Recraft V4.1 Utilityvs.FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Recraft V4.1 Utility has no arena rating yet. Recraft V4.1 Utility costs 2.3 times as much per image.

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — FLUX.2 Klein 9B32 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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1587849924, estimated cost $0.006291, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: d2ba0b86ed4214659720cdcf68ff09ca748700a32afc3d25808b6a3af74223f2

FLUX.2 Klein 9B image SHA 256: 84eceab680e59de6b9d4e68b3c21f6515ce093ff7d110992049e847570dd565f

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1082231541, estimated cost $0.006291, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 7d383a257e5152b2781a6e5a78edd54fe55900dfb2580f85078f8142b63194c5

FLUX.2 Klein 9B image SHA 256: 1d2eb263ca5a25794a88df7bb04f5c13e10ed9a289371d1dcc7ed6d6e0a297e2

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1388538280, estimated cost $0.006291, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:39 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 7fd9cfe67371d0fecc6d605105ca777bec170d4d4e8dcad5b4f15f813e21c1ab

FLUX.2 Klein 9B image SHA 256: e7208f19ccfb9b810b9648cb1861797b7155ad91933d1660059236cef413ebe0

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1340991019, estimated cost $0.006291, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 3aa0bc86cccfd2140ba4f5606f1f814a5a6ded23cb06b7aebe26f8dcf946a752

FLUX.2 Klein 9B image SHA 256: c5f23870e70f2245d24a3689f2579ceb770e5edf8c3c89b7d6ed7ae138f262f6

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

n/a

Recraft V4.1 Utility

not in the arena

1,070

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Rank 20 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Recraft V4.1 Utility

Rank 41 of 108

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Rank 62 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.035

Recraft V4.1 Utility

fairly cheap

$0.015

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

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.

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.

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.015 per image, 100 images $1.50.
License: Open weights, Weights released under the FLUX Non-Commercial License.

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	Recraft V4.1 Utility	FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	n/a	1,070
Arena rank	n/a	Rank 20 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	n/a	150,686
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	65	50
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	96	32
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	32	87
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	66	39
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	64	42
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.035	$0.015
100 images	$3.50	$1.50
Profile
Released	May 2026	January 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	openWeights released under the FLUX Non-Commercial License
Access	API, Web app	API, local
Parameters	not published	9 billion
Largest output	1 Megapixel	4 Megapixel
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	4	n/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) · FLUX.2 Klein 9B model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 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 betterRecraft V4.1 UtilityFLUX.2 Klein 9B

Text to Image Arena1,028932ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 6, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	Recraft V4.1 Utility	FLUX.2 Klein 9B	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,028	932	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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Test images

The numbers at a glance

Recraft V4.1 Utility

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

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