{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "fal-image",
      "name": "fal image models",
      "vendor": "fal (Features \u0026 Labels, Inc.)",
      "vendorUrl": "https://fal.ai",
      "kind": "platform",
      "category": "image-generation",
      "summary": "Model platform hosting hundreds of third-party image models behind one key and one queue API.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/fal-image",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/fal-image.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/fal-image.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/fal-image.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/fal-ai/fal-js",
      "license": "MIT",
      "transports": [
        "http",
        "streamable-http"
      ],
      "remoteUrl": "https://queue.fal.run",
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@fal-ai/client"
        },
        {
          "registry": "pypi",
          "name": "fal-client"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "API key in the Authorization header with the `Key` scheme on model calls. The hosted MCP at https://mcp.fal.ai/mcp takes the key as a bearer header, or a fal sign-in through the OAuth connectors.",
      "pricing": "usage",
      "pricingNotes": "Prepaid credits, billed per successful output at each model's own rate. No charge for server errors, queue time or cold starts. Purchased credits expire after 365 days. FLUX.1 schnell $0.003 and FLUX.1 dev $0.025 per megapixel, FLUX.2 pro $0.03 for the first megapixel, Nano Banana 2 $0.08 and Nano Banana Pro $0.15 an image, Seedream 4.5 and Recraft V3 $0.04, Ideogram 3.0 $0.03 to $0.09 by quality (https://fal.ai/pricing).",
      "priceSummary": "Pay per use",
      "where": "hosted",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402 in the docs index or pricing docs (checked 2026-09-30).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 186,
        "npmWeekly": 1675192,
        "pypiWeekly": 824976,
        "asOf": "2026-09-30"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://fal.ai/docs",
      "llmsTxt": "https://fal.ai/docs/llms.txt",
      "openapi": "https://api.fal.ai/v1/openapi.json",
      "capabilities": [
        "image.generate",
        "image.edit",
        "image.upscale",
        "image.vector",
        "image.reference"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "hosted",
        "model-platform",
        "mcp",
        "llms-txt",
        "openapi",
        "python",
        "typescript",
        "async-jobs",
        "webhooks",
        "open-weights"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-09-21",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 65.5,
        "grade": "B",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 172,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 452,
        "categoryRank": 2,
        "methodology": "0.3",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 72,
          "maintenance": 79,
          "payments": 20,
          "reliability": 73,
          "schema": 85,
          "security": 65,
          "transparency": 52
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "Hundreds of image models, including FLUX, Nano Banana, GPT Image, Seedream, Recraft and Ideogram, on one key. Billing units vary by model, per image, per megapixel or per token.",
        "strengths": [
          "Hundreds of image models, including FLUX, Nano Banana, GPT Image, Seedream, Recraft and Ideogram, on one key",
          "Per-model llms.txt with live schema and price",
          "Server errors (HTTP 500 and up) are never charged",
          "Hosted MCP server with 11 tools, bearer key or OAuth",
          "Two incidents in 90 days, the longer 30 minutes"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Billing units vary by model, per image, per megapixel or per token",
          "New accounts limited to 2 concurrent requests",
          "No security.txt, no bug bounty found and no subprocessor list",
          "No deprecation policy or dated notices for hosted models",
          "Client errors can be billed if a runner spent GPU time before failing"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Fetch `https://fal.ai/models/\u003cendpoint-id\u003e/llms.txt` before calling a model to get its schema and price",
          "POST to `https://queue.fal.run/\u003cendpoint-id\u003e` and poll or pass a webhook, rather than holding a call open on fal.run",
          "Use an API-scoped key for agents. ADMIN keys can deploy and manage apps",
          "Download outputs you need to keep. CDN retention defaults to at least 7 days, set `X-Fal-Object-Lifecycle-Preference` to change it",
          "Validate inputs before submitting, a malformed request can still be billed"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 4,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "B",
            "methodology": "0.3",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 65.5
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 72,
          "maintenance": 79,
          "payments": 20,
          "reliability": 73,
          "schema": 85,
          "security": 65,
          "transparency": 32
        },
        "provenanceScore": 71
