{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "black-forest-labs", "name": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API", "vendor": "Black Forest Labs", "vendorUrl": "https://bfl.ai", "kind": "model", "category": "image-generation", "summary": "Black Forest Labs' hosted API for the FLUX image models.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/black-forest-labs", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/black-forest-labs.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/black-forest-labs.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/black-forest-labs.json", "transports": [ "http", "streamable-http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.bfl.ai/v1", "packages": [], "auth": "mixed", "authNotes": "REST API takes the key in an `x-key` header. The hosted MCP server at mcp.bfl.ai uses OAuth with a BFL account and bills the organisation you pick at sign-in.", "pricing": "usage", "pricingNotes": "Prepaid credits, 1 credit is $0.01, same price in API and Playground. FLUX.2 is priced by output megapixel. [klein] 4B from $0.014, [klein] 9B from $0.015, [pro] from $0.03 (edits from $0.045), [flex] from $0.05, [max] from $0.07. FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] $0.04, Kontext [max] $0.08, FLUX1.1 [pro] $0.04, Ultra $0.06. Batches cost the per-image price times the count (https://bfl.ai/pricing).", "priceSummary": "$0.01 / credit", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No machine payment. Access needs prepaid credits on a BFL account.", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": 7, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-09-30" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.bfl.ai", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.bfl.ai/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://api.bfl.ai/openapi.json", "registryName": "io.github.black-forest-labs/flux-mcp", "capabilities": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.reference" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "mcp", "llms-txt", "openapi", "async-jobs", "webhooks", "open-weights", "c2pa", "commercial-licence" ], "lastRelease": "2026-09-10", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 63.9, "grade": "B", "agentReady": false, "rank": 372, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 961, "categoryRank": 4, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 67, "maintenance": 73, "payments": 20, "reliability": 65, "schema": 88, "security": 65, "transparency": 62 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-01" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Per-image and per-megapixel prices published per model, from $0.014. Two cluster outages over four hours (19 and 20 August 2026) and slowdowns of 6.5 and 20 hours since.", "bestFor": "Agents that need multi-reference edits and a price ladder from drafts to final renders, and for EU data residency.", "strengths": [ "Per-image and per-megapixel prices published per model, from $0.014", "Up to 10 reference images and 4MP output on FLUX.2", "EU and US regional endpoints with a global endpoint that fails over", "Official hosted MCP server with OAuth, listed in the MCP registry", "OpenAPI specs, llms.txt and an errors page covering every task status" ], "weaknesses": [ "Two cluster outages over four hours (19 and 20 August 2026) and slowdowns of 6.5 and 20 hours since", "Result URLs expire after 10 minutes", "Prompts and uploads may be used for training unless you email an opt-out", "Developer terms allow changing or removing parts of the service without notice", "No official SDK package and no free credits" ], "agentNotes": [ "Poll the `polling_url` from the submit response, never a hand-built URL", "Download `result.sample` straight away. It's gone after 10 minutes", "Stay under 24 concurrent jobs, 6 on flux-kontext-max, and back off exponentially on 429", "Treat 402 as out of credit, not as a retryable error", "Use api.eu.bfl.ai or api.us.bfl.ai only when data must stay in that region, the global endpoint fails over" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 2, "avgRating": 3.5, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "B", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 63.9 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 67, "maintenance": 73, "payments": 20, "reliability": 65, "schema": 88, "security": 65, "transparency": 40 }, "provenanceScore": 84 }, "connect": { "http": "curl -X POST https://api.bfl.ai/v1/flux-2-pro \\\n -H \"x-key: $BFL_API_KEY\" -H \"content-type: application/json\" \\\n -d '{\"prompt\":\"A serene landscape with mountains\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":1024}'\n# then GET the returned polling_url with the same x-key until status is Ready", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http FLUX https://mcp.bfl.ai" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/image.generate", "tool": "https://letme.dev/black-forest-labs" }, "area": "content", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "FLUX.2 [klein] 4B", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.014, "note": "from, first megapixel" }, { "item": "FLUX.2 [pro]", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.03, "note": "from, text-to-image, first megapixel" }, { "item": "FLUX.2 [max]", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.07, "note": "from, first megapixel" }, { "item": "FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.04 }, { "item": "FLUX1.1 [pro]", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.04 }, { "item": "Credits", "unit": "credit", "usd": 0.01 } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Black Forest Labs Inc.", "domain": "bfl.ai", "domainRegistered": "2022-06-29", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://bfl.ai/legal/developer-terms-of-service", "privacy": "https://bfl.ai/legal/privacy-policy", "statusPage": "https://status.bfl.ai", "changelog": "https://docs.bfl.ai/release-notes", "securityTxt": "valid", "checked": "2026-09-30", "notes": [ "BFL GmbH (Freiburg, Germany) is the data controller for users