> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.laozhang.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Image Generation API Selection Guide

> Compare all image generation services to help you choose the best API

## 🎯 Choose in 30 Seconds

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Cost-Controlled" icon="badge-dollar-sign">
    **Sora Image** - \$0.01/image

    * Lowest price, good quality
    * Perfect for batch generation
    * Chinese-friendly

    [View Docs →](/en/api-capabilities/sora-image-generation)
  </Card>

  <Card title="OpenAI-Compatible" icon="plug">
    **GPT-Image-2** - \$0.03/call

    * OpenAI-compatible endpoints
    * Supports Chat Completions and Images API
    * Covers generation and editing

    [View Docs →](/en/api-capabilities/gpt-image-2)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Highest Quality" icon="sparkles">
    **Flux Kontext Max** - \$0.07/image

    * Premium quality
    * Flexible aspect ratios (3:7 to 7:3)
    * Professional design choice

    [View Docs →](/en/api-capabilities/flux-image-generation)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Low-Cost High-Frequency Output" icon="bolt">
    **Nano Banana 2 Lite** - \$0.025/call

    * Stable model ID
    * 1K and 14 aspect ratios
    * Designed for low-latency, high-volume work

    [View Nano Banana 2 Lite →](/en/api-capabilities/nano-banana-2-lite-api)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Editing Features" icon="paintbrush">
    **GPT-Image-2 / Gemini Flash Edit**

    * GPT-Image-2 fits OpenAI-compatible image editing
    * Gemini Flash is useful for multi-image composition
    * Choose URL or Base64 based on your app

    [View GPT-Image-2 →](/en/api-capabilities/gpt-image-2)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## 📊 Complete Comparison

| Service                  | Price        | Speed              | Quality | Features                                  | Best For                                              |
| ------------------------ | ------------ | ------------------ | ------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Sora Image**           | \$0.01/img   | \~10-15s           | ⭐⭐⭐⭐    | Chinese-friendly, pay-per-call            | Batch content, quick prototyping                      |
| **GPT-Image-2**          | \$0.03/call  | Medium             | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐   | Chat Completions + Images API, URL/Base64 | OpenAI-compatible integration, generation and editing |
| **Flux Pro**             | \$0.035/img  | Fast               | ⭐⭐⭐⭐    | Flexible ratios (3:7-7:3)                 | Professional design, social media                     |
| **Flux Max**             | \$0.07/img   | Fast               | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐   | Highest quality                           | Commercial work, premium design                       |
| **Nano Banana 2 Lite**   | \$0.025/call | Low-latency target | ⭐⭐⭐⭐    | 1K, 14 ratios, low cost                   | High-frequency drafts, fast edits, batch work         |
| **Nano Banana Standard** | \$0.025/call | \~10s              | ⭐⭐⭐⭐    | 1K, Base64, legacy compatibility          | Existing web applications                             |
| **Nano Banana 2**        | \$0.055/call | \~10s              | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐   | 0.5K–4K, high throughput                  | General production, 4K, text rendering                |
| **Nano Banana Pro**      | \$0.09/call  | \~10s              | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐   | 4K, complex layout, thinking              | Professional design, complex instructions             |
| **GPT-Image-1**          | Per token    | Medium             | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐   | OpenAI standard                           | Enterprise integration                                |
| **Seedream**             | \$0.035/img  | Medium             | ⭐⭐⭐⭐    | Image-to-image, multi-image               | Creative editing, style transfer                      |

<Tip>
  **Cost Comparison**: Generating 100 images

  * Sora: \$1.00
  * Nano Banana 2 Lite / Standard: \$2.50
  * GPT-Image-2: \$3.00
  * Nano Banana 2: \$5.50
  * Seedream 4.0: \$3.50
  * Nano Banana Pro: \$9.00
  * Flux Pro: \$3.50
  * Flux Max: \$7.00

  **Cost-Controlled**: Sora Image (2.current route pricing)
</Tip>

## 🎨 Choose by Scenario

### Social Media Content

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Square (1:1)">
    **Recommended**: Sora Image, Gemini Flash, Nano Banana

    * **Budget-conscious**: Sora (\$0.01/img)
    * **Quality priority**: Gemini Flash (\$0.025/img)
    * **Web embedding**: Nano Banana (Base64 format)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Portrait (9:16)">
    **Recommended**: Gemini Flash, Flux Pro

    * **Standard portrait**: Gemini Flash 9:16 (\$0.025/img)
    * **Ultra-tall**: Flux (3:7 ratio, \$0.035/img)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Banner">
    **Recommended**: Flux Pro

    * **Ultra-wide banner**: Flux 7:3 ratio (\$0.035/img)
    * **Standard landscape**: Gemini Flash 16:9 (\$0.025/img)
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Professional Design

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="High Quality" icon="crown">
    **Recommended**: Flux Max (\$0.07/img)

    * Richest details
    * Handles complex prompts
    * Perfect for commercial work
  </Card>

  <Card title="Flexible Sizing" icon="maximize">
    **Recommended**: Gemini Flash (\$0.025/img)

    * 10 aspect ratios
    * Fast iteration
    * Great value
  </Card>

  <Card title="Special Ratios" icon="maximize">
    **Recommended**: Flux Pro (\$0.035/img)

    * 3:7 to 7:3 freedom
    * Professional layout needs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Batch Generation" icon="layers">
    **Recommended**: Sora Image (\$0.01/img)

