Head-to-head comparison

Wan 2.6 Text to Image vs. HiDream-O1-Image

Compare shared capability tests, arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Research benchmarks, preference arenas, and our n = 1 samples remain separate.

shared result series: 13
shared sample prompts: 4
latest arena retrieval: 2026-08-26

First image modelSecond image model

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 Wan 2.6 Text to Image and HiDream-O1-Image
Attribute	Wan 2.6 Text to Image	HiDream-O1-Image
Provider	Alibaba	HiDream
Released	January 2026	May 2026
Access	API	API, local
Lifecycle	No separate lifecycle notice	No separate lifecycle notice
Weights	Proprietary	Open weights
Parameters	Not published	8 billion
Maximum output	2K	2,048 × 2,048 pixels
Arena configuration	Text to Image	No separate configuration named
Text-to-image price	$30 per 1,000 images	No comparable API price
Editing price	No arena entry	$10 per 1,000 images
Technical source	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Every matchup includes the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, one archived first output from every model is ranked in three differently ordered, model-blind passes. The published 0-100 value normalizes the mean rank. It must still be read as an n = 1 sample per model. No exact shared result from the integrated research benchmarks is available for this pair.

Wan 2.6 Text to ImageHiDream-O1-Image

Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

Wan 2.6 Text to Image14.8 / 100

HiDream-O1-Image6.2 / 100

Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

Wan 2.6 Text to Image25.9 / 100

HiDream-O1-Image13.6 / 100

Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

Wan 2.6 Text to Image66.7 / 100

HiDream-O1-Image27.1 / 100

Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

Wan 2.6 Text to Image49.4 / 100

HiDream-O1-Image9.9 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for Wan 2.6 Text to Image and HiDream-O1-Image
Benchmark	Wan 2.6 Text to Image	HiDream-O1-Image
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout	Higher blind-rank score14.8 / 100 Mean rank: 24 (24 / 24 / 24) Five rubric scores Headline: 1 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1 / 2 Visual brief: 1.33 / 2 Layout: 1 / 2	6.2 / 100 Mean rank: 26.33 (27 / 25 / 27) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 0.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.33 / 2 Layout: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography	Higher blind-rank score25.9 / 100 Mean rank: 21 (22 / 20 / 21) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.33 / 2 Time: 1.33 / 2 Watch details: 1.33 / 2 Photography: 1.33 / 2 Exclusions: 0.67 / 2	13.6 / 100 Mean rank: 24.33 (25 / 24 / 24) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.33 / 2 Time: 1.33 / 2 Watch details: 1.33 / 2 Photography: 1.33 / 2 Exclusions: 0.67 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail	Higher blind-rank score66.7 / 100 Mean rank: 10 (19 / 6 / 5) Five rubric scores Scene: 1.33 / 2 Wardrobe: 1.33 / 2 Anatomy: 1.33 / 2 Props: 1.33 / 2 Environment: 1.33 / 2	27.1 / 100 Mean rank: 20.67 (25 / 22 / 15) Five rubric scores Scene: 1.33 / 2 Wardrobe: 1.33 / 2 Anatomy: 1 / 2 Props: 0.67 / 2 Environment: 1.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic	Higher blind-rank score49.4 / 100 Mean rank: 14.67 (14 / 17 / 13) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1 / 2 Labels: 1 / 2 Diagram: 1.67 / 2 Clarity: 1 / 2	9.9 / 100 Mean rank: 25.33 (24 / 26 / 26) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1.67 / 2 Labels: 0.33 / 2 Diagram: 1 / 2 Clarity: 0.33 / 2
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

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.

