Comparisons 8 min read· Jul 15, 2026· By Research
Choosing an image model: Nano Banana vs GPT Image
A visual comparison of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, Gemini 3 Image, and GPT Image 2.
Image generation now spans a 10× price range depending on the model you pick. Here is how to choose without burning your wallet.
When to reach for Nano Banana#
Gemini 2.5 Flash Image at ~$1.50 per image is the workhorse. Great for thumbnails, product mockups, and social media at scale.
When GPT Image 2 earns its $8#
Text rendering. Fine typography, ad creative, packaging concepts — GPT Image 2 remains the sharpest at rendering readable words.
When Gemini 3 Image is the answer#
Photorealism and instruction-following on complex scenes. See the full image models guide.