Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT-5 Image
Nano Banana 2.1 costs 1.3x less per output token than GPT-5 Image ($7.50 vs $10.00 per million). Updated October 22, 2026; 3 benchmarks have a result for both.
Nano Banana 2.1 or GPT-5 Image: which to pick
Neither model has a coding score yet, so the two cannot be ranked on coding.
Pick Nano Banana 2.1 for output tokens 1.3x cheaper ($7.50 vs $10.00 per million).
- Shared results
- 3
- Nano Banana 2.1 only
- 2
- GPT-5 Image only
- 0
- Like-for-like categories
- 1 of 9
Only benchmarks that tested both models count toward a pick; a result only one model has is shown but not compared.
Which one for your work
Each card is decided by one number both models carry. Where only one has it, the card says so and makes no call.
Coding
Vibe Coding Index, six public coding benchmarks
No call
Neither has a coding score yet.
One side not measured
Image generation
Design Arena: images
Nano Banana 2.1
Nano Banana 2.1 leads, 1291 against 1191.
Same board, both measured
Long documents
Listed context window
GPT-5 Image
GPT-5 Image takes 400K tokens against 66K.
Listed by OpenRouter
Everyday cost
1K input + 500 output tokens
Nano Banana 2.1
Nano Banana 2.1 $0.0053, GPT-5 Image $0.015 per turn.
List prices
At a glance
- Coding index
- Nano Banana 2.1 not benchmarked, GPT-5 Image not benchmarked.
- Widest category
- Image generation, 14.0 points apart on average over 3 shared benchmarks.
- Widest single gap
- Design Arena: graphic design: Nano Banana 2.1 1333 against GPT-5 Image 1172, 20.1 points apart on a 0 to 100 scale.
- Output price
- Nano Banana 2.1 $7.50 against GPT-5 Image $10.00 per million output tokens, 1.3x apart.
- Context window
- Nano Banana 2.1 takes 66K tokens, GPT-5 Image 400K.
Benchmark by benchmark
First the score: boards each model leads, per category, where both have a result. Then every board, a category to a fold; bars are each result on a 0 to 100 scale, so compare the two in a row, not one row with another.
| Category | Nano Banana 2.1 | Bars | GPT-5 Image | Ties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image generation | 3 | 0 | ||
| All shared boards | 3 | 0 |
CodingNot comparableSix of these boards feed the Vibe Coding Index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2.1 | GPT-5 Image | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 43 boards here | |||
IntelligenceNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2.1 | GPT-5 Image | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 2 boards here | |||
Agentic workNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2.1 | GPT-5 Image | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 42 boards here | |||
ReasoningNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2.1 | GPT-5 Image | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 23 boards here | |||
MathNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2.1 | GPT-5 Image | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 14 boards here | |||
KnowledgeNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2.1 | GPT-5 Image | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 20 boards here | |||
Web designNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2.1 | GPT-5 Image | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 9 boards here | |||
GeneralNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2.1 | GPT-5 Image | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 48 boards here | |||
Image generationLike-for-likePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index30
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2.1 | GPT-5 Image | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Arena: images | 1291 | 1191 | Nano Banana 2.1 |
| Design Arena: graphic design | 1333 | 1172 | Nano Banana 2.1 |
| Design Arena: logos | 1277 | 1202 | Nano Banana 2.1 |
| LMArena Text to Image | 1328 | Not measured | Only Nano Banana 2.1 measured |
| LMArena Image Edit | 1426 | Not measured | Only Nano Banana 2.1 measured |
What each workload costs
Three fixed token mixes at each model's listed price, so per-token rates become a bill.
Chat turn
1K input + 500 output tokens
Nano Banana 2.1 costs less
Repository review
50K input + 3K output tokens
Nano Banana 2.1 costs less
Agent loop
200K input + 10K output tokens
Nano Banana 2.1 costs less
Listed OpenRouter rates, without cache or batch discounts. A workload that does not fit a model's context window would need splitting.
Specification differences
The leading value in a row is marked; a row with a missing value names no leader. Our two rows are marked in red.
| Specification | Google Nano Banana 2.1 | OpenAI GPT-5 Image |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | OpenAI | |
| Weights | No public weights listed | No public weights listed |
| Released | October 6, 2026 | October 14, 2025 |
| Context window | 66K | 400K |
| Input $/Mtok | $1.50 | $10.00 |
| Output $/Mtok | $7.50 | $10.00 |
| Coding index | Not benchmarked | Not benchmarked |
| Independent measurements behind it | 0 | 0 |
| Cost per solved task | Not computable | Not computable |
| Source | OpenRouter listing | OpenRouter listing |
Questions
Is Nano Banana 2.1 better than GPT-5 Image for coding?
Neither model has a coding score yet, so the two cannot be ranked on coding. Pick Nano Banana 2.1 for output tokens 1.3x cheaper ($7.50 vs $10.00 per million).
Which is cheaper, Nano Banana 2.1 or GPT-5 Image?
Nano Banana 2.1 costs $1.50 per million input tokens and $7.50 per million output tokens; GPT-5 Image costs $10.00 and $10.00. Cost per solved task is known for neither of them.
Which has the bigger context window, Nano Banana 2.1 or GPT-5 Image?
GPT-5 Image, with 400K tokens against 66K.
How many benchmarks is the Nano Banana 2.1 vs GPT-5 Image comparison based on?
3 benchmarks have a result for both models as of October 22, 2026. Nano Banana 2.1's coding index rests on 0 independent benchmarks and GPT-5 Image's on 0. Where only one model has a result, the page says so instead of naming a winner.