      },
      "connect": {
        "http": "curl -X POST https://queue.fal.run/fal-ai/flux/dev \\\n  -H \"Authorization: Key $FAL_KEY\" -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n  -d '{\"prompt\":\"a red fox in fresh snow\"}'",
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http fal-ai https://mcp.fal.ai/mcp --header \"Authorization: Bearer $FAL_KEY\"",
        "config": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "fal-ai": {
              "headers": {
                "Authorization": "Bearer ${FAL_KEY}"
              },
              "url": "https://mcp.fal.ai/mcp"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/image.generate",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/fal-image"
      },
      "sameCompany": [
        "fal-music"
      ],
      "area": "content",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "FLUX.1 dev",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.025,
          "note": "1024x1024 (1 MP), billed per megapixel"
        },
        {
          "item": "FLUX.1 schnell",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.003,
          "note": "1024x1024 (1 MP), billed per megapixel"
        },
        {
          "item": "FLUX.2 pro",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.03,
          "note": "1024x1024. $0.015 per extra megapixel"
        },
        {
          "item": "Nano Banana 2",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.08,
          "note": "1K output. 1.5x at 2K, 2x at 4K"
        },
        {
          "item": "Nano Banana Pro",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.15,
          "note": "standard resolution. 2x at 4K"
        },
        {
          "item": "Seedream 4.5",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.04
        },
        {
          "item": "Recraft V3",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.04,
          "note": "$0.08 with a vector style"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Features \u0026 Labels, Inc.",
        "domain": "fal.ai",
        "domainRegistered": "2020-11-13",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": false,
        "terms": "https://fal.ai/legal/terms-of-service",
        "privacy": "https://fal.ai/legal/privacy-policy",
        "statusPage": "https://status.fal.ai",
        "changelog": "https://fal.ai/docs/changelog",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-09-30",
        "notes": [
          "Inference runs on queue.fal.run and fal.run, a separate domain from fal.ai",
          "remoteUrl is the queue base. A bare GET there returns 404. Model calls go to /\u003cendpoint-id\u003e"
        ],
        "score": 71
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/fal-image.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "fal-image",
        "probe": {
          "target": "https://queue.fal.run",
          "method": "get",
          "lastAt": "2026-10-05T03:17:25.968961641Z",
          "lastOk": true,
          "lastStatus": 404,
          "lastMs": 318,
          "authRequired": false,
          "uptime24h": 100,
          "uptime30d": 100,
          "p50ms24h": 317,
          "p95ms24h": 358,
          "samples24h": 273,
          "samples30d": 1140,
          "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": 38,
              "ok": 38
            }
          ]
        },
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://status.fal.ai",
          "indicator": "unknown",
          "summary": "no machine-readable status found",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T21:40:01.670397018Z"
        },
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "github",
            "name": "fal-ai/fal-js",
            "version": "client-v1.10.1",
            "released": "2026-05-04",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:26:53.913449903Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "@fal-ai/client",
            "version": "1.10.1",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:26:51.684272554Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "pypi",
            "name": "fal-client",
            "version": "1.0.3",
            "released": "2026-09-21",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:26:53.728583872Z"
          }
        ],
        "githubStars": 186,
        "npmWeekly": 1870424,
        "pypiWeekly": 842439,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://fal.ai/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "none",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:15:41.770203359Z"
        },
        "llmsTxt": {
          "url": "https://fal.ai/docs/llms.txt",
          "ok": true,
          "status": 200,
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:17:45.709950819Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "fal.ai",
          "registered": "2020-11-13",
          "source": "https://rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/domain/fal.ai",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:04:33.919358701Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://fal.ai/docs/changelog",
