Image model comparison
Nano Banana Pro vs GPT Image 2
Google's Nano Banana Pro and OpenAI's GPT Image 2 are the two default answers to "which image model should I use" in 2026. One is famous for edits that keep your face intact, the other for following complicated instructions like a patient art director. We host both, so here's the practical split.
Last updated July 11, 2026
Verdict
Nano Banana Pro is the photographer, GPT Image 2 is the art director. Most teams end up using both — one for realism and identity, one for complex layout briefs.
Specs, side by side
 Nano Banana Pro |  GPT Image 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Output | 1K / 2K / 4K | Standard / High |
| Formats | 9 ratios | 3 ratios |
| Batch | up to 4 | up to 4 |
| Image input | Yes | Yes |
| Credits | 40 / image | 40 / image |
Where each one wins
Photorealism
Nano Banana Pro
The stronger photograph-maker: skin, lighting, and lens behavior read like a camera. The default for portraits and product scenes.
GPT Image 2
Very good, with a slightly more illustrated finish on people; excels at stylized and graphic looks.
Editing your photos
Nano Banana Pro
Identity preservation is the signature — outfit, era, background, and lighting change while the person stays recognizably themselves.
GPT Image 2
Capable editor with strong scene understanding, but faces drift more often across heavy edits.
Text in images
Nano Banana Pro
Reliable spelling on posters, labels, and signage; the practical choice for design comps.
GPT Image 2
Also strong on text, and better at dense layouts — menus, UI mockups, multi-line lockups.
Instruction following
Nano Banana Pro
Handles direct instructions well; very long multi-step briefs can lose a detail.
GPT Image 2
The reasoning-guided pipeline is the differentiator: ten-step briefs with placement rules come back honored.
Same prompt, both models
Photoreal portrait
“Editorial portrait of a chef in a busy kitchen, motion blur behind her, sharp eyes, natural color grade”
Layout brief
“A recipe card layout for lemon pasta: title at top, three numbered steps on the left, finished dish photo on the right, clean typography”
The verdict
Nano Banana Pro is the photographer, GPT Image 2 is the art director. Most teams end up using both — one for realism and identity, one for complex layout briefs.
Pick Nano Banana Pro if…
Pick Nano Banana Pro for photoreal portraits, personal photo edits, and product shots where the subject must stay itself.
Try Nano Banana ProPick GPT Image 2 if…
Pick GPT Image 2 for multi-step briefs, dense text layouts, and stylized illustration work.
Try GPT Image 2Frequently asked questions
Which is better for editing personal photos?
Nano Banana Pro — identity preservation through edits is what made the model famous. Upload a photo, describe the change, and the face stays consistent.
Which renders text more accurately?
Both are top-tier. Nano Banana Pro is extremely reliable on short display text; GPT Image 2 has the edge on dense, multi-line layouts.
Can I compare them on the same prompt?
Yes — both models live in the AI Canvas image editor with one credit balance. Generate, switch models, rerun, and keep the better result.
What resolutions do they support?
The live spec table above shows current output options side by side, straight from the product — including 4K support and batch size per model.
More comparisons
Settle it with your own prompt
Both models live in the same editor with one credit balance — run the identical prompt and keep the better take.
Open the editor