Exploring and Comparing AI Image Generators: Which Model Works Best for Me?

A few weeks ago, I started exploring and testing the AI image generator on PeakD, which I documented in a post where I shared my experiences. In that post, I discussed my observations and concluded which model suited my preferences best. I also analyzed the costs associated with each model, and to my surprise, I found that, in my opinion, the cost does not necessarily correlate with the quality of the AI-generated images that I personally prefer.

It seems that the perception of quality and personal preferences vary from person to person, so it’s something everyone should evaluate for themselves. One of the advantages of PeakD's AI image generator is the wide variety of available models, each with different pricing options. For instance, some models are priced as low as 0.015 HBD, while others range from 0.05 to 0.079 HBD.

In today’s post, I tested some of the newly available image generation models and compared them to the Recraft V3 and Flux Pro models, which were my initial favorites.

For this exercise, I tested five models, which are as follows:

• Recraft V3 (initial release)
• SD 3.5 LG Stability (new release)
• FLUX 1.1 Pro Ultra (BFL) (new release)
• FLUX Schnell (BFL) x4 (new release)
• Ideogram V2 Turbo (new release)

I selected two of the initially released models to recreate the AI artwork, allowing me to compare the quality and style of the artwork. Let me tell you, it’s been an interesting experiment to use the exact same prompt across all these models to see how they "compete" with one another and determine which one best suits my preferences in terms of quality, style, and cost.

Let me start with the model that costs the least...

FLUX Schnell (BFL) x4

This model offered the best value for my money, as it costs only 0.015 HBD and provides four high-quality JPEG files as well.

For such a low price, I’m quite satisfied to receive four images that are decent. While there are some inaccuracies with the characters or other issues in the images, considering the amount I paid, it’s forgivable.

Recraft V3

There was a time when this was my favorite, and I frequently used it to create the AI images I shared in Snaps. However, with the introduction of new models now available for use, my attention has shifted to the newer options.

The pricing of Recraft is now lowered from 0.055 HBD to 0.05 HBD. Although the cost has been lowered, it's still 4x more costly than the Flux Schnell model.

Although it wasn’t terrible, I was annoyed that it didn’t capture the art style I specified in my prompt. It made me wonder why the other models were able to interpret my prompt correctly, but the Recraft V3 model could not.

SD 3.5 LG (Stability)

It’s priced at 0.07 HBD, making it slightly more expensive than the models mentioned above. Although it’s just 2 cents more than Recraft, I believe the quality and consistency are already a noticeable improvement.

Ideogram V2 Turbo

This one costs 0.055 HBD and produces a unique style while successfully following my prompt. Although the quality and style aren’t bad, I feel it’s not something I would prefer to continue using.

Flux 1.1 Pro Ultra (BFL)

Among all the models I tested today, this is the one that perfectly matches my preferences. The images are accurate and consistent throughout, and the quality is superior to the rest I tested.

Although it’s the most expensive, I believe that a price of 0.075 HBD is reasonable considering the quality of the images it produces. Based on this test and model comparison, I would say this is my favorite model.

In conclusion, each AI image generator model offers its own strengths and drawbacks, making it important to choose one that aligns with your personal preferences in terms of quality, style, and cost. Through testing these models, I’ve been able to better understand which ones work best for me, though your experience may vary. Ultimately, the variety of options available ensures that there’s a model out there for everyone, depending on what you value most.