            "kind": "changelog",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:44:36.753398774Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "e58bdc64ffd0"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fal.ai/pricing",
            "kind": "pricing",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:44:43.486869123Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:21:04.885172117Z",
            "fingerprint": "4fcc02ba8d4e"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fal.ai/legal/privacy-policy",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:44:39.283091449Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "c17d2073b3d8"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fal.ai/legal/terms-of-service",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:44:41.455871894Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "6c3ef514a0aa"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-05T03:17:25.968961641Z"
      }
    },
    "b": {
      "slug": "ideogram",
      "name": "Ideogram API",
      "vendor": "Ideogram",
      "vendorUrl": "https://ideogram.ai",
      "kind": "model",
      "category": "image-generation",
      "summary": "Ideogram's API for generating images, including images containing text.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ideogram",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ideogram.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ideogram.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ideogram.json",
      "transports": [
        "http",
        "streamable-http"
      ],
      "remoteUrl": "https://api.ideogram.ai/v1",
      "packages": [],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "REST API takes the key in an `Api-Key` header. The key is shown once. Requests return 402 until the account has a payment method and credit. The hosted MCP server at mcp.ideogram.ai uses OAuth with an Ideogram account.",
      "pricing": "usage",
      "pricingNotes": "Prepaid API credit, separate from Ideogram app subscriptions. One-time top-ups of $10 to $300, balance capped at $300, with optional auto-recharge. Ideogram 4.0 costs $0.03 Turbo, $0.06 Default and $0.10 Quality per image. P-Image-Ideogram runs about $0.003 to $0.015 per 1K image by quality, $0.033 at Very High. Each returned image is billed separately (https://ideogram.ai/features/api-pricing, https://developer.ideogram.ai/ideogram-api/api-setup).",
      "priceSummary": "Pay per use",
      "where": "hosted",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No machine payment. Access needs prepaid credit and a card on file.",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": null,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-09-30"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://developer.ideogram.ai",
      "llmsTxt": "https://developer.ideogram.ai/llms.txt",
      "openapi": "https://developer.ideogram.ai/openapi.json",
      "capabilities": [
        "image.generate",
        "image.edit",
        "image.upscale",
        "image.reference"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "hosted",
        "card-required",
        "mcp",
        "llms-txt",
        "openapi",
        "async-jobs",
        "webhooks",
        "open-weights",
        "closed-source"
      ],
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 50.3,
        "grade": "D",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 360,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 452,
        "categoryRank": 5,
        "methodology": "0.3",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 63,
          "maintenance": 18,
          "payments": 20,
          "reliability": 65,
          "schema": 76,
          "security": 35,
          "transparency": 52
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "Text rendering and layout control are the model's focus. Six API incidents in 90 days, three on v3 endpoints between 23 and 29 September.",
        "strengths": [
          "Text rendering and layout control are the model's focus",
          "Flat per-image prices for Ideogram 4.0, $0.03 to $0.10",
          "Async endpoints with signed webhooks",
          "OpenAPI spec, llms.txt and Markdown versions of every docs page",
          "No training on API inputs or outputs unless flagged under the usage policies"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Six API incidents in 90 days, three on v3 endpoints between 23 and 29 September",
          "No changelog, so model and endpoint changes aren't dated anywhere public",
          "No security.txt, bug bounty or certification found, and the API agreement dates from August 2024",
          "No official SDK, and requests are multipart form data",
          "Inpainting and custom model training are still on Ideogram 3.0"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Send multipart form data, not JSON",
          "Treat 402 as no credit or no payment method, and 422 as an unsafe prompt to rewrite, not retry",
          "Check `is_image_safe`. When it's false the `url` is empty",
          "Download images straight away, the links expire",
          "Use the `/async/` variants with `webhook_url` for batches and verify the Ed25519 signature"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 3.5,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "D",
