Recraft V4.1 Utilityvs.PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS
Which one is better?
In our own test, Recraft V4.1 Utility leads. Neither is in the arena. PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS has no API price.
Test images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
Result for “Typography and layout”:Recraft V4.1 Utility ahead
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
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS: manual, local PyTorch 2.13.0, Diffusers 0.36.0; PixArt-alpha/PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS@e102b3591cc82e97071b8b4cb90d834d0c487207; native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; steps=20, guidance=4.5, seed=7226279879395584696; mps for text encoder and denoising; cpu for native VAE decode; float16 for text encoder and transformer; float32 for VAE; native prompt preprocessing lowercases input, generated Nov 2, 2026, 5:58 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: d2ba0b86ed4214659720cdcf68ff09ca748700a32afc3d25808b6a3af74223f2
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS image SHA 256: bde9f05db045ee4e3776436ec99b67b4ab2b1e1d98e7f3b9b389116880584dfa
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
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS: manual, local PyTorch 2.13.0, Diffusers 0.36.0; PixArt-alpha/PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS@e102b3591cc82e97071b8b4cb90d834d0c487207; native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; steps=20, guidance=4.5, seed=3371899936485956023; mps for text encoder and denoising; cpu for native VAE decode; float16 for text encoder and transformer; float32 for VAE; native prompt preprocessing lowercases input, generated Nov 2, 2026, 5:59 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 7d383a257e5152b2781a6e5a78edd54fe55900dfb2580f85078f8142b63194c5
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS image SHA 256: a1a6e8b2545200a59deb0cef3614e7421a91014fcb31e4e2725cc40ca1730017
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
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS: manual, local PyTorch 2.13.0, Diffusers 0.36.0; PixArt-alpha/PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS@e102b3591cc82e97071b8b4cb90d834d0c487207; native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; steps=20, guidance=4.5, seed=2926417222682566089; mps for text encoder and denoising; cpu for native VAE decode; float16 for text encoder and transformer; float32 for VAE; native prompt preprocessing lowercases input, generated Nov 2, 2026, 5:58 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 7fd9cfe67371d0fecc6d605105ca777bec170d4d4e8dcad5b4f15f813e21c1ab
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS image SHA 256: 2012912767607d877602f52cd6766af87520f70db960cda065baa5282c377b51
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
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS: manual, local PyTorch 2.13.0, Diffusers 0.36.0; PixArt-alpha/PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS@e102b3591cc82e97071b8b4cb90d834d0c487207; native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; steps=20, guidance=4.5, seed=154650094805927878; mps for text encoder and denoising; cpu for native VAE decode; float16 for text encoder and transformer; float32 for VAE; native prompt preprocessing lowercases input, generated Nov 2, 2026, 5:57 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
Recraft V4.1 Utility image SHA 256: 3aa0bc86cccfd2140ba4f5606f1f814a5a6ded23cb06b7aebe26f8dcf946a752
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS image SHA 256: 07f61240d9329bf99f8a3d21b7b437c65c4eeb1780c8f1164e0c8baf2a0f7085
The numbers at a glance
Recraft V4.1 Utility
not in the arena
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS
not in the arena
Recraft V4.1 Utility
Rank 41 of 108
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS
Rank 99 of 108
Recraft V4.1 Utility
fairly cheap
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS
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.
PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS
- Subscription
- n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
- Via API
- No API price known. Access: local.
- License
- Open weights.
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 | PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 13 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 96 | 3 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 32 | 16 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 66 | 27 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 64 | 5 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | $0.035 | n/a |
| 100 images | $3.50 | n/a |
| Profile | ||
| Released | May 2026 | Apr 9, 2024 |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | proprietary | open |
| Access | API, Web app | local |
| Parameters | not published | 0.6 billion |
| Largest output | 1 Megapixel | not consistently published |
| 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) · PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS 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 PixArt-Sigma-XL-2-1024-MS from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
More comparisons
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