# AI image generator: which to pick in 2026

> There is no best AI image generator for every task: Nano Banana Pro is stronger on complex scenes and face match from a photo, GPT Image 2.5 on text and interfaces, Seedream on 4K product shots and layout, Midjourney on artistic look. We ran the same prompts through five models: the results, a table and a pick for each job are below.

Published 2026-10-01 · Updated 2026-10-01
URL: https://ai2face.com/blog/nejroseti-dlya-izobrazhenij

There are dozens of image models, but 2026 roundups keep naming the same families: Nano Banana from Google, GPT Image from OpenAI, Seedream from ByteDance and Midjourney. A lot of those roundups are already stale: they still cite Midjourney V7 and GPT Image 2, while the current versions are V8.2 and GPT Image 2.5. We ran two identical prompts — a photo portrait and a poster with Russian text — through five models and put the differences in one table.

## Which AI image generator leads

| | [Nano Banana 2](/models/nano-banana-2) | [Nano Banana Pro](/models/nano-banana-pro) | [Seedream](/models/seedream) | [GPT Image 2.5](/models/gpt-image) | [Midjourney V8.2](/models/midjourney) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | Google DeepMind | Google DeepMind | ByteDance Seed | OpenAI | Midjourney |
| Strength | speed and range | complex scenes, face from a photo | 4K product, layout, layers | text, interfaces | artistic look |
| Max size | 4K | 4K | 4K (4.5), 2K (5.0 Pro) | 3840 px | 2048 px |
| References | up to 14 | up to 14 | up to 10–14 in AI2Face | a few | Edit Model |
| Russian text | good | excellent | good; check small type | excellent | weaker |
| In AI2Face | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |

All five models are in the AI2Face generator, and the cost is shown before you generate: the [Nano Banana](/models/nano-banana) family, Seedream, GPT Image and Midjourney.

## Photo portrait: one prompt, five models

```
Photorealistic portrait of a 70-year-old fisherman with a grey beard and deep wrinkles,
in a navy knit sweater, on a wooden pier at golden hour, warm backlight,
85mm lens, natural skin texture, no text
```

![Five portraits of an elderly fisherman in a blue sweater on a pier at golden hour, made by different models](https://ai2face.com/_astro/portrait.D3ZO_2Ci_Z1EH47u.jpg "Left to right: Nano Banana 2, Nano Banana Pro, Seedream 5.0 Pro, Seedream 4.5, GPT Image 2.5. One prompt, one generation")

All five handled photorealism. The difference is in the framing: Nano Banana 2 added a busy harbor with boats, Nano Banana Pro a soft magazine light, Seedream 5.0 Pro a wide shot with a lighthouse, Seedream 4.5 and GPT Image 2.5 a close-up with a clear skin texture. For a portrait from your photo, pick Nano Banana Pro or Nano Banana 2: they hold the likeness to the reference better.

## Poster with Russian text

```
Bakery poster in Russian. Large headline «СВЕЖИЙ ХЛЕБ». Subline «Каждое утро с 7:00».
Small line «ул. Садовая, 12». Warm illustration of a basket of bread and croissants,
cream background, dark brown typography, all text exactly as given, no other text
```

![Five bakery posters for «Свежий хлеб» with a basket of bread, made by different models](https://ai2face.com/_astro/poster.C0YDrXCz_ZccFCo.jpg "Left to right: Nano Banana 2, Nano Banana Pro, Seedream 5.0 Pro, Seedream 4.5, GPT Image 2.5. All three lines without typos on every model")

Short Russian text is something all five models now write with confidence. One detail: Nano Banana 2 carried the «…» quotes from the prompt onto the poster. If you don't want them, write the headline without quotes, or add “no quotes”. On longer copy the gap is clearer: in our tests, menus and comics came out most accurately on [GPT Image 2.5](/models/gpt-image), and Seedream 5.0 Pro sometimes mistyped the small line.

## Which model to pick for the job

- **A photo from your selfie, a series with one face** — Nano Banana Pro or Nano Banana 2. How to do it is in the guide [AI photoshoot from a photo](/blog/ii-fotosessiya).
- **Everyday pictures, quick photo edits** — Nano Banana 2.
- **A poster, menu, infographic or comic with text** — GPT Image 2.5 or Nano Banana Pro.
- **Product shots and ads in 4K** — Seedream 4.5.
- **Layouts with layers and precise edits** — Seedream 5.0 Pro.
- **Illustration and concept art** — Midjourney or Seedream 4.5.
- **A Google model refused** the prompt over content limits — run it again on Seedream.

## Other image generators

Other local generators exist. This comparison covers the models in the AI2Face generator, so those aren't included.

## How to write an image prompt

The formula is the same for every model: **subject + place + light + camera + style**, with lettering in quotes. The detail, with examples, is in [photoshoot prompts](/blog/promty-dlya-fotosessii) and [Nano Banana prompts](/blog/nano-banana-pro-prompts).

## Conclusions

Which AI image generator you pick depends on the job. For photos of people and complex scenes, Nano Banana Pro; for everyday pictures, Nano Banana 2; for text and interfaces, GPT Image 2.5; for 4K product shots and layout, Seedream; for artistic look, Midjourney. Short Russian text is something every leader writes now; the gaps show up in long copy and in face match. In AI2Face, Nano Banana, Seedream, GPT Image and Midjourney sit in one window, so you can run the same prompt on several models at once. For video, there is a separate review of the [AI video generator](/blog/nejroseti-dlya-video) options.

## FAQ

### Which AI image generator is the best?

It depends on the job: Nano Banana Pro for complex scenes and a face from a photo, Nano Banana 2 for fast everyday pictures, GPT Image 2.5 for text, menus and interfaces, Seedream 4.5 for 4K product shots and art, Midjourney for artistic look.

### Which model writes text in other languages better?

In our test all five models wrote a three-line Russian poster with no errors. On long copy and small type, GPT Image 2.5 and Nano Banana Pro are more reliable; on Seedream 5.0 Pro we caught a typo in the small line.

### Can you generate an image from your own photo?

Yes. Nano Banana, Seedream and GPT Image take photo references and keep the face in a new scene. In AI2Face, a character constructor covers a series of frames with one face.

### Is there a free AI image generator?

Google offers free Nano Banana generations in the Gemini app. In AI2Face the models are in the generator, the cost is shown before you generate, and new accounts get welcome credits — enough to compare the models yourself.

### Can you write the prompt in your language?

Yes. The models in this review usually follow a prompt in your language. Put lettering that must appear in the image in quotes, in the language it should be read in. A Russian poster from our test can stay as an example of that lettering.

## Sources

- https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/image-generation
- https://seed.bytedance.com/en/blog/beyond-generation-it-understands-design-introducing-seedream-5-0-pro
- https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-images-2-5/
- https://updates.midjourney.com/version-8-2/