Ideogram 4.0 review
A close second for images, and the pick for character sheets. Ideogram 4.0 scored 8.7/10 across 8 identical prompts, nailed exact poster text, and won the character-sheet and group-selfie prompts, but it lost 5 of 8 to Nano Banana 2.1 and costs more per image.
Every image was generated once with default settings on October 15, 2026 and scored 1–10 without knowing which model made it, on prompt adherence, visual quality and artifacts (methodology).
#2 of 2 image models
via Runway Dev API
incl. queue
| adherence | 8.9 (Nano Banana: 9.0) |
|---|---|
| quality | 8.5 (Nano Banana: 9.0) |
| artifacts | 8.6 (Nano Banana: 8.6) |
Good
- Exact text on the "GRAND OPENING SATURDAY" poster, with clean retro type (9.3)
- Best character sheet: a proper turnaround with a consistent character (9.3)
- Won the rooftop selfie: five friends as asked, hands mostly correct
- Slightly faster renders on average (about 24 s vs 27 s)
Not so good
- About 75% more per image: $0.07 at medium quality vs $0.04 for Nano Banana
- Sparse skincare flat-lay with mostly unreadable labels (8.0)
- A "SEAA" spelling error on the fantasy map
- The thumbnail added unrequested "INSANE!" text and the shock was mild (8.0)
Best for: Character design and turnaround sheets, posters with exact wording, and group shots. Try Ideogram ↗
Its best images
Ideogram 4.0 9.3 adherence 10quality 8artifacts 10
Exact text, clean retro type; plain composition.
Text: GRAND OPENING · compare with Nano Banana
Ideogram 4.0 9.3 adherence 10quality 9artifacts 9
Proper turnaround sheet, consistent character.
Character sheet · compare with Nano Banana
Its weakest images
Ideogram 4.0 8.0 adherence 8quality 8artifacts 8
Pointing at glowing graph, added 'INSANE!' text; shock is mild.
Ideogram 4.0 8.0 adherence 8quality 8artifacts 8
Minimal and sparse; labels mostly unreadable.
All 8 scores
| Prompt | Ideogram | Nano Banana | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fisherman portrait | 8.7 | 9.0 | Weathered face, overcast harbour; less fisherman styling. |
| Text: GRAND OPENING | 9.3 | 9.7 | Exact text, clean retro type; plain composition. |
| Isometric bedroom | 8.7 | 9.0 | Cute Pixar-like isometric room, simpler detail. |
| Skincare flat-lay | 8.0 | 8.7 | Minimal and sparse; labels mostly unreadable. |
| Fantasy island map | 8.7 | 8.7 | Ink and watercolour map; 'SEAA' spelling error. |
| Rooftop selfie (hands) | 8.7 | 8.3 | Five friends taking a selfie, hands mostly correct; a few hidden. |
| Character sheet | 9.3 | 9.0 | Proper turnaround sheet, consistent character. |
| YouTube thumbnail | 8.0 | 8.7 | Pointing at glowing graph, added 'INSANE!' text; shock is mild. |
Highlighted: higher score on that prompt (both highlighted on a tie).
Compare: Nano Banana vs IdeogramNano Banana 2.1 review · Best AI image generator · Best free AI image generator · All reviews
Best for: product photos · consistent characters · portraits · illustration & 3D · text & logos
FAQ
Is Ideogram 4.0 good?
A close second for images, and the pick for character sheets. Ideogram 4.0 scored 8.7/10 across 8 identical prompts, nailed exact poster text, and won the character-sheet and group-selfie prompts, but it lost 5 of 8 to Nano Banana 2.1 and costs more per image.
How much does Ideogram 4.0 cost?
About $0.07 per image through the Runway Dev API at the settings we used (4 / 7 / 11 credits (low/med/high)). App access: Ideogram plans.
Is Ideogram 4.0 better than Nano Banana 2.1?
On our 8 identical image prompts, Ideogram 4.0 won 2, Nano Banana 2.1 won 5, and 1 tied. Average score: 8.7 vs 8.9. Both scored far higher than any video model, so for images the gap between them is small.
How fast is Ideogram 4.0?
An average of about 24 seconds per image in our test, including queue time.
What is Ideogram 4.0 bad at?
About 75% more per image: $0.07 at medium quality vs $0.04 for Nano Banana. Sparse skincare flat-lay with mostly unreadable labels (8.0). A "SEAA" spelling error on the fantasy map. The thumbnail added unrequested "INSANE!" text and the shock was mild (8.0).