Midjourney vs FLUX vs Recraft
The classic three-way image-generation battle: Midjourney for aesthetics, FLUX for prompt fidelity at scale, Recraft for design-grade vector and layout output.
Verdict
FLUX leads on resolution and price, Midjourney on aesthetics, Recraft on vector/design output — pick by use case, not by Elo alone.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| # | Model | Arena Elo | Gen Speed | Cost / Image | Resolutions | License |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Midjourney v7 Midjourney | 1245 | 4.8s | $0.024 | 1024x1024, 2048x2048, Custom AR | Proprietary |
| 8 | FLUX.1 [pro] Ultra Black Forest Labs | 1238 | 3.2s | $0.030 | Up to 4MP, 2048x2048 | Commercial API |
| 9 | Recraft V3 (Red_panda) Recraft | 1220 | 3.9s | $0.028 | Vector SVG, 1024x1024, Lossless | Proprietary |
Model-by-Model
Midjourney v7 — Midjourney
Midjourney v7 remains the benchmark for artistic coherence and photoreal aesthetics. It trails the newest FLUX.2 generation on raw Elo but wins consistently on style control via its parameter system.
FLUX.1 [pro] Ultra — Black Forest Labs
FLUX.1 [pro] Ultra delivers up to 4MP output with custom aspect ratios and commercial-API licensing — the strongest pick when resolution and API integration matter.
Recraft V3 (Red_panda) — Recraft
Recraft V3 (Red_panda) is the only top-tier model that outputs true vector SVG alongside raster, making it the default for logos, icon sets, and design-system work.
FAQ
Is Midjourney better than FLUX?
For pure aesthetics and artistic style Midjourney v7 is still preferred by many designers, but FLUX.1 [pro] Ultra scores higher in blind Arena tests (1238 vs 1245 Elo is a near-tie) and offers an API plus 4MP output. For production pipelines, FLUX wins on integration.
Which is cheapest: Midjourney, FLUX or Recraft?
Per generated image, FLUX.1 [dev] at $0.012 is the cheapest API option in this matchup; among the three compared here Midjourney v7 is cheapest at $0.024/image, followed by Recraft V3 at $0.028 and FLUX.1 [pro] Ultra at $0.03.
Which model is best for logos and design work?
Recraft V3 — it is the only model in this group that generates native vector SVG output and offers layout/composition controls aimed at design workflows.
Can I use these models via API?
FLUX and Recraft offer public APIs. Midjourney is primarily Discord/web-app based with limited programmatic access, which is a deciding factor for automation.