Recraft V4.1 Utilityvs.FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra

Which one is better?

In our own test, Recraft V4.1 Utility leads. Neither is in the arena. FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra has no API price.

Test 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 Utility96 out of 100

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra22 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

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

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

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra: fal, aspect ratio 1:1; provider-native resolution, n=1, seed=3831910390, Fal exposes no resolution input; endpoint supports output up to 2K, Prompt enhancement disabled with enhance_prompt=false; default safety tolerance 2, estimated cost $0.060000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 2, 2026, 2:50 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: d2ba0b86ed4214659720cdcf68ff09ca748700a32afc3d25808b6a3af74223f2

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra image SHA 256: 0b97e1e3f33be2844c06cc18618fea633273ada7e9d6404f9769cdb8403ffbfc

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

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra: fal, aspect ratio 1:1; provider-native resolution, n=1, seed=1664027293, Fal exposes no resolution input; endpoint supports output up to 2K, Prompt enhancement disabled with enhance_prompt=false; default safety tolerance 2, estimated cost $0.060000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 2, 2026, 2:50 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 7d383a257e5152b2781a6e5a78edd54fe55900dfb2580f85078f8142b63194c5

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra image SHA 256: 2c7d24fcda220cf5eff966e1b857f11ad0e561f81ac9e4106ef1b4bd71686637

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

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra: fal, aspect ratio 1:1; provider-native resolution, n=1, seed=291934417, Fal exposes no resolution input; endpoint supports output up to 2K, Prompt enhancement disabled with enhance_prompt=false; default safety tolerance 2, estimated cost $0.060000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 2, 2026, 2:49 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 7fd9cfe67371d0fecc6d605105ca777bec170d4d4e8dcad5b4f15f813e21c1ab

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra image SHA 256: 7d497c35126a92de69af61e5721158a10f4e2acf88a8526dcdd0f8a9a571e028

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

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra: fal, aspect ratio 1:1; provider-native resolution, n=1, seed=1909595532, Fal exposes no resolution input; endpoint supports output up to 2K, Prompt enhancement disabled with enhance_prompt=false; default safety tolerance 2, estimated cost $0.060000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 2, 2026, 2:49 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 3aa0bc86cccfd2140ba4f5606f1f814a5a6ded23cb06b7aebe26f8dcf946a752

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra image SHA 256: 0dfeffb6c3489b9ac2e1ae9100793320fa4f5eab779269de7aff3a4b768595f3

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

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Recraft V4.1 Utility

Rank 41 of 108

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra

Rank 83 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.035

Recraft V4.1 Utility

fairly cheap

n/a

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra

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.

Recraft V4.1 Utility

Subscription: Free to use at Recraft (Recraft Free, with limited credits), more from ≈ €12.72 a month (Recraft Basic, with limited credits). 4 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.035 per image, 100 images $3.50.

FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra

Subscription: No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.54 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 12 plans in Germany.
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 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	Recraft V4.1 Utility	FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	n/a	n/a
Arena rank	n/a	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	n/a	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	65	31
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	96	22
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	32	28
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	66	45
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	64	28
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.035	n/a
100 images	$3.50	n/a
Profile
Released	May 2026	n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	unknown
Lifecycle	no notice	Separate Ultra API route / Ultra mode; no independent checkpoint established
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	1 Megapixel	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	4	12

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) · FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra model source, status 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 FLUX1.1 [pro] Ultra from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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