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Head-to-head comparison

Recraft V4.1 Utility vs. Wan 2.6 Text to Image

Compare arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Text-to-image generation and image editing are never blended into an artificial overall score.

1

shared result series

4

shared sample prompts

2026-08-15

latest arena retrieval

Change image model selection

Specifications and cost

General specifications and task-specific pricing

A model can have one price for generating new images and another for editing. Prices therefore remain tied to the corresponding arena configuration.

Specifications and pricing for Recraft V4.1 Utility and Wan 2.6 Text to Image
AttributeRecraft V4.1 UtilityWan 2.6 Text to Image
ProviderRecraftAlibaba
ReleasedMay 2026January 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
ParametersNot publishedNot published
Maximum output1 Megapixel2K
Arena configurationUtilityText to Image
Text-to-image price$35 per 1,000 images$30 per 1,000 images
Editing priceNo arena entryNo arena entry
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Recraft V4.1 UtilityWan 2.6 Text to Image
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Recraft V4.1 Utility$35
Wan 2.6 Text to Image$30Lower price

Independent preference tests

Shared arena benchmarks

Artificial Analysis and Arena derive scores from blind comparisons. Raters see outputs for the same prompt and choose the image they prefer. Separate series cover text rendering, photorealism, portraits, art, commercial design, and image editing. Confidence intervals indicate how certain a measured lead is.

1 shared result series
Recraft V4.1 UtilityWan 2.6 Text to Image
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Recraft V4.1 Utility1,217 EloNo clear arena lead
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,212 Elo
Arena benchmark scores for Recraft V4.1 Utility and Wan 2.6 Text to Image
BenchmarkRecraft V4.1 UtilityWan 2.6 Text to ImageSource
Text to Image Arena
1,217 EloNo clear arena lead
Rank 21, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 6,287 ratings
1,212 Elo
Rank 25, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 3,702 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15

Visual comparison

Sample images from documented runs

Our images complement preference data, but do not replace it. The prompt, request count, and selection rule match. Provider resolution, quality tier, randomness, and prompt processing remain visible limitations, so this is not a fully controlled laboratory test.

Largely standardized comparison protocol. Both models receive the same archived prompt, 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. These images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency

Recraft V4.1 Utility, Character and detail
Recraft V4.1 Utility
Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Character and detail
Wan 2.6 Text to Image
Prompt and settings

Create 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.

Recraft V4.1 Utility. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, model ID recraft/recraft-v4.1-utility, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:37 PM. Source
Wan 2.6 Text to Image. Provider Together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Wan-AI/Wan2.6-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:30 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Recraft V4.1 Utility, image SHA 256: d2ba0b86ed4214659720cdcf68ff09ca748700a32afc3d25808b6a3af74223f2

Recraft V4.1 Utility, request SHA 256: bae572a10f1f654bcd2dbbb504314a72a8ab4c41dc40a023ffd8865725714ed1

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: cf49d7136a442f4f1c1ae29af99e917aa83bcbf501fdacfe3a13a3b3e74d7f9a

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: 10c9f29d46b749448e574d11b560a2c20065d9026f1f52a99f09b23b6299c9c5

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Recraft V4.1 Utility, Infographic
Recraft V4.1 Utility
Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Infographic
Wan 2.6 Text to Image
Prompt and settings

Create a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly four numbered steps in this order: 1 LICHT, 2 WASSER, 3 CO₂, 4 ZUCKER + SAUERSTOFF. Use a clean editorial science style with one plant cross-section, simple arrows, high contrast, legible labels, and no other text.

Recraft V4.1 Utility. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, model ID recraft/recraft-v4.1-utility, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:38 PM. Source
Wan 2.6 Text to Image. Provider Together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Wan-AI/Wan2.6-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:30 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Recraft V4.1 Utility, image SHA 256: 7d383a257e5152b2781a6e5a78edd54fe55900dfb2580f85078f8142b63194c5

Recraft V4.1 Utility, request SHA 256: 452c38a089d6c3c186c3b692d8a5d5f644013f7f82fbb05f3e2bb59ae3273698

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: 28eecbf460194ec047237c35415d934929baee9de9938bdff435cd21a4416435

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: d9e00f8c778897df69e719c5bf9fa73115d87abeb23d63eec50dc2280f0e29a9

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Recraft V4.1 Utility, Product photography
Recraft V4.1 Utility
Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Product photography
Wan 2.6 Text to Image
Prompt and settings

Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing upright on dark green marble. The watch has a cream dial, thin black hands set to 10:10, twelve distinct hour markers, a realistic crown, and a dark brown leather strap. Soft window light from the left, controlled reflections, shallow depth of field, no text, no logo, no extra objects.

Recraft V4.1 Utility. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, model ID recraft/recraft-v4.1-utility, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:37 PM. Source
Wan 2.6 Text to Image. Provider Together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Wan-AI/Wan2.6-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:29 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Recraft V4.1 Utility, image SHA 256: 7fd9cfe67371d0fecc6d605105ca777bec170d4d4e8dcad5b4f15f813e21c1ab

Recraft V4.1 Utility, request SHA 256: c2f48729405997c5ad5edeaa0053af2850f1f694824c5038a4ddafc50c8cfa91

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: e8dbcfd0ce965814d72d676eddf74f723d476c1f78c5928c7b6efbc4eca4765e

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: d1539f1db265e5a110b20b8585984ef534d0b89f51e83fd0fc51551832b669d1

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Recraft V4.1 Utility, Typography and layout
Recraft V4.1 Utility
Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Typography and layout
Wan 2.6 Text to Image
Prompt and settings

Create 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.

Recraft V4.1 Utility. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, model ID recraft/recraft-v4.1-utility, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:05 PM. Source
Wan 2.6 Text to Image. Provider Together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Wan-AI/Wan2.6-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Recraft V4.1 Utility, image SHA 256: 3aa0bc86cccfd2140ba4f5606f1f814a5a6ded23cb06b7aebe26f8dcf946a752

Recraft V4.1 Utility, request SHA 256: d8cd315a438713ccae185fca6c8a3fb4430eadff9b0601abaf6cb2c27b0d7918

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: 7e9557478ee297369d7680b31ab3b23a13c984981c0e0c922ef07372999122a7

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: 2018571c876690a189c5076c520f09d03dd75a18ad6c52550cd51f854c30aa9d

How to read this comparison

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

A higher arena score means this specific configuration was preferred more often in blind comparisons.

Typography, character consistency, local execution, licensing, and price may matter more to your workload than overall visual appeal.

Prices cover 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels using settings documented by Artificial Analysis. Subscriptions and special rates are excluded.