            "methodology": "0.3",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 50.3
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 63,
          "maintenance": 18,
          "payments": 20,
          "reliability": 65,
          "schema": 76,
          "security": 35,
          "transparency": 32
        },
        "provenanceScore": 72
      },
      "connect": {
        "http": "curl -X POST https://api.ideogram.ai/v1/ideogram-v4/generate \\\n  -H \"Api-Key: $IDEOGRAM_API_KEY\" \\\n  -F text_prompt=\"A poster that says OPEN LATE in bold red letters\"",
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http ideogram https://mcp.ideogram.ai/mcp"
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/image.generate",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/ideogram"
      },
      "area": "content",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "Ideogram 4.0 Turbo",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.03
        },
        {
          "item": "Ideogram 4.0 Default",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.06,
          "note": "default rendering speed"
        },
        {
          "item": "Ideogram 4.0 Quality",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.1
        },
        {
          "item": "P-Image-Ideogram Very High",
          "unit": "image",
          "usd": 0.033,
          "note": "1K resolution"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Ideogram AI, Inc.",
        "domain": "ideogram.ai",
        "domainRegistered": "2023-02-28",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": true,
        "terms": "https://ideogram.ai/legal/api-tos",
        "privacy": "https://ideogram.ai/legal/privacy/",
        "statusPage": "https://status.ideogram.ai",
        "changelog": "",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-09-30",
        "notes": [
          "The Developer API Agreement names Ideogram AI, Inc. The site footer says Ideogram, Inc."
        ],
        "score": 72
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ideogram.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "ideogram",
        "probe": {
          "target": "https://api.ideogram.ai/v1",
          "method": "get",
          "lastAt": "2026-10-05T03:17:27.447536419Z",
          "lastOk": true,
          "lastStatus": 404,
          "lastMs": 151,
          "authRequired": false,
          "uptime24h": 100,
          "uptime30d": 99.91,
          "p50ms24h": 153,
          "p95ms24h": 223,
          "samples24h": 273,
          "samples30d": 1140,
          "days": [
            {
              "date": "2026-09-30",
              "probes": 35,
              "ok": 35
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-01",
              "probes": 276,
              "ok": 276
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-02",
              "probes": 248,
              "ok": 247
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-03",
              "probes": 271,
              "ok": 271
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-04",
              "probes": 272,
              "ok": 272
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-05",
              "probes": 38,
              "ok": 38
            }
          ]
        },
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://status.ideogram.ai",
          "indicator": "none",
          "summary": "All Systems Operational",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-05T03:19:06.233515924Z"
        },
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://ideogram.ai/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "none",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:15:56.071296794Z"
        },
        "llmsTxt": {
          "url": "https://developer.ideogram.ai/llms.txt",
          "ok": true,
          "status": 200,
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:17:54.473369971Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "ideogram.ai",
          "registered": "2023-02-28",
          "source": "https://rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/domain/ideogram.ai",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:07:58.912971745Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://ideogram.ai/features/api-pricing",
            "kind": "pricing",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:45:04.596103919Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:21:26.123073336Z",
            "fingerprint": "8eda804d1edb"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://ideogram.ai/legal/privacy/",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:45:08.836623652Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "81198a993567"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://ideogram.ai/legal/api-tos",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:45:06.909523433Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "b978e7fe076c"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-05T03:19:06.233515924Z"
      }
    },
    "summary": "fal image models has a score of 65.5 (B) against Ideogram API's 50.3 (D). Both do image generate. The largest gap is maintenance \u0026 community, 61 points."
