Best AI Image Editing Models: 17 Tools Compared
Edit existing images with AI prompts. Compare 17 models that can modify, transform, and refine your images without regenerating from scratch.
AI image editing lets you modify existing images using text prompts. Change backgrounds, add or remove objects, adjust styles, and refine details without starting from scratch. Not every AI image model supports editing, so this comparison focuses on the 17 models that do. The quality of edits varies significantly depending on the model and the type of change you need.
Seedream v4 Edit and Qwen Image 3 start at 8 credits for affordable image modifications. GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare are built for instruction-scoped edits with up to 16 reference images. Grok Imagine Image 2.0 adds precise edits, crisp text, and 2K output. Luma Uni-1 Max accepts one source image and up to eight extra references for detailed edits. Nano Banana 2, GPT Image 2, FLUX.2 Pro, and FLUX.2 Max cover other multi-reference and higher-resolution workflows.
On Melies, upload any image and describe the edit you want. The AI applies the changes while preserving the parts of the image you didn't mention. Compare edits across models to find which handles your specific type of modification best.
Updated October 2026
Quick Recommendation
For most users, start with Meta Muse Image (2 credits) — it's the best value. Need speed? FLUX.2 [turbo] is the fastest option. For maximum quality, FLUX.2 [max] (25 credits) delivers the best results. All models are available on Melies with shared credits.
Visual Comparison: Same Prompt, Every Model
All generated with the same prompt and seed 42. Click models to toggle.
Nano Banana 2
FLUX.2 [max]
Seedream 4.5FLUX.2 [pro]Flux DevImage Model Specs: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Model | Released | Cost ↑ | Speed | Resolution | Refs | Edit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Meta Muse Image | Aug 2026 | 2 | Fast | 1K | 10 | |
 Qwen Image 3 | Jul 2026 | 8 | Medium | Up to 2K | 3 | |
 Grok Imagine Image 2.0 | Aug 2026 | 10–15 | Medium | Up to 2K | 3 | |
 Ideogram V4 | Jun 2026 | 10 | Medium | custom | 1 | |
| Seedream 5 Lite | Feb 2026 | 10 | Medium | 3K | 10 | |
| FLUX.2 [turbo] | Aug 2026 | 10 | Fastest | 512px to 2048px | 4 | |
| Seedream 4.5 | Dec 2025 | 10 | Medium | Up to 4K | 10 | |
| Seedream 4 Edit | Sep 2025 | 10 | Medium | Up to 4K | 10 | |
| Flux Dev | Aug 2024 | 10 | Medium | 1K | — | |
| Nano Banana 2 | Feb 2026 | 8–40 | Fast | Up to 4K | 14 | |
| Seedream 5 Pro | May 2026 | 15 | Medium | Up to 2K | 10 | |
 GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | Sep 2026 | 20–30 | Medium | Up to 2K | 16 | |
| GPT Image 2.5 Flare | — | 20–30 | Fast | Up to 2K | 16 | |
| GPT Image 2 | Apr 2026 | 20 | Medium | Up to 4K | 1 | |
| FLUX.2 [pro] | Nov 2025 | 20 | Medium | Up to 4K | — | |
 Luma Uni-1 Max | Jun 2026 | 21 | Medium | 1K | 9 | |
| FLUX.2 [max] | Dec 2025 | 25 | Slower | Up to 4K | — |
Each Model at a Glance
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
OpenAI20–30GPT Image 2.5 generation and editing with explicit sizes or automatic source sizing.
Grok Imagine Image 2.0
xAI10–15xAI's next-generation image model for precise editing, crisp text rendering, improved factuality, and production-ready visual work.
Qwen Image 3
Alibaba Qwen8Alibaba's bilingual image model for detailed 2K generation, identity-preserving edits, typography, and multi-image composition.
Nano Banana 2
Google8–40Google's latest image model with exceptional text rendering and multi-image compositing.
Seedream 5 Pro
ByteDance15ByteDance's flagship image model with deep-thinking prompt understanding and native multilingual text.
GPT Image 2
OpenAI20OpenAI's latest image model with state-of-the-art photorealism, pixel-perfect text rendering, and flexible resolutions up to 4K.
Ideogram V4
Ideogram10Ideogram's latest image model with high-resolution output and precise text rendering.
Luma Uni-1 Max
Luma AI21Luma's highest-fidelity Uni-1 tier for detailed hero images, strong prompt adherence, and reference-guided editing.
FLUX.2 [max]
Black Forest Labs25Maximum performance Flux model with highest editing consistency and prompt following.
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
OpenAI20–30GPT Image 2.5 generation and editing with explicit sizes or automatic source sizing.
Meta Muse Image
Meta2Meta's low-cost image model for fast generation and precise multi-reference editing.
Seedream 5 Lite
ByteDance10ByteDance's reasoning image model with chain-of-thought reasoning and live web search.
Seedream 4.5
ByteDance10ByteDance's flagship model with stunning aesthetics and complex scene understanding.
Seedream 4 Edit
ByteDance10ByteDance's image editing model with precise prompt-driven transformations.
FLUX.2 [pro]
Black Forest Labs20Production-grade image generation and editing at an affordable price point.
FLUX.2 [turbo]
Black Forest Labs10A distilled FLUX.2 model for rapid generation and natural-language editing at low inference cost.
Flux Dev
Black Forest Labs10Open-weight 12B model ideal for experimentation and custom workflows.
Which AI Image Model Should You Pick?
Best value for everyday use
At 2 credits, Meta Muse Image gives you the most generations per plan. Rapid visual development, multi-reference composition, storyboard iterations, and low-cost image editing.
Maximum quality, no budget concerns
FLUX.2 [max] at 25 credits delivers the highest quality. Maximum quality, editing workflows, style-faithful generation.
Rapid iteration and testing
FLUX.2 [turbo] has the fastest generation speed — great for testing prompts and iterating quickly.
Editing existing images
Meta Muse Image supports prompt-driven image editing — refine and transform images without starting from scratch.
Character or brand consistency
Supports up to 16 reference images to maintain visual consistency across generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try All 17 Models on Melies
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst, GPT Image 2.5 Flare, Grok Imagine Image 2.0 and more — all in one workspace. Switch models with one click, compare results side by side. Credits are included with paid plans.