Comparisons

GPT Image 2.5 for YouTube Thumbnails: Sunburst vs Flare vs GPT Image 2, Tested

OpenAI shipped two new image models on September 8, 2026. We ran the same three thumbnail prompts through Flare, Sunburst and GPT Image 2 and compared the results.

September 30, 2026 8 min read

Short answer: for single-shot YouTube thumbnails, GPT Image 2.5 Flare is the value pick. In our three-prompt test, all three models - GPT Image 2, Flare and Sunburst - got the headline text right. Sunburst's extra precision matters more for multi-step edits than for a thumbnail you generate once. GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst is $0.167 per image on ThumbnailCreator (quality high). Full results and prices below.

Quick Verdict

GPT Image 2.5 Flare is the default for thumbnails: accurate text, roughly a third of GPT Image 2's per-image price, and OpenAI positions it as the fast option. GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst trades speed for precision on detailed work. GPT Image 2 remains a strong all-rounder.

What OpenAI Released

On September 8, 2026, OpenAI announced ChatGPT Images 2.5 along with two API models, GPT-Image-2.5 Flare and GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst, in its launch post. Per OpenAI, Flare is "the default choice for most applications, delivering higher-quality images than GPT-Image-2 at 50% lower latency", while Sunburst "offers an extra level of precision for detailed creative work with longer generation times". OpenAI also says Images 2.5 is better at preserving subjects in reference photos and at multi-turn editing.

The Test

We used the same three prompts as our public model benchmark - one for bold headline text, one for a photoreal face, one for a side-by-side comparison. One image per model per prompt, all 16:9, judged by eye. The GPT Image 2 (quality: high) and Flare (quality: medium) images are from our September 26, 2026 benchmark run; Sunburst (quality: high) was run on September 30, 2026 with identical prompts. These are single images, not a statistical ranking.

Results

Bold headline text

YouTube thumbnail: shocked man holding a cracked smartphone, huge bold yellow text "DON'T BUY THIS" with a black outline, bright red background, high contrast
GPT Image 2GPT Image 2.5 FlareGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
GPT Image 2 result for the headline-text prompt: shocked man with cracked phone, yellow 'DON'T BUY THIS' text on redGPT Image 2.5 Flare result for the headline-text prompt, with outlined and underlined headlineGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst result for the headline-text prompt, phone held up beside the man's face
  • GPT Image 2: Pass: correct spelling, heavy black outline, clean layout.
  • GPT Image 2.5 Flare: Pass: correct spelling, outline and underline flourish.
  • GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: Pass: correct spelling, heavy black outline, phone held up beside the face.

Photoreal face

YouTube thumbnail: close-up of a woman laughing on a rainy Tokyo street at night, neon reflections, cinematic lighting, empty space on the left for a title, no text
GPT Image 2GPT Image 2.5 FlareGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
GPT Image 2 result for the photoreal-face prompt: woman laughing on a rainy Tokyo street, space on the leftGPT Image 2.5 Flare result for the photoreal-face prompt, Tokyo Tower in the backdropGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst result for the photoreal-face prompt, subject right with Tokyo Tower behind
  • GPT Image 2: Pass: natural laugh, left third kept clear for a title.
  • GPT Image 2.5 Flare: Pass: Tokyo Tower backdrop, clear space on the left.
  • GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: Pass: subject on the right with Tokyo Tower behind; left side clear for a title.

Side-by-side comparison

YouTube thumbnail: split-screen comparison, a paper cup of coffee on the left labeled "$5" and a luxury porcelain cup on the right labeled "$50", clean studio lighting, bold white numbers
GPT Image 2GPT Image 2.5 FlareGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
GPT Image 2 result for the split-screen prompt: $5 paper cup vs $50 porcelain cup with a VS badgeGPT Image 2.5 Flare result for the split-screen prompt: clean $5 vs $50 comparisonGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst result for the split-screen prompt, which added an unrequested 'LUXURY' label
  • GPT Image 2: Pass: both prices correct, added a VS badge.
  • GPT Image 2.5 Flare: Pass: both prices correct, clean split.
  • GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: Partial: both prices correct and a clean split, but it added an unrequested 'LUXURY' label on a book.

Speed

Sunburst took 21-26 seconds per image at high quality in our runs (Replicate predict time). We did not measure the other two on the same clock, so we will not quote seconds for them - OpenAI positions Flare as the low-latency option.

Pricing

On Replicate, Flare and Sunburst cost the same per output image by quality tier (as of October 2026; sources: Sunburst, Flare):

Quality Price per image
low$0.012
medium$0.047
high$0.128
xhigh$0.25
max$0.50

On ThumbnailCreator (as of October 2026): GPT Image 2 is $0.167 per image and GPT Image 2.5 Flare is $0.062 per image. GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst is $0.167 per image on ThumbnailCreator (quality high).

Which Should You Use for Thumbnails?

For thumbnails at one image per prompt, all three got the headline text right in our test, so the decision comes down to price and how much iteration you plan to do. Flare is the value pick for most thumbnails. Sunburst's extra precision matters more for multi-step edits than for single-shot thumbnails - that is our read from this test, not a benchmark law. GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst is $0.167 per image on ThumbnailCreator (quality high). And if your thumbnail needs a real face from a reference photo, also try Nano Banana Pro; it is built for that. You can see all of them on the same prompts on our model comparison page, which covers all 9 models in the lineup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Sunburst?

Both are API models released September 8, 2026 under the ChatGPT Images 2.5 launch. Per OpenAI, Flare is the default choice for most applications with higher quality than GPT-Image-2 at 50% lower latency, while Sunburst offers an extra level of precision for detailed creative work with longer generation times.

Is GPT Image 2.5 better than GPT Image 2 for thumbnails?

In our three-prompt test, GPT Image 2, Flare and Sunburst all rendered the headline text correctly. Flare matched GPT Image 2 on every prompt at a lower per-image price, so for single-shot thumbnails it is the better value. Your prompt may differ, so compare on the same prompt before committing.

How much does GPT Image 2.5 cost?

On Replicate, Flare and Sunburst share the same per-image pricing by quality tier: $0.012 (low), $0.047 (medium), $0.128 (high), $0.25 (xhigh) and $0.50 (max), as of October 2026. On ThumbnailCreator, GPT Image 2.5 Flare is $0.062 per image and GPT Image 2 is $0.167. GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst is $0.167 per image on ThumbnailCreator (quality high).

Test Them Side by Side

Run GPT Image 2, Flare and Sunburst on the same prompt and pick the winner yourself.

Start with $0.50 Free

No card needed. Pay per image after that.