    * Lowest cost
    * Stable quality
    * Perfect for volume
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Image Editing

| Need                             | Recommended Service | Price             | Features                                                                    |
| -------------------------------- | ------------------- | ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Multi-image composition          | Gemini Flash Edit   | \$0.025/call      | Up to 4 images fusion                                                       |
| OpenAI-compatible image-to-image | GPT-Image-2         | \$0.03/call       | Chat Completions supports URL/base64 input; Images Edits supports multipart |
| Precise control                  | Flux Edit           | \$0.035/call      | Mask control, local editing                                                 |
| Style transfer                   | Sora Edit, Seedream | \$0.01-0.035/call | Artistic style migration                                                    |
| Image-to-image                   | Seedream            | \$0.035/call      | Keep structure, change details                                              |

## 💰 Cost Optimization Strategy

### Hybrid Approach

<Steps>
  <Step title="Test with Sora">
    Test 10 different prompts for \$0.01 each

    ```python theme={null}
    test_prompts = [
        "sunset over mountains",
        "sunset over snowy mountains",
        "dramatic sunset over mountain peaks",
        # ... 7 more variations
    ]

    for prompt in test_prompts:
        # Test with Sora ($0.01/img)
        url = generate_with_sora(prompt)
        evaluate(url)

    # Testing cost: $0.10 (10 tests)
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Final with Flux">
    Use best prompt with Flux Max for high-quality final

    ```python theme={null}
    best_prompt = "dramatic sunset over mountain peaks"

    # Generate final with Flux Max ($0.07/img)
    final_image = generate_with_flux_max(best_prompt)

    # Final cost: $0.07 (1 generation)
    # Total cost: $0.17
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cost Comparison">
    **Hybrid approach**: 10 tests + 1 final = \$0.17

    **vs Direct Flux Max testing**: 10 × \$0.07 = \$0.70

    **Saved**: \$0.53 (76%)
  </Step>
</Steps>

## 🔄 Decision Tree

```
Need to generate images
    │
    ├─ Budget sufficient (>$0.05/img)?
    │   ├─ Yes → Need special ratios?
    │   │   ├─ Yes → Flux Pro/Max
    │   │   └─ No → Gemini Flash (10 ratios)
    │   └─ No → Sora Image ($0.01/img)
    │
    ├─ Need editing features?
    │   └─ Yes → Multi-image composition?
    │       ├─ Yes → Gemini Flash Edit
    │       └─ No → Flux Edit (mask control)
    │
    ├─ Pursuing ultimate quality?
    │   └─ Yes → Flux Max ($0.07/img)
    │
    ├─ Need Base64 format?
    │   └─ Yes → Nano Banana or Gemini Flash
    │
    └─ Batch generation (>100 images)?
        └─ Yes → Sora Image (lowest cost)
```

## 📱 Recommendations by Industry

### E-commerce Product Images

* **Recommended**: Flux Pro (\$0.035/img)
* **Why**: Stable quality, supports various product angles
* **Alternative**: Gemini Flash (lightweight, good for bulk)

### Social Media Graphics

* **Recommended**: Sora Image (\$0.01/img)
* **Why**: Best value, perfect for daily updates
* **Alternative**: Gemini Flash (10 ratios for different platforms)

### Professional Design/Branding

* **Recommended**: Flux Max (\$0.07/img)
* **Why**: Rich details, meets commercial standards
* **Alternative**: Flux Pro (similar quality, half price)

### Mobile App Development

* **Recommended**: Gemini Flash (\$0.025/img)
* **Why**: Supports all mobile ratios, fast
* **Alternative**: Nano Banana (Base64 for direct embedding)

## 🚀 Get Started

Ready? Click below to view detailed docs:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Sora Image" icon="wand-sparkles" href="/en/api-capabilities/sora-image-generation">
    \$0.01/img - Cost-Controlled
  </Card>

  <Card title="GPT-Image-2" icon="image" href="/en/api-capabilities/gpt-image-2">
    \$0.03/call - OpenAI-compatible generation and editing
  </Card>

  <Card title="Flux" icon="zap" href="/en/api-capabilities/flux-image-generation">
    \$0.035-0.07/img - Professional Choice
  </Card>

  <Card title="Nano Banana API" icon="banana" href="/en/api-capabilities/nano-banana-image">
    From \$0.025/call - Standard entry with Lite, 2, and Pro comparisons
  </Card>

  <Card title="View All Services" icon="grid-2x2" href="/en/api-reference/images">
    Complete image API list
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## ❓ Still Unsure?

<Accordion title="Which should I choose? Quick Q&A">
  **Q: My budget is under \$0.02/image**
  A: Choose **Sora Image** (\$0.01/img)

  **Q: I need portrait posters (9:16)**
  A: Choose **Gemini Flash** (supports 9:16 ratio)

  **Q: I need highest quality, budget not an issue**
  A: Choose **Flux Max** (\$0.07/img)

  **Q: I need special ratios (e.g., 7:3 ultra-wide banner)**
  A: Choose **Flux Pro** (3:7 to 7:3 freedom)

  **Q: I need to edit images or compose multiple images**
  A: Choose **Gemini Flash Edit** or **Flux Edit**

  **Q: I want one OpenAI-compatible path for both generation and editing**
  A: Choose **GPT-Image-2**

  **Q: I need Base64 for direct web embedding**
  A: Choose **GPT-Image-2 Images API**, **Nano Banana**, or **Gemini Flash**
</Accordion>

<Tip>
  Want to see actual results? Visit [yingtu.ai](https://yingtu.ai) to test different image models online.
</Tip>