{ "data": { "a": { "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" } }, "answer": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) scores 64.7 (B) on agent readiness against Stability AI Image API's 42.3 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Stability AI Image API leads on payments \u0026 pricing.", "b": { "slug": "stability-ai-image", "name": "Stability AI Image API", "vendor": "Stability AI", "vendorUrl": "https://platform.stability.ai", "kind": "model", "category": "image-generation", "summary": "Stability AI's hosted REST API for image generation, editing and upscaling.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/stability-ai-image", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/stability-ai-image.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/stability-ai-image.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/stability-ai-image.json", "transports": [ "http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.stability.ai/v2beta", "packages": [], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "`Authorization: Bearer` with a key from the platform account page. Most v2beta endpoints take multipart form data and return raw image bytes when you send `accept: image/*`.", "pricing": "usage", "pricingNotes": "25 free credits on sign-up, then $10 per 1,000 credits (1 credit is $0.01). Stable Image Ultra 8 credits, SD 3.5 Large 6.5, Large Turbo 4, Medium 3.5, Flash 2.5, Stable Image Core 3, SDXL from 0.9. Edit tools 4 to 8 credits, upscalers 2 (Fast), 40 (Conservative) and 60 (Creative). Prices rose for some services on 2025-08-01 (https://platform.stability.ai/pricing).", "priceSummary": "$0.01 / credit", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No machine payment. Access needs prepaid credits on a platform account.", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-09-30" }, "docsUrl": "https://platform.stability.ai/docs/api-reference", "capabilities": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.upscale", "image.reference" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "closed-source", "async-jobs", "c2pa", "commercial-licence" ], "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 42.3, "grade": "E", "agentReady": false, "rank": 904, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 961, "categoryRank": 11, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 48, "maintenance": 8, "payments": 40, "reliability": 60, "schema": 39, "security": 30, "transparency": 59 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "low", "date": "2026-10-01" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Fixed price per call for every endpoint, published in credits. No new image model we could date since SD 3.5 Flash in July 2025.", "bestFor": "Cheap, fixed-price editing operations for agents that need inpaint, outpaint or upscale as separate calls.", "strengths": [ "Fixed price per call for every endpoint, published in credits", "25 free credits on sign-up", "Many editing endpoints (inpaint, outpaint, erase, recolour, relight, style transfer)", "C2PA signing and CSAM filtering on outputs", "`accept: image/*` returns raw bytes, so there's no second download step" ], "weaknesses": [ "No new image model we could date since SD 3.5 Flash in July 2025", "A major incident on 14 September 2026 returned elevated 500s on generation endpoints for 4 hours 8 minutes", "Official Python SDK is the legacy gRPC client, last released in May 2024", "Docs, pricing and release notes are a single-page app with no llms.txt or OpenAPI spec", "No security.txt, no scoped keys, and API inputs and outputs may train models unless you opt out" ], "agentNotes": [ "Send `accept: image/*` to get bytes back, or `application/json` for base64", "Stay under 150 requests every 10 seconds. A 429 locks you out for 60 seconds", "Poll the result endpoint with the returned id for async edit and upscale calls", "Use Stable Image Core or SD 3.5 Flash for drafts, Ultra for finals", "Send multipart form data, not JSON" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 2, "avgRating": 3, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "low", "grade": "E", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 42.3 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 48, "maintenance": 8, "payments": 40, "reliability": 60, "schema": 39, "security": 30, "transparency": 40 }, "provenanceScore": 78 }, "connect": { "http": "curl -f -sS https://api.stability.ai/v2beta/stable-image/generate/core \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer $STABILITY_API_KEY\" -H \"accept: image/*\" \\\n -F prompt=\"a lighthouse on a cliff at dusk\" -F output_format=webp -o lighthouse.webp" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/image.generate", "tool": "https://letme.dev/stability-ai-image" }, "sameCompany": [ "stable-audio" ], "area": "content", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Stable Image Core", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.03, "note": "3 credits, default settings" }, { "item": "Stable Image Ultra", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.08, "note": "8 credits" }, { "item": "SD 3.5 Large", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.065, "note": "6.5 credits" }, { "item": "SD 3.5 Flash", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.025, "note": "2.5 credits" }, { "item": "Credits", "unit": "credit", "usd": 0.01, "note": "bought in $10 blocks" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Stability AI Ltd", "domain": "stability.ai", "domainRegistered": "2019-11-06", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://stability.ai/terms-of-service", "privacy": "https://stability.ai/privacypolicy", "statusPage": "https://status.stability.ai", "changelog": "https://platform.stability.ai/docs/release-notes", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-09-30", "notes": [ "Customers in the UK, EU and Switzerland contract with Stability AI Ltd (England and Wales). Everyone else contracts with Stability AI US Services Corporation (Delaware)." ], "score": 78 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/stability-ai-image.json", "live": { "slug": "stability-ai-image", "probe": { "target": "https://api.stability.ai/v2beta", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-11T02:46:42.661780288Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 404, "lastMs": 247, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 58, "p95ms24h": 