Subscription: No xAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €15.90 a month (Runway Standard, with limited credits). 5 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.06 per image, 100 images $6.

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

Arena rating (LMArena) from Nov 6, 2026 · 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.

Kennzahl	Qwen-Image-2.1	Grok Imagine Image 2.0
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,227	1,317
Arena rank	Rank 14 of 21	Rank 5 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	19,378	10,830
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	65	73
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	54	71
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	90	68
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	34	75
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	83	77
API price
Per imagelower is better	n/a	$0.06
100 images	n/a	$6
Profile
Released	Sep 20, 2026	Aug 7, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	openQwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license	proprietary
Access	local, Web app	API, Web app
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	2K	2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	5	5

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 2.0 model source (verified Sep 28, 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-2.1Grok Imagine Image 2.0

Text to Image Arena1,0451,166ahead

Image Editing Arena1,0801,116ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,2141,291ahead

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,2311,287ahead

Text to Image: Art1,2351,328ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,2341,352ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,2371,325ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,2271,317ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,2301,312ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,2561,332ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,2501,349ahead

Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,3621,426ahead

Image Editing: Overall1,3641,438ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 6, 2026 · LMArena from Nov 6, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	Qwen-Image-2.1	Grok Imagine Image 2.0	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,045	1,166	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,080	1,116	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,214	1,291	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,231	1,287	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,235	1,328	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,234	1,352	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,237	1,325	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,227	1,317	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,230	1,312	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,256	1,332	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,250	1,349	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation	1,362	1,426	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,364	1,438	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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