9 shared result series

Wan 2.6 Text to ImageHiDream-O1-Image

Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,210 Elo

HiDream-O1-Image1,175 Elo

LMArena Text to Image: 3D modelingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,145.884

HiDream-O1-Image1,122.629

LMArena Text to Image: ArtBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,156.609

HiDream-O1-Image1,122.865

LMArena Text to Image: CartoonBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,145.336

HiDream-O1-Image1,122.842

LMArena Text to Image: Commercial designBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,148.092

HiDream-O1-Image1,128.773

LMArena Text to Image: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,135.885

HiDream-O1-Image1,118.314

LMArena Text to Image: PhotorealismBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,128.051

HiDream-O1-Image1,111.024

LMArena Text to Image: PortraitsBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,122.435

HiDream-O1-Image1,107.311

LMArena Text to Image: Text renderingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,148.761

HiDream-O1-Image1,135.627

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for Wan 2.6 Text to Image and HiDream-O1-Image
Benchmark	Wan 2.6 Text to Image	HiDream-O1-Image	Source
Text to Image Arena	Higher score1,210 Elo Rank 30, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 4,282 ratings	1,175 Elo Rank 56, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 10,890 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: 3D modeling	Higher score1,145.884 Rank 31, 95% confidence interval: ±6.43, 17,534 ratings	1,122.629 Rank 41, 95% confidence interval: ±10.3, 3,159 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Art	Higher score1,156.609 Rank 27, 95% confidence interval: ±5.91, 23,269 ratings	1,122.865 Rank 41, 95% confidence interval: ±8.57, 4,910 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Cartoon	Higher score1,145.336 Rank 32, 95% confidence interval: ±4.52, 73,425 ratings	1,122.842 Rank 38, 95% confidence interval: ±6.4, 13,113 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Commercial design	Higher score1,148.092 Rank 31, 95% confidence interval: ±4.37, 69,457 ratings	1,128.773 Rank 39, 95% confidence interval: ±6.2, 12,596 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Overall	Higher score1,135.885 Rank 35, 95% confidence interval: ±3.05, 182,381 ratings	1,118.314 Rank 40, 95% confidence interval: ±4.3, 34,179 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Photorealism	Higher score1,128.051 Rank 39, 95% confidence interval: ±4.4, 74,727 ratings	1,111.024 Rank 50, 95% confidence interval: ±6.31, 13,889 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Portraits	Higher score1,122.435 Rank 44, 95% confidence interval: ±5.31, 40,808 ratings	1,107.311 Rank 50, 95% confidence interval: ±7.76, 7,047 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Text rendering	Higher score1,148.761 Rank 31, 95% confidence interval: ±4.55, 66,011 ratings	1,135.627 Rank 37, 95% confidence interval: ±6.45, 11,302 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Visual comparison

Sample images

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

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Character and detail

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.

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
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1735022440, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: cf49d7136a442f4f1c1ae29af99e917aa83bcbf501fdacfe3a13a3b3e74d7f9a

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

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 9ac2cbe23ee6a63b0daacd665a40c3471c52c52fd6ad23e46d3027bb95f8c880

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 5d005ee24926d68b7d2299b8ecbe4e14919f652761f6de2568a043f2a6258da0

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

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.

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
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1456348218, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

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

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: d9e00f8c778897df69e719c5bf9fa73115d87abeb23d63eec50dc2280f0e29a9

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 258eece8b53e4df0c990b78dee2e02ec57569b1c823c3feff2ab54671240d66f

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 8b8014fc63f520d73ff57d3d8df5eae880097383167d44918b963f2830d09940

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Product photography

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.

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
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=124666889, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: e8dbcfd0ce965814d72d676eddf74f723d476c1f78c5928c7b6efbc4eca4765e

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: d1539f1db265e5a110b20b8585984ef534d0b89f51e83fd0fc51551832b669d1

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 5a9cd3c59556412e4de93a3ef5c4121ec12b6cc02730cad527619c2d8a889783

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 21e2c14d1b6315c30134e1390f531349608855d4ef1a87527e6d0ba57b2974ca

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Typography and layout

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.

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
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=2131088503, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

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

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

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 418a9b974b87b751ad2e4e98cdf6b8d7e2f8f352aed63d25be84c02377f310d1

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 530872e813e988ba95025956a3743c6111120af963d90b8970a8bf3eced5547b

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.

More matchups

Compare Wan 2.6 Text to Image and HiDream-O1-Image with other important image models using the same benchmark and sample methodology.

View the complete image model comparison

Wan 2.6 Text to Image vs. HiDream-O1-Image

Change image model selection

General specifications and task-specific pricing

Shared capability benchmarks

Shared arena benchmarks

Sample images

Character and detail

Infographic

Product photography

Typography and layout

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

Related image model comparisons