Best AI image generator for portraits and people
People are the classic AI image failure: plastic skin, too many fingers, faces that melt in a group. We tested a photoreal headshot of a 60-year-old fisherman and a five-person rooftop selfie where everyone's hands had to be visible.
Ideogram 4.0 = Nano Banana 2.1 8.7/10
| 1. Ideogram 4.0 | 8.7 | $0.07/image | worst: 8.7 |
| 2. Nano Banana 2.1 | 8.7 | $0.04/image | worst: 8.3 |
It's a dead heat on average. Nano Banana made the better single portrait (9.0 vs 8.7), with more fisherman context, while Ideogram did better on the group selfie (8.7 vs 8.3). Both drew hands well, so pick by whether you shoot one face or a crowd.
Try Ideogram ↗Fisherman portrait
“Photoreal headshot of a 60-year-old fisherman, weathered skin, overcast light.”
Nano Banana 2.1 9.0 adherence 9quality 9artifacts 9
Weathered fisherman, overcast light, boat context.
Ideogram 4.0 8.7 adherence 8quality 9artifacts 9
Weathered face, overcast harbour; less fisherman styling.
Rooftop selfie (hands)
“Five friends taking a selfie at a rooftop party, everyone's hands visible.”
Ideogram 4.0 8.7 adherence 9quality 9artifacts 8
Five friends taking a selfie, hands mostly correct; a few hidden.
Nano Banana 2.1 8.3 adherence 8quality 9artifacts 8
Five friends plus background crowd; hands well formed.
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- Best AI image generator overall · Nano Banana vs Ideogram · Cheapest · How we score
FAQ
What is the best AI image generator for portraits & people?
In our October 2026 tests (prompts 13, 18), Ideogram 4.0 and Nano Banana 2.1 tied at 8.7/10. It's a dead heat on average. Nano Banana made the better single portrait (9.0 vs 8.7), with more fisherman context, while Ideogram did better on the group selfie (8.7 vs 8.3). Both drew hands well, so pick by whether you shoot one face or a crowd.
How much does each output cost?
Ideogram 4.0: $0.07 per image; Nano Banana 2.1: $0.04 per image (Runway Dev API pricing, October 2026).