Model test · updated 2026-09-26

Which AI model makes the best YouTube thumbnail?

For headline text, GPT Image 2, or GPT Image 2.5 Flare at about a third of the price. For photoreal faces and products, Nano Banana Pro. For big graphic type, Ideogram 4. Every model spelled our headline correctly; the differences were layout: whether text stayed clear of the subject and whether the model left room for a title.

Run your prompt on all of them

Results at a glance

Model	Price / image	Avg time	Bold headline text	Photoreal face	Side-by-side comparison	Best for
GPT Image 2 · OpenAI	$0.167	71s	pass	pass	pass	Headline text you can't afford to get wrong
GPT Image 2.5 Flare · OpenAI	$0.062	11s	pass	pass	pass	Text-heavy thumbnails at about a third of the price
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst · OpenAI	$0.167	24s	pass	pass	partial	Precise detail when you want OpenAI's top model
Nano Banana Pro · Google	$0.195	22s	pass	pass	pass	Photoreal people and products
Nano Banana 2.1 · Google	$0.066	22s	pass	partial	pass	Loud, high-energy thumbnails at a low price
FLUX.2 Max · Black Forest Labs	$0.130	19s	pass	miss	pass	Photographic detail when text is added later
Seedream 5 Lite · ByteDance	$0.046	55s	partial	partial	pass	Cheap drafts for layout ideas
Ideogram 4 · Ideogram	$0.130	20s	pass	pass	pass	Big graphic typography
Grok Imagine · xAI	$0.026	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 same settings ThumbnailCreator uses in production, and produced one image per prompt on 2026-09-26. We judged each image 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; times are generation times from the 2026-09-26 run. 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?

Yes. All 9 models spelled a four-word headline correctly in this test. The failures were layout: one model let the subject cover part of the headline, and two added text we didn't ask for.

How much does an AI YouTube thumbnail cost?

On ThumbnailCreator, $0.026 to $0.195 per image depending on the model, charged only for images that succeed. No subscription.