Quick answer
- GPT Image 2: $0.053 per image.
- Nano Banana 2: $0.067 per image.
- Nano Banana Pro: $0.134 per image in this comparison.
- Bottom line: Of these three, GPT Image 2 is 21% cheaper than Nano Banana 2, and Nano Banana Pro is 2x Nano Banana 2.
- Cheaper Google options: Nano Banana 2.1, Google's recommended replacement for Nano Banana 2, and Nano Banana 2 Lite are both about $0.0336 per 1K image. See Nano Banana prices by resolution.
What is the official cost per image in this comparison?
| Model | Model ID | Official cost per image |
|---|---|---|
| GPT Image 2 | gpt-image-2 | $0.053 |
| Nano Banana 2 | gemini-3.1-flash-image | $0.067 |
| Nano Banana Pro | gemini-3-pro-image | $0.134 |
Google shut down the -preview IDs used when this comparison was first published on June 25, 2026. Use the stable IDs above; the image examples below were generated with the preview models in April 2026.
Google now recommends Nano Banana 2.1 (gemini-nano-banana-2.1, released October 6, 2026) as the replacement for Nano Banana 2; no Nano Banana 2 shutdown date is announced yet. Nano Banana 2.1 costs about $0.0336 per 1K image, half of Nano Banana 2. This comparison still uses Nano Banana 2.
OpenAI now lists GPT Image 2 as an earlier model and recommends GPT Image 2.5 (Flare or Sunburst) for new integrations. This comparison still uses GPT Image 2. For 2.5 per-image cost estimates, see our GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst vs Flare guide.
Which one is cheapest?
In this simplified comparison, GPT Image 2 is the cheapest of the three.
- GPT Image 2: $0.053
- Nano Banana 2: $0.067
- Nano Banana Pro: $0.134
That means GPT Image 2 is about 21% cheaper than Nano Banana 2 in this comparison. Nano Banana Pro is about 2x Nano Banana 2, and about 2.5x GPT Image 2.
How many images can you generate with $10 and $100?
Using the same simplified per-image prices and rounding down to whole images:
| Model | Approx. price per image | Approx. images with $10 | Approx. images with $100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT Image 2 | $0.053 | 188 | 1,886 |
| Nano Banana 2 | $0.067 | 149 | 1,492 |
| Nano Banana Pro | $0.134 | 74 | 746 |
How much per image is Nano Banana at each resolution?
Nano Banana 2 uses token-based image output pricing, so cost rises with resolution. Approximate per-image cost from Google's published token equivalents, rounded down to whole images:
| Model | Resolution | Approx. price per image | Approx. images with $10 | Approx. images with $100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nano Banana 2 Lite (gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image) | 1K | $0.0336 | 297 | 2,976 |
Nano Banana 2.1 (gemini-nano-banana-2.1) | 1K | $0.0336 | 297 | 2,976 |
| Nano Banana 2.1 | 2K | $0.0504 | 198 | 1,984 |
| Nano Banana 2.1 | 4K | $0.113 | 88 | 884 |
| Nano Banana 2 | 512px | $0.045 | 222 | 2,222 |
| Nano Banana 2 | 1K | $0.067 | 149 | 1,492 |
| Nano Banana 2 | 2K | $0.101 | 99 | 990 |
| Nano Banana 2 | 4K | $0.151 | 66 | 662 |
| Nano Banana Pro | 1K / 2K | $0.134 | 74 | 746 |
| Nano Banana Pro | 4K | $0.24 | 41 | 416 |
Nano Banana 2.1 and Nano Banana 2 Lite drop to about $0.0168 per 1K image with Batch. The original Nano Banana (gemini-2.5-flash-image, about $0.039 per image) is deprecated: Google's deprecations table lists March 15, 2027 as its earliest shutdown date, while the pricing page still says October 2, 2026. Google recommends Nano Banana 2 Lite instead.
GPT Image 2 vs Nano Banana 2 vs Nano Banana Pro image examples
Below are side-by-side image examples generated from the same prompt on GPT Image 2, Nano Banana 2, and Nano Banana Pro.
Example 1: Product photo
Prompt: Create a studio-quality product photo of a premium sparkling water can called "AURORA" on a wet black stone surface with lemon slices and soft rim lighting. The can label should clearly read "AURORA", "Sparkling Water", and "Lemon". Photorealistic, commercial ad style, high detail.
Verdict: GPT Image 2 produced the strongest commercial product shot here. Nano Banana 2 was close, while Nano Banana Pro looked stylish but simpler on label detail.
Example 2: Marketing creative
Prompt: Design a clean square travel ad for Kyoto in spring. Show cherry blossoms, a red temple gate, and two travelers walking through the scene. Add readable headline and subtext: "Kyoto in Bloom", "4 Days from $899", and "Book by April 30". Modern, premium, social-ad composition.
Verdict: GPT Image 2 handled the ad layout and promo text best. Both Nano Banana outputs matched the scene, but their typography and layout were less controlled.
Example 3: Infographic
Prompt: Create a flat-design infographic explaining the water cycle for students. Use four labeled steps with arrows and simple icons: "Evaporation", "Condensation", "Precipitation", and "Collection". Clear spacing, readable text, pastel color palette, white background.
Verdict: GPT Image 2 gave the clearest classroom-ready infographic. Nano Banana 2 was usable but busier, and Nano Banana Pro was the simplest version with the least detail.
How long does each image take to generate?
These times are from this quick test only, so they can be faster or slower at other times.
| Example | GPT Image 2 | Nano Banana 2 | Nano Banana Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product photo | 44s | 13s | 19s |
| Marketing creative | 55s | 25s | 15s |
| Infographic | 52s | 16s | 20s |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GPT Image 2 cheaper than Nano Banana 2?
Yes. GPT Image 2 is $0.053 per image and Nano Banana 2 is $0.067, so GPT Image 2 is 21% cheaper.
Are these ChatGPT and Gemini app prices or API prices?
These are API list prices from the official OpenAI and Google developer pricing pages. Consumer app plans use separate subscription allowances and quotas.
Can the total bill still be higher than these per-image numbers?
Yes. Prompt tokens, edit inputs, grounding, and other request details can add cost. This article focuses on the published image output price or per-image equivalent.