FLUX.2 vs Nano Banana 2 vs Nano Banana Pro
FLUX.2 and Kontext vs Nano Banana
Black Forest Labs against Google on the same four prompts, plus how their editors differ.
Updated
FLUX vs Nano Banana Pro is the comparison between the two model families most designers use for edits and brand work. FLUX comes from Black Forest Labs: FLUX.2 [pro] generates and blends references, and FLUX.1 Kontext edits photos from instructions. Nano Banana is Google’s Gemini image family. We host all of them, so the side-by-side below uses real outputs from our own account.
Short answer
FLUX.2 is the better value for brand series and literal prompts: it was the only model in our test to frame a true close-up, and it costs less per image. Nano Banana Pro is the pick for 4K output, dense text and complex edits, and Nano Banana 2 for fast, natural photo edits. For simple instruction edits, FLUX.1 Kontext and Nano Banana are both strong.
FLUX vs Nano Banana: the verdict
| Criterion | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Following the prompt literally | FLUX.2 | It framed the only true close-up in our portrait test and made exactly one banana-shaped bottle. |
| Cost per image here | FLUX.2 | 25 credits at 1K against 40 for Nano Banana 2 and 90 for Nano Banana Pro. |
| Maximum resolution | Nano Banana | Both Nano Banana 2 and Pro reach 4K. FLUX.2 [pro] tops out at 2K here. |
| Dense text and infographics | Nano Banana Pro | FLUX.2 renders headlines well; Pro handles longer text and data layouts more reliably. |
| Brand series from references | FLUX.2 | Multi-reference conditioning is its signature feature, built to hold a product or style across a set. |
| Quick instruction edits | Tie: Kontext or Nano Banana 2 | Both change one thing and keep the rest. Kontext takes one reference image; Nano Banana 2 takes several. |
Same prompts, side by side
Each row uses one prompt, run once on each model on our own account. The images are unedited; the note under each row says what we saw.
Prompt: “Photorealistic close-up portrait of a young woman with light freckles and natural curly hair, soft window light, shallow depth of field, 85mm lens, high detail”
FLUX.2 was the only model to frame a true close-up, filling the frame with the face and freckles. Both Nano Banana models chose a wider shot with more of the room.
Prompt: “Professional studio product photograph of a glossy yellow banana-shaped perfume bottle on a white marble surface, soft gradient background, clean commercial lighting”
FLUX.2 and Nano Banana 2 each made one clean banana-shaped bottle with a gold spray cap. Nano Banana Pro split the idea into a banana-shaped vessel and a separate bottle.
Prompt: “Bold playful poster with large 3D text reading 'NANO BANANA' in bright yellow letters on a dark background, confetti, soft glow, modern typography, high quality”
All three spelled NANO BANANA correctly. Nano Banana 2 added an extra tagline; FLUX.2 and Pro kept to the two words.
Prompt: “Cinematic fantasy landscape at golden hour, floating islands above a misty valley, dramatic volumetric clouds, ultra detailed, wide establishing shot”
FLUX.2 chose a softer, misty morning feel. The Nano Banana models leaned into warm golden light and more distant detail.
Specs compared
| FLUX.2 | Nano Banana 2 | Nano Banana Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Black Forest Labs FLUX.2 [pro] | Gemini 3.1 Flash Image | Gemini 3 Pro Image |
| Developer | Black Forest Labs | Google DeepMind | Google DeepMind |
| Released | November 2025 | February 2026 | November 2025 |
| Edit model | FLUX.1 Kontext (separate model) | Same model | Same model |
| Signature strength | Multi-reference consistency | Fast, natural edits | Text, detail, 4K |
| Credits per image on Nano Banana AI | 25 credits at 1K, 35 credits at 2K | 40 credits at 1K, 60 credits at 2K, 90 credits at 4K | 90 credits at 1K, 90 credits at 2K, 120 credits at 4K |
| Max resolution here | 2K | 4K | 4K |
| Reference images here | Up to 4 | Up to 4 | Up to 4 |
| Included from | Standard plan | Premium plan | Pro plan |
FLUX.2, FLUX.1 Kontext and Nano Banana: who does what
FLUX.2 is Black Forest Labs’ second-generation family (pro, flex, dev and klein). The [pro] tier we run is tuned for prompt adherence and multi-reference work: attach references and it keeps characters, products and styles consistent.
FLUX.1 Kontext is a separate editing model: you give it one image and an instruction, and it changes that one thing. Nano Banana does generation and editing in one model, so Nano Banana 2 and Nano Banana Pro both generate from text and edit uploaded photos.
Realism and following the prompt
On our four prompts FLUX.2 was the most literal: a real close-up when the prompt said close-up, and a single perfume bottle shaped like a banana. The Nano Banana models made more environmental, candid choices, and Pro once read the product brief more loosely. If you write precise prompts and want them followed to the letter, FLUX.2 is a strong first try.
Editing: FLUX Kontext vs Nano Banana
Both families handle the common edits: replace a background, change clothes, relight a scene, remove an object. Kontext takes one image per edit and is fast. Nano Banana accepts up to 4 images here, which helps when you combine a person, an outfit and a location. Nano Banana is particularly good at keeping a face recognizable through several rounds of edits.
Price and resolution
| 1K | 2K | 4K | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 | 25 credits | 35 credits | - |
| FLUX.1 Kontext | 25 credits | 50 credits | - |
| Nano Banana 2 | 40 credits | 60 credits | 90 credits |
| Nano Banana Pro | 90 credits | 90 credits | 120 credits |
FLUX.2 and Kontext are included from the Standard plan, Nano Banana 2 from Premium and Nano Banana Pro from Pro.
FLUX vs Nano Banana FAQ
Is FLUX better than Nano Banana Pro?
FLUX.2 is cheaper and very literal, and it is built for consistent brand series. Nano Banana Pro is better for 4K output, dense text and complex edits.
FLUX Kontext vs Nano Banana: which edits photos better?
Both make clean single edits. Kontext is fast and takes one reference image; Nano Banana accepts several images and is especially good at keeping faces consistent over many edits.
Is Nano Banana based on FLUX?
No. Nano Banana is Google’s Gemini image model family. FLUX is a separate family from Black Forest Labs.
Which is cheaper, FLUX or Nano Banana?
On Nano Banana AI, FLUX.2 costs 25 credits at 1K, Nano Banana 2 40 and Nano Banana Pro 90. The original Nano Banana costs 20.
Can I use FLUX and Nano Banana together?
Yes. All of them run on one credit balance here, so you can draft with FLUX.2 and finish with Nano Banana Pro, or the other way around.