Nano Banana 2.1 review
The best AI image generator we tested in October 2026, and the cheapest. Nano Banana 2.1 scored 8.9/10 across 8 identical prompts, beat Ideogram 4.0 on 5 of them, and costs about $0.04 per image through the API.
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).
#1 of 2 image models
via Runway Dev API
incl. queue
| adherence | 9.0 (Ideogram: 8.9) |
|---|---|
| quality | 9.0 (Ideogram: 8.5) |
| artifacts | 8.6 (Ideogram: 8.6) |
Good
- Highest image score we recorded (8.9) and 5 wins out of 8 against Ideogram 4.0
- Best poster we got: the exact text "GRAND OPENING SATURDAY" with a richer retro design (9.7)
- Ad-ready skincare flat-lay with mostly legible labels, where Ideogram's labels were mostly unreadable
- Strongest YouTube thumbnail: a properly shocked face, high contrast and a glowing graph
- Cheapest: about $0.04 per 1K image via the Runway Dev API
Not so good
- Small text slips on busy images: a duplicated place name and a garbled label on the fantasy map, one smudged product label
- Lost the rooftop selfie by adding a background crowd nobody asked for
- Lost the character sheet to Ideogram's proper turnaround layout (9.0 vs 9.3)
Best for: Product and ad images, YouTube thumbnails, posters and anything photoreal, especially at volume. Try Gemini (Nano Banana) ↗
Its best images
Nano Banana 2.1 9.7 adherence 10quality 9artifacts 10
Exact text, richer retro poster design.
Text: GRAND OPENING · compare with Ideogram
Nano Banana 2.1 9.0 adherence 9quality 9artifacts 9
Weathered fisherman, overcast light, boat context.
Fisherman portrait · compare with Ideogram
Its weakest images
Nano Banana 2.1 8.3 adherence 8quality 9artifacts 8
Five friends plus background crowd; hands well formed.
Nano Banana 2.1 8.7 adherence 9quality 9artifacts 8
Strong shocked face, high contrast, glowing graph; busy numbers.
All 8 scores
| Prompt | Nano Banana | Ideogram | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fisherman portrait | 9.0 | 8.7 | Weathered fisherman, overcast light, boat context. |
| Text: GRAND OPENING | 9.7 | 9.3 | Exact text, richer retro poster design. |
| Isometric bedroom | 9.0 | 8.7 | Highly detailed cozy isometric room. |
| Skincare flat-lay | 8.7 | 8.0 | Ad-ready flat-lay, mostly legible labels; one smudged label. |
| Fantasy island map | 8.7 | 8.7 | Rich detailed map; duplicated place name and one garbled label. |
| Rooftop selfie (hands) | 8.3 | 8.7 | Five friends plus background crowd; hands well formed. |
| Character sheet | 9.0 | 9.3 | Consistent character in 3 expressive poses. |
| YouTube thumbnail | 8.7 | 8.0 | Strong shocked face, high contrast, glowing graph; busy numbers. |
Highlighted: higher score on that prompt (both highlighted on a tie).
Compare: Nano Banana vs IdeogramIdeogram 4.0 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 Nano Banana 2.1 good?
The best AI image generator we tested in October 2026, and the cheapest. Nano Banana 2.1 scored 8.9/10 across 8 identical prompts, beat Ideogram 4.0 on 5 of them, and costs about $0.04 per image through the API.
How much does Nano Banana 2.1 cost?
About $0.04 per image through the Runway Dev API at the settings we used (4 credits per 1K image). App access: Gemini app.
Is Nano Banana 2.1 better than Ideogram 4.0?
On our 8 identical image prompts, Nano Banana 2.1 won 5, Ideogram 4.0 won 2, and 1 tied. Average score: 8.9 vs 8.7. Both scored far higher than any video model, so for images the gap between them is small.
How fast is Nano Banana 2.1?
An average of about 27 seconds per image in our test, including queue time.
What is Nano Banana 2.1 bad at?
Small text slips on busy images: a duplicated place name and a garbled label on the fantasy map, one smudged product label. Lost the rooftop selfie by adding a background crowd nobody asked for. Lost the character sheet to Ideogram's proper turnaround layout (9.0 vs 9.3).