Flare starts at 20 credits and Qwen Image 3 at 8. Both support image generation and editing.
GPT Image 2.5 Flare from OpenAI and Qwen Image 3 from Alibaba Qwen represent two different approaches to AI image generation. GPT Image 2.5 generation and editing with explicit sizes or automatic source sizing. On the other side, alibaba's bilingual image model for detailed 2K generation, identity-preserving edits, typography, and multi-image composition.
At 8 credits, Qwen Image 3 costs 12 credits less than GPT Image 2.5 Flare (20 credits). The question is whether the extra cost of GPT Image 2.5 Flare translates into meaningfully better results for your use case. For movie posters, bilingual typography, storyboards, character-preserving edits, and multi-image composition, Qwen Image 3 is hard to beat at its price point. But if you need text-driven image generation and visual development, GPT Image 2.5 Flare may justify the premium.
Updated October 2026
GPT Image 2.5 Flare costs 12 credits more per generation — that adds up fast. Start with Qwen Image 3 for most work. It handles movie posters, bilingual typography, storyboards, character-preserving edits, and multi-image composition well. Save GPT Image 2.5 Flare for when you specifically need text-driven image generation and visual development and the quality difference matters.
| Provider | OpenAI | Alibaba Qwen |
| Released | — | Jul 2026 |
| Cost | 201K/302K | 8 |
| Speed | Fast | Medium |
| Reference images | Up to 16 | Up to 3 |
| Editing |
Qwen Image 3 is 60% cheaper than GPT Image 2.5 Flare. Here's how credits add up at scale.
| Volume | GPT Image 2.5 Flare | Qwen Image 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 images | 200 | 80 |
| 50 images | 1,000 | 400 |
| 100 images | 2,000 | 800 |
At 8 credits per image, Qwen Image 3 gives you more generations for your plan. Good enough quality for most everyday use.
GPT Image 2.5 Flare is worth the extra credits when the output needs to be perfect — portfolio pieces, client work, or final deliverables.
GPT Image 2.5 Flare supports 16 reference images to keep subjects, styles, and characters consistent across generations.
GPT Image 2.5 Flare's fast generation means you can test more prompts in less time. Great for exploration.
Practical answers before you start creating.





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