in the EEA, Switzerland and the UK.", "The docs also answer on docs.bfl.ml and the security.txt lists blackforestlabs.ai as a second canonical domain." ], "score": 84 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/black-forest-labs.json", "live": { "slug": "black-forest-labs", "probe": { "target": "https://api.bfl.ai/v1", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-11T02:46:19.397049455Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 404, "lastMs": 63, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 375, "p95ms24h": 583, "samples24h": 248, "samples30d": 2712, "days": [ { "date": "2026-09-30", "probes": 35, "ok": 35 }, { "date": "2026-10-01", "probes": 276, "ok": 276 }, { "date": "2026-10-02", "probes": 248, "ok": 248 }, { "date": "2026-10-03", "probes": 271, "ok": 271 }, { "date": "2026-10-04", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-05", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-06", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 268, "ok": 268 }, { "date": "2026-10-09", "probes": 250, "ok": 250 }, { "date": "2026-10-10", "probes": 247, "ok": 247 }, { "date": "2026-10-11", "probes": 29, "ok": 29 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.bfl.ai", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-11T02:40:34.349958377Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "mcp-registry", "name": "io.github.black-forest-labs/flux-mcp", "version": "1.0.0", "seenAt": "2026-10-10T03:11:32.438759038Z" } ], "securityTxt": { "url": "https://bfl.ai/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "valid", "expires": "2027-02-01T00:00:00Z", "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T15:41:44.662897844Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://docs.bfl.ai/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T14:03:41.773744013Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "bfl.ai", "registered": "2022-06-29", "source": "https://rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/domain/bfl.ai", "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:10:31.899583527Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://docs.bfl.ai/release-notes", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T19:00:58.617428143Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:19:38.108762461Z", "fingerprint": "dcaf496d519d" }, { "url": "https://bfl.ai/pricing", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T18:57:35.919659438Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-08T18:15:39.734385201Z", "fingerprint": "32047e4eee1c" }, { "url": "https://bfl.ai/legal/privacy-policy", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T18:57:35.259907094Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:17:47.888380414Z", "fingerprint": "d6320ad3accb" }, { "url": "https://bfl.ai/legal/developer-terms-of-service", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T18:57:30.432020973Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:17:45.836950048Z", "fingerprint": "ddc9a171e173" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-11T02:46:19.397049455Z" } }, "answer": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Black Forest Labs FLUX API score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 64.7 (B) and 63.9 (B). Black Forest Labs FLUX API leads on schema \u0026 documentation.", "b": { "slug": "qwen-image-2-1", "name": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "vendor": "Alibaba Cloud", "vendorUrl": "https://www.alibabacloud.com", "kind": "model", "category": "image-generation", "summary": "Qwen-Image 2.1 is Alibaba's image model for text-to-image and image editing with up to 10 reference images and transparent output, callable as qwen-image-2.1-pro through Alibaba Cloud Model Studio's DashScope and OpenAI-compatible APIs.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-image-2-1", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-image-2-1.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-image-2-1.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/qwen-image-2-1.json", "repo": "https://huggingface.co/Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1", "license": "Closed API under Alibaba Cloud's product terms. Qwen-Image-2.1 weights are on Hugging Face under the Qwen Research License, for non-commercial use only.", "transports": [ "http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1", "packages": [ { "registry": "pypi", "name": "dashscope" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "Bearer Model Studio API key, created per region in the console by an account or RAM user with API-Key permission. Keys can be limited to chosen models and an IP allow-list of up to 20 entries, and reset. The model, endpoint and key must be in the same region. Async calls add `X-DashScope-Async: enable`.", "pricing": "usage", "pricingNotes": "qwen-image-2.1-pro is $0.04 an image in Singapore (International) and $0.035333 in Beijing, Virginia, Frankfurt, Tokyo and Hong Kong, list prices without promotions (model page, checked 10 October 2026). New Singapore users get a 90-day free quota, but whether it covers this model was not confirmed.", "priceSummary": "Pay per use", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the Model Studio llms.txt, the Qwen image API reference or the model page, checked 10 October 2026.", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-10" }, "docsUrl": "https://www.alibabacloud.com/help/en/model-studio/qwen-image-generation-and-editing-api-reference", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.modelstudio.console.alibabacloud.com/llms.txt", "capabilities": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.reference" ], "tags": [ "official", "hosted", "usage-priced", "open-weights", "llms-txt", "openai-compatible", "async-jobs", "python", "sla", "soc2" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-02", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 64.7, "grade": "B", "agentReady": false, "rank": 347, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 961, "categoryRank": 3, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 