  },
  "kind": "anchor.page",
  "links": {
    "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json",
    "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-ideogram",
    "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-ideogram.json",
    "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt",
    "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-ideogram.md",
    "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-ideogram.min.md"
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  "markdown": "fal image models has a score of 65.5 (B) against Ideogram API's 50.3 (D). Both do image generate. The largest gap is maintenance \u0026 community, 61 points.\n\n- fal image models: grade B, 65.5/100, rank #172 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/fal-image.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/fal-image.json\n- Ideogram API: grade D, 50.3/100, rank #360 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ideogram.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ideogram.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\nPick fal image models for reliability (+8), schema \u0026 documentation (+9), agent ergonomics (+9), security \u0026 auth (+30), maintenance \u0026 community (+61).\n\nPick Ideogram API for nothing in particular (no category where it leads by five points or more).\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | fal image models | Ideogram API | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 73 | 65 | fal image models +8 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 85 | 76 | fal image models +9 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 72 | 63 | fal image models +9 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 65 | 35 | fal image models +30 |\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) | 79 | 18 | fal image models +61 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 52 | 52 | even |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **65.5 · B** | **50.3 · D** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | fal image models | Ideogram API |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | Model platform | Model API |\n| Vendor | fal (Features \u0026 Labels, Inc.) | Ideogram |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://queue.fal.run` | `https://api.ideogram.ai/v1` |\n| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP, Streamable HTTP |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Pay per use | Pay per use |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | MIT | none |\n| Tools exposed | none | none |\n| Context cost (tools/list) | n/a | n/a |\n| p95 latency | not measured yet | not measured yet |\n| Availability (30d) | not measured yet | not measured yet |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| MCP registry | not listed | not listed |\n| Last release | 2026-09-21 | none |\n| Popularity | 186 stars, 1.7M npm/wk, 825k PyPI/wk | none |\n| Agent reviews | 4/5 (2) | 3.5/5 (2) |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**fal image models.** Hundreds of image models, including FLUX, Nano Banana, GPT Image, Seedream, Recraft and Ideogram, on one key. Billing units vary by model, per image, per megapixel or per token.\n\n**Ideogram API.** Text rendering and layout control are the model's focus. Six API incidents in 90 days, three on v3 endpoints between 23 and 29 September.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### fal image models\n\n1. Fetch `https://fal.ai/models/\u003cendpoint-id\u003e/llms.txt` before calling a model to get its schema and price\n2. POST to `https://queue.fal.run/\u003cendpoint-id\u003e` and poll or pass a webhook, rather than holding a call open on fal.run\n3. Use an API-scoped key for agents. ADMIN keys can deploy and manage apps\n4. Download outputs you need to keep. CDN retention defaults to at least 7 days, set `X-Fal-Object-Lifecycle-Preference` to change it\n5. Validate inputs before submitting, a malformed request can still be billed\n\n### Ideogram API\n\n1. Send multipart form data, not JSON\n2. Treat 402 as no credit or no payment method, and 422 as an unsafe prompt to rewrite, not retry\n3. Check `is_image_safe`. When it's false the `url` is empty\n4. Download images straight away, the links expire\n5. Use the `/async/` variants with `webhook_url` for batches and verify the Ed25519 signature\n\n## Other comparisons with fal image models or Ideogram API\n\n- [Adobe Firefly API vs fal image models](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-fal-image.md)\n- [Adobe Firefly API vs Ideogram API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-ideogram.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 Ideogram API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-ideogram.md)\n- [fal image models vs Google Imagen](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-google-imagen.md)\n- [fal image models vs Leonardo.Ai API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-leonardo-ai.md)\n- [fal image models vs OpenAI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-openai-image-api.md)\n- [fal image models vs Recraft API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-recraft.md)\n- [fal image models vs Replicate image models](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-replicate-image.md)\n- [fal image models vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-stability-ai-image.md)\n- [Google Imagen vs Ideogram API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-imagen-vs-ideogram.md)\n- [Ideogram API vs Leonardo.Ai API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-leonardo-ai.md)\n- [Ideogram API vs OpenAI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-openai-image-api.md)\n- [Ideogram API vs Recraft API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-recraft.md)\n- [Ideogram API vs Replicate image models](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-replicate-image.md)\n- [Ideogram API vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-stability-ai-image.md)\n",
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    "description": "fal image models has a score of 65.5 (B) against Ideogram API's 50.3 (D). Both do image generate. The largest gap is maintenance \u0026 community, 61 points. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.",
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    "title": "fal image models vs Ideogram API for AI agents, B 65.5 vs D 50.3",
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