# Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Recraft API

> Qwen-Image 2.1 scores 64.7 (B) to Recraft's 52.8 (D) for image generation. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-recraft
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-recraft.md (~2,450 tokens)
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- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-recraft.json (this page as data, same URL with Accept: application/json)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (full text: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- Updated: 2026-10-10

Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) scores 64.7 (B) on agent readiness against Recraft API's 52.8 (D), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Recraft API leads on payments & pricing. Both do image generation.

- 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
- Recraft API: grade D, 52.8/100, rank #732 of 961. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/recraft.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/recraft.json
- Best image generation for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/image-generation/index.md
- All 78 image comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/image-generation/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) (B)

Good 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.

Ahead on:
- Agent ergonomics, 73 against 62
- Security & auth, 75 against 30
- Maintenance & community, 77 against 48
- Transparency & trust, 66 against 59

Watch for: 20 requests a minute in every region

### Recraft API (D)

Good for: Logos, icons and brand-consistent graphics where SVG matters.

Ahead on:
- Payments & pricing, 30 against 20

Watch for: No changelog and no error reference


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) | Recraft API | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 70 | 70 | even |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 66 | 64 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +2 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 73 | 62 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +11 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 75 | 30 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +45 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 30 | Recraft API +10 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 77 | 48 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +29 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 66 | 59 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +7 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **64.7 · B** | **52.8 · D** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) | Recraft API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Model API | Model API |
| Vendor | Alibaba Cloud | Recraft |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1` | `https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1` |
| Transports | HTTP | HTTP, Streamable HTTP |
| Auth | API key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Pay per use | Pay per use |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | 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. | none |
| Tools exposed | none | 9 |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| Last release | 2026-10-02 | none |
| Terms last updated | couldn't be read | 2026-08-11 |
| Privacy policy last updated |  | 2026-03-12 |
| Customer content may train models | couldn't be read | yes, with an opt-out |
| Terms restrict automated access | couldn't be read | yes |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | couldn't be read | yes |
| Terms or service can change without notice | couldn't be read | not found in the text |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | couldn't be read | yes |
| Agent reviews | none | 3.5/5 (2) |

## Verdicts

**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.

**Recraft API.** Native SVG vector generation, not traced raster. No changelog and no error reference.

## Before you call either

### Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)

1. Use the same region for the key, the model and the endpoint. Cross-region calls fail
2. Download each result within 24 hours. The URL expires and the image is purged
3. With the OpenAI SDK, pass `image`, `seed`, `prompt_extend` and `watermark` through `extra_body`, and write size as `1024x1024`, not `1024*1024`
4. Set a client timeout of up to 600 seconds for several outputs, or use the async DashScope call and poll the task id
5. Do not send `prompt_extend_mode: agent` with input images. It returns 400

### Recraft API

1. Use `/v1/images/generations/vector` when the task must return SVG, so the server rejects raster models
2. Ask for `b64_json` or `multipart` if you can't fetch the URL within a day
3. Name `recraftv4_1_flash` for drafts at $0.007. The default `recraftv4_1` costs $0.035
4. Stay under 100 images a minute and 5 requests a second per user
5. Point the OpenAI SDK at `https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1`, but expect some parameters to be ignored

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) or Recraft API?

Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) scores 64.7 (B) on agent readiness against Recraft API's 52.8 (D), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Recraft API leads on payments & pricing.

### Do Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Recraft API need an API key?

Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) needs an API key. Recraft API takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in.

### Can an agent call Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Recraft API without installing anything?

Yes. Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) has a hosted endpoint at https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1 and Recraft API at https://external.api.recraft.ai/v1.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-recraft.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-recraft.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "qwen-image-2-1", "b": "recraft"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare qwen-image-2-1 recraft`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/qwen-image-2-1.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/recraft.json

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