Nano Banana vs ChatGPT images
Nano Banana vs ChatGPT images: which to use
On Root, the ChatGPT side is GPT Image, OpenAI's image models, and Nano Banana is Google's. Pick GPT Image for words in the picture or a 4K image. Pick Nano Banana for one fixed price ($0.05 an image, $0.16 on Pro) whatever the shape. A wide 16:9 image on GPT Image 2.5 Flare is $0.04.
Updated
First month free on the Beginner plan, with 650 credits to try any model.
Made in Root
The same image, priced on each
One image at each model's smallest size (Nano Banana has one size), in dollars. 100 credits is $1.
| The image | Nano Banana | Nano Banana Pro | GPT Image 2.5 Flare | GPT Image 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | $0.05 | $0.16 | $0.07 | $0.25 |
| Wide 16:9 | $0.05 | $0.16 | $0.04 | $0.14 |
| Square, with 3 reference images | $0.05 | $0.16 | up to $0.18 | up to $0.37 |
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst costs the same as GPT Image 2.5 Flare. “Up to” is the most it can cost; you are charged what the model reports it used.
Pick by what the image needs
- Words, titles or a sign in the picture: GPT Image 2 or GPT Image 2.5 Flare.
- A 4K image: any GPT Image model. Nano Banana Pro stops at 2K.
- A 3:2 or 2:3 frame: GPT Image.
- Up to 6 pictures in one run, counting the one you edit, at a price that doesn't move: Nano Banana or Nano Banana Pro.
- An edit that leaves the rest of the picture alone: GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst or Nano Banana Pro.
- The lowest price for a 16:9 frame here: GPT Image 2.5 Flare or GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst, at $0.04.
Both, from one account
Both families run in the Root app, by API, and from Claude and ChatGPT, and every image lands in the same project whichever model made it.
GPT Image takes up to 8 reference images in one run, and each one adds a little to its price. Nano Banana uses up to 6 pictures in a run, counting the one you edit, at no extra cost.
Related guides
Nano Banana vs ChatGPT questions
Is Nano Banana better than ChatGPT for images?
Neither wins every job. On Root, pick GPT Image when the picture has to carry words or be 4K, and Nano Banana when you want one fixed price, $0.05 an image whatever the shape. For a wide frame GPT Image 2.5 Flare and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst cost less, at $0.04. Both run on the same credits, so you can use each where it fits.
Which is better at words in the picture, Nano Banana or GPT Image?
GPT Image. GPT Image 2 and GPT Image 2.5 Flare are the GPT Image models Root suggests for sharp text in the picture. Write the exact wording in quotation marks and say where it goes, such as "on the shop sign, top left".
Which costs less, Nano Banana or GPT Image?
It depends on the shape and the inputs. A square image is $0.05 on Nano Banana and $0.07 on GPT Image 2.5 Flare. A 16:9 image is $0.05 and $0.04. Reference images add to a GPT Image price but not to a Nano Banana one.
Which one makes 4K images?
GPT Image: GPT Image 2, GPT Image 2.5 Flare and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst make 1K, 2K and 4K. Neither Nano Banana model makes 4K.
Can I add a title to a Nano Banana image with GPT Image?
Yes. Wire the Nano Banana image into a second Image Gen node set to GPT Image 2.5 Flare, quote the title and say where it goes. Both images stay in the project, so you can compare them.
Can I use Nano Banana inside ChatGPT?
Yes, through Root. Nano Banana runs in the Root app, by API, and from Claude and ChatGPT. In ChatGPT, adding Root needs Developer mode on a paid ChatGPT plan; then ask for a Nano Banana image in the chat and it is saved to your Root project.
Can I try Nano Banana and GPT Image for free?
For a month, yes. The first month of Root's Beginner plan is free and comes with 650 credits, enough for 130 Nano Banana images. After that the plan is $9 a month, and you can cancel whenever you like.
Try Root free for a month
The first month of the Beginner plan is free and comes with 650 credits to spend on any model. After that it's $9 a month, and you can cancel whenever you like.