73, "maintenance": 77, "payments": 20, "reliability": 70, "schema": 66, "security": 75, "transparency": 66 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-10" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "qwen-image-2.1-pro generates and edits images with up to 10 references and transparent output, at $0.04 an image in Singapore, through an OpenAI-compatible endpoint or DashScope. Model Studio publishes a 99.9 per cent SLA and a no-training statement. The model allows 20 requests a minute, has no OpenAPI file, and its open weights are for non-commercial use only.", "bestFor": "Low-cost image generation and multi-reference editing with transparent PNG output, for agents already on Model Studio or using the OpenAI Images protocol.", "strengths": [ "Text-to-image and editing in one model, with 1 to 10 reference images and transparent output decided from the prompt", "$0.04 an image in Singapore and $0.035333 in five other regions, published without a login", "OpenAI-compatible /images/generations endpoint beside DashScope sync and async calls", "Keys can be limited to chosen models and an IP allow-list, and the audit log records each call", "The Model Studio privacy notice says customer data is never used for training" ], "weaknesses": [ "20 requests a minute in every region", "No OpenAPI or other machine-readable contract for the image endpoints", "Result URLs expire after 24 hours, and the OpenAI-compatible mode ignores `b64_json`", "`negative_prompt` works only on the qwen-image-3.0 series, not on qwen-image-2.1-pro", "Qwen-Image-2.1 weights are under a non-commercial research licence, so self-hosting is not an option for commercial work" ], "agentNotes": [ "Use the same region for the key, the model and the endpoint. Cross-region calls fail", "Download each result within 24 hours. The URL expires and the image is purged", "With the OpenAI SDK, pass `image`, `seed`, `prompt_extend` and `watermark` through `extra_body`, and write size as `1024x1024`, not `1024*1024`", "Set a client timeout of up to 600 seconds for several outputs, or use the async DashScope call and poll the task id", "Do not send `prompt_extend_mode: agent` with input images. It returns 400" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "B", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 64.7 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 73, "maintenance": 77, "payments": 20, "reliability": 70, "schema": 66, "security": 75, "transparency": 60 }, "provenanceScore": 72 }, "connect": { "install": "pip install dashscope", "http": "curl --location 'https://{WorkspaceId}.ap-southeast-1.maas.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1/images/generations' \\\n --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \\\n --header \"Authorization: Bearer $DASHSCOPE_API_KEY\" \\\n --data '{\"model\":\"qwen-image-2.1-pro\",\"prompt\":\"A paper boat sticker on a transparent background\",\"n\":1}'" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/image.generate", "tool": "https://letme.dev/qwen-image-2-1" }, "sameCompany": [ "alibaba-wan" ], "area": "content", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "qwen-image-2.1-pro, Singapore", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.04, "note": "International scope, list price" }, { "item": "qwen-image-2.1-pro, Beijing, Virginia, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.035333, "note": "list price" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Alibaba Cloud (Singapore) Private Limited", "domain": "alibabacloud.com", "domainRegistered": "", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.alibabacloud.com/help/en/legal/latest/alibaba-cloud-international-website-product-terms-of-service-v-3-8-0", "privacy": "https://www.alibabacloud.com/help/en/model-studio/privacy-notice", "statusPage": "https://status.alibabacloud.com", "changelog": "https://www.alibabacloud.com/help/en/model-studio/newly-released-models", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-10", "notes": [ "The endpoints are on aliyuncs.com, Alibaba Cloud's service domain (dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com and per-workspace maas.aliyuncs.com hosts), as in the alibaba-wan listing.", "www.alibabacloud.com/.well-known/security.txt returns an HTML not-found page.", "status.alibabacloud.com renders in the browser only and its incident history was not read.", "The legal entity and terms URL follow the alibaba-wan listing and were not re-read on 10 October." ], "score": 72 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-image-2-1.json", "live": { "slug": "qwen-image-2-1", "probe": { "target": "https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-11T02:46:38.126307135Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 404, "lastMs": 232, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 170, "p95ms24h": 246, "samples24h": 30, "samples30d": 30, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-10", "probes": 1, "ok": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-11", "probes": 29, "ok": 29 } ] }, "updatedAt": "2026-10-11T02:46:38.126307135Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "Model API", "b": "Model API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Black Forest Labs", "b": "Alibaba Cloud", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "https://api.bfl.ai/v1", "b": "https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP, Streamable HTTP", "b": "HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "OAuth or key", "b": "API key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Pay per use", "b": "Pay per use", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "none", "b": "Closed API under Alibaba Cloud's product terms. Qwen-Image-2.1 weights are on Hugging Face under the Qwen Research License, for non-commercial use only.", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "7", "b": "none", "name": "Tools exposed" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "io.github.black-forest-labs/flux-mcp", "b": "not listed", "name": "MCP registry" }, { "a": "2026-09-10", "b": "2026-10-02", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "2026-08-04", "b": "couldn't be read", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "2026-08-01", "b": "", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "yes, with an opt-out", "b": "couldn't be read", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "couldn't be read", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "couldn't be read", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "couldn't be read", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "couldn't be read", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "3.5/5 (2)", "b": "none", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Black Forest Labs FLUX API score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 64.7 (B) and 63.9 (B). Black Forest Labs FLUX API leads on schema \u0026 documentation.