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Current model · OpenAI

GPT Image 2.6 Flare benchmarks, pricing and specs

GPT Image 2.6 Flare is an OpenAI model released on November 4, 2026 that takes text and image input and produces image. It costs $5 per 1M input tokens. It scores 1384 Elo on Arena Text-to-Image, #4 of 10 current models (Arena, measured November 4, 2026).

Per 1M input tokens
$5Listed today
Arena Text-to-Image
1384 Elo#4 of 10 current models

Data verified November 6, 2026 · Dataset 2026-11-06

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Specs

Key facts

Provider
OpenAI
Model family
GPT Image
Release date
November 4, 2026
Status
Current
Access
API only
API model id
gpt-image-2.6-flare
Context window
Not reported
Max output
Not reported
Input
text, image
Output
image
Task families
image
Declared capabilities
image generation, image editing, image to image

Charts

Against every current image model

Where GPT Image 2.6 Flare lands among the current models of its task, on every independent benchmark, on price and on context.

Where it stands

On Arena Text-to-Image, GPT Image 2.6 Flare ranks #4 of 10 current image models. Each bar is the share of current models it beats.

GPT Image 2.6 Flare among the current image models, one row per benchmark, price and context window.

Independent benchmarks

Arena Text-to-Image

#4of 10

1,384 Elo · ahead of 67%

Arena Image Edit

#4of 9

1,462 Elo · ahead of 63%

Scores fromArena · 2026-11-06

Price

GPT Image 2.6 Flare pricing

It is tied for the most expensive of 6 current image models priced per 1M input tokens.

UnitPrice (USD)TierAppliesSource
1M input tokens$5standardCurrent
1M output tokensNot reportedstandardCurrent
1M input tokens$1.25cachedCurrent
1M input tokens$8standard image inputCurrent
1M output tokens$30standard image outputCurrent

Benchmarks

Independent benchmark results

Scores come from independent evaluators that ran the model themselves, pinned to a dated snapshot. Rank is among current models in the same snapshot. OpenAI's own launch figures are listed under strengths with the publisher named, because they are not measured the same way.

BenchmarkScoreRankMeasuredSource
Arena Text-to-Image1384 Elo#4 of 10November 4, 2026Arena · 2026-11-06
Arena Image Edit1462 Elo#4 of 9November 4, 2026Arena · 2026-11-06

Fit

Strengths, cautions and best uses

Strengths
  • OpenAI's faster model in Images 2.6: as little as six seconds per image at low quality, with better layouts for posters and product imagery
  • Makes animated GIFs and SVG files, takes a complexity setting for how much the model plans a scene and supports markup-guided edits; OpenAI says Images 2.6 generates 50% faster than before
  • Token rates match GPT Image 2.5: $5 per 1M text input tokens, $8 per 1M image input tokens and $30 per 1M image output tokens
Cautions
  • Arena's first ratings put it below GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1384 against 1399 for generation and 1462 against 1482 for editing, on fewer than 4,000 votes so far
  • OpenAI's pricing page lists no batch rate for 2.6 yet, while GPT Image 2.5 costs half in batch
Best for
  • Fast, high-volume image generation and quick edits

From benchmark to production

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Alternatives

Alternatives to GPT Image 2.6 Flare

The closest current image models by price. The cheapest model that scores as well or better is listed first; failing that, the cheapest one within 3% of the benchmark's scale.

On score and price

GPT Image 2.6 Flare beside the 4 alternatives listed below, on Arena Text-to-Image and on price per 1M input tokens.

GPT Image 2.6 Flare and its alternatives on score and price.

Arena Text-to-Image

Measured November 4, 2026, higher is better

GPT Image 2.6 Flare
1,384
Gemini 3 Pro Image
1,246
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
1,399
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
1,427
Nano Banana 2.1
1,325

Price per 1M input tokens

Listed today, lower is better

GPT Image 2.6 Flare
$5
Gemini 3 Pro Image
$2
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
$5
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
$5
Nano Banana 2.1
Not listed

Further reading

More on GPT Image 2.6 Flare

Compare GPT Image 2.6 Flare with

All model comparisons

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FAQ

GPT Image 2.6 Flare FAQ

How much does GPT Image 2.6 Flare cost?

GPT Image 2.6 Flare costs $5 per 1M input tokens at the standard tier. It is tied for the most expensive of 6 current image models priced per 1M input tokens. Source: OpenAI, verified November 6, 2026.

How does GPT Image 2.6 Flare score on independent benchmarks?

GPT Image 2.6 Flare scores 1384 Elo on Arena Text-to-Image, #4 of 10 current models (Arena, measured November 4, 2026) and 1462 Elo on Arena Image Edit, #4 of 9 current models (Arena, measured November 4, 2026). These are independent evaluations, not OpenAI's own launch figures.

Is GPT Image 2.6 Flare open source or API only?

GPT Image 2.6 Flare is available through OpenAI's API only; its weights are not published.

What are the best alternatives to GPT Image 2.6 Flare?

The closest current alternatives by price and measured performance are Gemini 3 Pro Image (60% cheaper per 1M input tokens, $2 vs $5), GPT Image 2.5 Flare (same price per 1M input tokens, $5), GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst (same price per 1M input tokens, $5) and Nano Banana 2.1 (59 points lower on Arena Text-to-Image, 1325 vs 1384).

Sources

Sources

All 255 sources behind the benchmarks, with their versions, licenses and notes, are in the source catalog.

Cite this page

Van Data Team. "GPT Image 2.6 Flare Benchmarks, Pricing and Specs." AI Model Benchmark Dataset 2026-11-06. https://vandatateam.com/ai-model-benchmarks/gpt-image-2-6-flare

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Production evaluation

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