Model benchmark

Can you read every word?

Same prompt, one output per model. Both spelled the headline correctly. Look at the word “BUY.”

The yellow words DON’T BUY THIS sit to the right of a man holding a cracked phone. — **GPT Image 2.5 Flare**
The full headline stays clear.

A man holds a cracked phone. His hair overlaps the bottom of the yellow word BUY. — **Seedream 5 Lite**
Hair covers the bottom of “BUY.”

The prompt

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

Try this headline with both models

Two images · $0.17 at standard prices. New accounts buy a $10 credit pack to generate.

Original run 2026-09-26 · Latest addition 2026-10-07

Which AI model makes the best YouTube thumbnail?

Nine image models received the same three thumbnail prompts. Compare the lettering on a phone review, the space for a title in a portrait, and the price labels on two cups of coffee. You can select up to 4 models per studio run.

Model	Price / image	Avg time	Bold headline text	Photoreal face	Side-by-side comparison	Best for
GPT Image 2 · OpenAI	$0.26	71s	pass	pass	pass	Headline text you can't afford to get wrong
GPT Image 2.5 Flare · OpenAI	$0.10	11s	pass	pass	pass	Text-heavy thumbnails at about a third of the price
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst · OpenAI	$0.26	24s	pass	pass	partial	Precise detail when you want OpenAI's top model
Nano Banana Pro · Google	$0.30	22s	pass	pass	pass	Photoreal people and products
Nano Banana 2.1 · Google	$0.11	22s	pass	partial	pass	Loud, high-energy thumbnails at a low price
FLUX.2 Max · Black Forest Labs	$0.20	19s	pass	miss	pass	Photographic detail when text is added later
Seedream 5 Lite · ByteDance	$0.07	55s	partial	partial	pass	Cheap drafts for layout ideas
Ideogram 4 · Ideogram	$0.20	20s	pass	pass	pass	Big graphic typography
Grok Imagine · xAI	$0.04	6s	pass	pass	partial	Fast, cheap exploration

Test 1 · Spelling and legibility of on-image text

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 2.5 Flare result for the bold headline text test — GPT Image 2.5 Flare passCorrect spelling, outline and underline flourish.

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst result for the bold headline text test — GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst passCorrect spelling, heavy black outline, phone held up beside the face.

Nano Banana Pro result for the bold headline text test — Nano Banana Pro passCorrect spelling; no black outline.

Nano Banana 2.1 result for the bold headline text test — Nano Banana 2.1 passCorrect spelling (added an exclamation mark), heavy outline, headline clear of the face.

FLUX.2 Max result for the bold headline text test — FLUX.2 Max passCorrect spelling, flat type without the outline.

Seedream 5 Lite result for the bold headline text test — Seedream 5 Lite partialSpelled right, but the head covers part of the headline.

Ideogram 4 result for the bold headline text test — Ideogram 4 passHuge, correct headline filling half the frame.

Grok Imagine result for the bold headline text test — Grok Imagine passCorrect spelling across the top.

Test 2 · Skin, expression and lighting, with room for a title

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 2.5 Flare result for the photoreal face test — GPT Image 2.5 Flare passTokyo Tower backdrop, clear space on the left.

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst result for the photoreal face test — GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst passSubject on the right with Tokyo Tower behind; left side clear for a title.

Nano Banana Pro result for the photoreal face test — Nano Banana Pro passConvincing rain and neon, subject kept right.

Nano Banana 2.1 result for the photoreal face test — Nano Banana 2.1 partialStrong rainy street, but neon signs crowd the left side meant for a title.

FLUX.2 Max result for the photoreal face test — FLUX.2 Max missFace sits left of center; no room left for a title.

Seedream 5 Lite result for the photoreal face test — Seedream 5 Lite partialLeft half almost black; subject small in frame.

Ideogram 4 result for the photoreal face test — Ideogram 4 passClear left space, less of a Tokyo feel.

Grok Imagine result for the photoreal face test — Grok Imagine passMoody street, subject on the right.

Test 3 · Layout, two text labels and product rendering

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 2.5 Flare result for the side-by-side comparison test — GPT Image 2.5 Flare passBoth prices correct, clean split.

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst result for the side-by-side comparison test — GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst partialBoth prices correct and a clean split, but added an unrequested 'LUXURY' label.

Nano Banana Pro result for the side-by-side comparison test — Nano Banana Pro passCorrect prices over hands holding each cup.

Nano Banana 2.1 result for the side-by-side comparison test — Nano Banana 2.1 passBoth prices correct, added a VS badge.

FLUX.2 Max result for the side-by-side comparison test — FLUX.2 Max passCorrect prices, minimal studio look.

Seedream 5 Lite result for the side-by-side comparison test — Seedream 5 Lite passCorrect outlined prices, small cups.

Ideogram 4 result for the side-by-side comparison test — Ideogram 4 passCorrect prices, clean split.

Grok Imagine result for the side-by-side comparison test — Grok Imagine partialPrices correct but small and low-contrast.

How we tested

Each model got the same three prompts at 16:9 with the studio settings used on its test date. The original run took place on 2026-09-26. We judged one image per model per prompt by eye for spelling, whether text stayed readable and clear of the subject, and whether the layout followed the prompt. One image per model is a small sample and models change often, so treat this as a snapshot, not a ranking. Prices are ThumbnailCreator's per-image prices; the original run measured elapsed time. GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst was added on 2026-09-30 with the same prompts and settings; its times are model time on Replicate, while the other models' times are wall time, so compare them loosely. Nano Banana 2.1 replaced Nano Banana 2 on 2026-10-07 and was run then with the same prompts; its times are also model time.

FAQ

What is the best AI model for YouTube thumbnails?

It depends on the thumbnail. In our test, GPT Image 2 and GPT Image 2.5 Flare handled headline text most reliably, Nano Banana Pro produced the most convincing people and products, and Ideogram 4 made the boldest typography. Grok Imagine is the cheapest way to explore ideas.

Can AI image models spell text in thumbnails correctly?

All nine spelled “DON’T BUY THIS” correctly. Seedream 5 Lite placed the subject over part of “BUY.” Nano Banana 2.1 added an exclamation mark.

How much does an AI YouTube thumbnail cost?

On ThumbnailCreator, $0.04 to $0.30 per image depending on the model, charged only for images that succeed. No subscription.