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Black Forest Labs FLUX API or Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)?" }, { "answer": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in. Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) needs an API key.", "question": "Do Black Forest Labs FLUX API and Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) need an API key?" }, { "answer": "Yes. Black Forest Labs FLUX API has a hosted endpoint at https://api.bfl.ai/v1 and Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) at https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1.", "question": "Can an agent call Black Forest Labs FLUX API and Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) without installing anything?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Schema \u0026 documentation, 88 against 66" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "Agents that need multi-reference edits and a price ladder from drafts to final renders, and for EU data residency.", "slug": "black-forest-labs", "watchFor": "Two cluster outages over four hours (19 and 20 August 2026) and slowdowns of 6.5 and 20 hours since" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 70 against 65", "Agent ergonomics, 73 against 67", "Security \u0026 auth, 75 against 65" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "Low-cost image generation and multi-reference editing with transparent PNG output, for agents already on Model Studio or using the OpenAI Images protocol.", "slug": "qwen-image-2-1", "watchFor": "20 requests a minute in every region" } ], "job": { "capability": "image.generate", "name": "Image generation" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-black-forest-labs.json", "title": "Adobe Firefly API vs Black Forest Labs FLUX API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-black-forest-labs" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json", "title": "Adobe Firefly API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-qwen-image-2-1" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-bria.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Bria API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-bria" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-fal-image.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs fal image models", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-fal-image" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-google-imagen.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Google Imagen", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-google-imagen" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-ideogram.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Ideogram API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-ideogram" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-leonardo-ai.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Leonardo.Ai API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-leonardo-ai" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-openai-image-api.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs OpenAI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-openai-image-api" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-recraft.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Recraft API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-recraft" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-replicate-image.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Replicate image models", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-replicate-image" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bria-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json", "title": "Bria API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bria-vs-qwen-image-2-1" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json", "title": "fal image models vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-qwen-image-2-1" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-imagen-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json", "title": "Google Imagen vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-imagen-vs-qwen-image-2-1" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json", "title": "Ideogram API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-qwen-image-2-1" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leonardo-ai-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json", "title": "Leonardo.Ai API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leonardo-ai-vs-qwen-image-2-1" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-image-api-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json", "title": "OpenAI Image API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-image-api-vs-qwen-image-2-1" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-recraft.json", "title": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Recraft API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-recraft" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-replicate-image.json", "title": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Replicate image models", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-replicate-image" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.json", "title": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image" } ], "scores": [ { "black-forest-labs": 65, "by": 5, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "qwen-image-2-1": 70, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "black-forest-labs": 88, "by": 22, "edge": "black-forest-labs", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "qwen-image-2-1": 66, "weight": 13 }, { "black-forest-labs": 67, "by": 6, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "qwen-image-2-1": 73, "weight": 13 }, { "black-forest-labs": 65, "by": 10, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "qwen-image-2-1": 75, "weight": 14 }, { "black-forest-labs": 20, "by": 0, "edge": "", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "qwen-image-2-1": 20, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "black-forest-labs": 73, "by": 4, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "qwen-image-2-1": 77, "weight": 7 }, { "black-forest-labs": 62, "by": 4, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "qwen-image-2-1": 66, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Black Forest Labs FLUX API score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 64.7 (B) and 63.9 (B). Black Forest Labs FLUX API leads on schema \u0026 documentation. Both do image generation.", "verdicts": { "black-forest-labs": "Per-image and per-megapixel prices published per model, from $0.014. Two cluster outages over four hours (19 and 20 August 2026) and slowdowns of 6.5 and 20 hours since.", "qwen-image-2-1": "qwen-image-2.1-pro generates and edits images with up to 10 references and transparent output, at $0.04 an image in Singapore, through an OpenAI-compatible endpoint or DashScope. Model Studio publishes a 99.9 per cent SLA and a no-training statement. The model allows 20 requests a minute, has no OpenAPI file, and its open weights are for non-commercial use only." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1.min.md" }, "markdown": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Black Forest Labs FLUX API score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 64.7 (B) and 63.9 (B). Black Forest Labs FLUX API leads on schema \u0026 documentation. Both do image generation.\n\n- Black Forest Labs FLUX API: grade B, 63.9/100, rank #372 of 961. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/black-forest-labs.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/black-forest-labs.json\n- Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio): grade B, 64.7/100, rank #347 of 961. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-image-2-1.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/qwen-image-2-1.json\n- Best image generation for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/image-generation/index.md\n- All 78 image comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/image-generation/index.md\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Black Forest Labs FLUX API (B)\n\nGood for: Agents that need multi-reference edits and a price ladder from drafts to final renders, and for EU data residency.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 88 against 66\n\nWatch for: Two cluster outages over four hours (19 and 20 August 2026) and slowdowns of 6.5 and 20 hours since\n\n### Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) (B)\n\nGood for: Low-cost image generation and multi-reference editing with transparent PNG output, for agents already on Model Studio or using the OpenAI Images protocol.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 70 against 65\n- Agent ergonomics, 73 against 67\n- Security \u0026 auth, 75 against 65\n\nWatch for: 20 requests a minute in every region\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Black Forest Labs FLUX API | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 65 | 70 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +5 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 88 | 66 | Black Forest Labs FLUX API +22 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 67 | 73 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +6 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 65 | 75 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +10 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 20 | even |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 73 | 77 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +4 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 62 | 66 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +4 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **63.9 · B** | **64.7 · B** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Black Forest Labs FLUX API | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | Model API | Model API |\n| Vendor | Black Forest Labs | Alibaba Cloud |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.bfl.ai/v1` | `https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1` |\n| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | API key |\n| Pricing | Pay per use | Pay per use |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | none | Closed API under Alibaba Cloud's product terms. Qwen-Image-2.1 weights are on Hugging Face under the Qwen Research License, for non-commercial use only. |\n| Tools exposed | 7 | none |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| MCP registry | `io.github.black-forest-labs/flux-mcp` | not listed |\n| Last release | 2026-09-10 | 2026-10-02 |\n| Terms last updated | 2026-08-04 | couldn't be read |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-08-01 | |\n| Customer content may train models | yes, with an opt-out | couldn't be read |\n| Terms restrict automated access | yes | couldn't be read |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | yes | couldn't be read |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | yes | couldn't be read |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | couldn't be read |\n| Agent reviews | 3.5/5 (2) | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Black Forest Labs FLUX API.