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Recraft V4.1 Utilityvs.MiniMax Image-01

Which one is better?

In our own test, Recraft V4.1 Utility leads. Neither is in the arena. MiniMax Image-01 has no API price.

Same prompt, two images

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Recraft V4.1 Utility91 out of 100
MiniMax Image-01: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
MiniMax Image-0119 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:Recraft V4.1 Utility 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

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:37 PM. Source

MiniMax Image-01: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: d2ba0b86ed4214659720cdcf68ff09ca748700a32afc3d25808b6a3af74223f2

MiniMax Image-01 image SHA 256: b99793e66d1eb69880872d1865f25456b6588dc658aa46906b7636da46f63320

Infographic

Recraft V4.1 Utility: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:38 PM. Source

MiniMax Image-01: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 7d383a257e5152b2781a6e5a78edd54fe55900dfb2580f85078f8142b63194c5

MiniMax Image-01 image SHA 256: 31b08957fb9eda45525c50935fd332cdbe5a5150a4ed57dead5254e667b2b0de

Product photography

Recraft V4.1 Utility: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:37 PM. Source

MiniMax Image-01: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 7fd9cfe67371d0fecc6d605105ca777bec170d4d4e8dcad5b4f15f813e21c1ab

MiniMax Image-01 image SHA 256: a8986bd9a5e8262b5705f8a7ba5259968371a3bc8e14394b992736f59e45385b

Typography and layout

Recraft V4.1 Utility: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:05 PM. Source

MiniMax Image-01: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 3aa0bc86cccfd2140ba4f5606f1f814a5a6ded23cb06b7aebe26f8dcf946a752

MiniMax Image-01 image SHA 256: 020129f518174bf171032cc5cb7b2234782f4e1d7b1e685d473388094630a107

The numbers at a glance

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility

not in the arena

n/a

MiniMax Image-01

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
62

Recraft V4.1 Utility

Rank 23 of 74

16

MiniMax Image-01

Rank 71 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.035

Recraft V4.1 Utility

fairly cheap

n/a

MiniMax Image-01

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.

Recraft V4.1 Utility

Subscription
Free to use at Recraft (Recraft Free, with limited credits), more from ≈ €12.78 a month (Recraft Basic, with limited credits). 4 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.035 per image, 100 images $3.50.

MiniMax Image-01

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.

GraduallyBench from Nov 1, 2026 · API prices from Oct 28, 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.

KennzahlRecraft V4.1 UtilityMiniMax Image-01
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 1006216
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition9119
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details3012
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency7923
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization498
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.035n/a
100 images$3.50n/a
Profile
ReleasedMay 2026Feb 28, 2025
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryunknown
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output1 Megapixelnot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model4n/a

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

Sources: Recraft V4.1 Utility model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · MiniMax Image-01 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 Recraft V4.1 Utility and MiniMax Image-01 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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