** Per-image and per-megapixel prices published per model, from $0.014. Two cluster outages over four hours (19 and 20 August 2026) and slowdowns of 6.5 and 20 hours since.\n\n**Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio).** qwen-image-2.1-pro generates and edits images with up to 10 references and transparent output, at $0.04 an image in Singapore, through an OpenAI-compatible endpoint or DashScope. Model Studio publishes a 99.9 per cent SLA and a no-training statement. The model allows 20 requests a minute, has no OpenAPI file, and its open weights are for non-commercial use only.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Black Forest Labs FLUX API\n\n1. Poll the `polling_url` from the submit response, never a hand-built URL\n2. Download `result.sample` straight away. It's gone after 10 minutes\n3. Stay under 24 concurrent jobs, 6 on flux-kontext-max, and back off exponentially on 429\n4. Treat 402 as out of credit, not as a retryable error\n5. Use api.eu.bfl.ai or api.us.bfl.ai only when data must stay in that region, the global endpoint fails over\n\n### Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)\n\n1. Use the same region for the key, the model and the endpoint. Cross-region calls fail\n2. Download each result within 24 hours. The URL expires and the image is purged\n3. With the OpenAI SDK, pass `image`, `seed`, `prompt_extend` and `watermark` through `extra_body`, and write size as `1024x1024`, not `1024*1024`\n4. Set a client timeout of up to 600 seconds for several outputs, or use the async DashScope call and poll the task id\n5. Do not send `prompt_extend_mode: agent` with input images. It returns 400\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Black Forest Labs FLUX API or Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)?\n\nQwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Black Forest Labs FLUX API score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 64.7 (B) and 63.9 (B). Black Forest Labs FLUX API leads on schema \u0026 documentation.\n\n### Do Black Forest Labs FLUX API and Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) need an API key?\n\nBlack Forest Labs FLUX API takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in. Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) needs an API key.\n\n### Can an agent call Black Forest Labs FLUX API and Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) without installing anything?\n\nYes. Black Forest Labs FLUX API has a hosted endpoint at https://api.bfl.ai/v1 and Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) at https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"black-forest-labs\", \"b\": \"qwen-image-2-1\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare black-forest-labs qwen-image-2-1`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/black-forest-labs.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/qwen-image-2-1.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Black Forest Labs FLUX API or Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)\n\n- [Adobe Firefly API vs Black Forest Labs FLUX API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-black-forest-labs.md)\n- [Adobe Firefly API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-qwen-image-2-1.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Bria API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-bria.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs fal image models](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-fal-image.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Google Imagen](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-google-imagen.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Ideogram API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-ideogram.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Leonardo.Ai API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-leonardo-ai.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs OpenAI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-openai-image-api.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Recraft API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-recraft.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Replicate image models](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-replicate-image.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-stability-ai-image.md)\n- [Bria API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bria-vs-qwen-image-2-1.md)\n- [fal image models vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-qwen-image-2-1.md)\n- [Google Imagen vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-imagen-vs-qwen-image-2-1.md)\n- [Ideogram API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-qwen-image-2-1.md)\n- [Leonardo.Ai API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leonardo-ai-vs-qwen-image-2-1.md)\n- [OpenAI Image API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-image-api-vs-qwen-image-2-1.md)\n- [Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Recraft API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-recraft.md)\n- [Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Replicate image models](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-replicate-image.md)\n- [Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md)\n- [Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-11", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "url": "" } ], "description": "Qwen-Image 2.1 and Black Forest Labs FLUX score within a point of each other for image generation, 64.7 and 63.9 out of 100. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Black Forest Labs FLUX API B 63.9", "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) B 64.7", "scores" ], "h1": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1.png", "path": "/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX vs Qwen-Image 2.1 for AI agents (2026)", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-10", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2600, "slim": 730 }, "version": 1 }