298, "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.stability.ai", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-11T02:41:22.131461573Z" }, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://stability.ai/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T15:41:37.850288762Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "stability.ai", "registered": "2019-11-06", "source": "https://rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/domain/stability.ai", "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:05:00.712080497Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://platform.stability.ai/docs/release-notes", "kind": "deprecations", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T19:07:49.430632004Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "e3b0c44298fc" }, { "url": "https://stability.ai/terms-of-service", "kind": "deprecations", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T19:10:13.795741207Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "fa6452f1e97e" }, { "url": "https://platform.stability.ai/pricing", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T19:07:51.49782375Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "e3b0c44298fc" }, { "url": "https://stability.ai/privacypolicy", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T19:10:12.000744609Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "3637f705edef" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-11T02:46:42.661780288Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "Model API", "b": "Model API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Alibaba Cloud", "b": "Stability AI", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1", "b": "https://api.stability.ai/v2beta", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP", "b": "HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "API key", "b": "API key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Pay per use", "b": "Pay per use", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "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.", "b": "none", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "no", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-10-02", "b": "none", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "2026-09-30", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "", "b": "2026-09-30", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "yes, with an opt-out", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "yes", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "none", "b": "3/5 (2)", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) scores 64.7 (B) on agent readiness against Stability AI Image API's 42.3 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Stability AI Image API leads on payments \u0026 pricing.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) or Stability AI Image API?" }, { "answer": "Both need an API key.", "question": "Do Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Stability AI Image API need an API key?" }, { "answer": "Yes. Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) has a hosted endpoint at https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1 and Stability AI Image API at https://api.stability.ai/v2beta.", "question": "Can an agent call Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Stability AI Image API without installing anything?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 70 against 60", "Schema \u0026 documentation, 66 against 39", "Agent ergonomics, 73 against 48", "Security \u0026 auth, 75 against 30", "Maintenance \u0026 community, 77 against 8", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 66 against 59" ], "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" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Payments \u0026 pricing, 40 against 20" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "Cheap, fixed-price editing operations for agents that need inpaint, outpaint or upscale as separate calls.", "slug": "stability-ai-image", "watchFor": "No new image model we could date since SD 3.5 Flash in July 2025" } ], "job": { "capability": "image.generate", "name": "Image generation" }, "others": [ { "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/adobe-firefly-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Adobe Firefly API vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1.json", "title": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1" }, { "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/bria-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Bria API vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bria-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "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/fal-image-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "fal image models vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "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/google-imagen-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Google Imagen vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-imagen-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "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/ideogram-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Ideogram API vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "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/leonardo-ai-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Leonardo.Ai API vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leonardo-ai-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "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/openai-image-api-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "OpenAI Image API vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-image-api-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "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/recraft-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Recraft API vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/recraft-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-image-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Replicate image models vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-image-vs-stability-ai-image" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "title": "Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark-vs-stability-ai-image" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 10, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "qwen-image-2-1": 70, "stability-ai-image": 60, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 27, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "qwen-image-2-1": 66, "stability-ai-image": 39, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 25, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "qwen-image-2-1": 73, "stability-ai-image": 48, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 45, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "qwen-image-2-1": 75, "stability-ai-image": 30, "weight": 14 }, { "by": 20, "edge": "stability-ai-image", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "qwen-image-2-1": 20, "stability-ai-image": 40, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 69, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "qwen-image-2-1": 77, "stability-ai-image": 8, "weight": 7 }, { "by": 7, "edge": "qwen-image-2-1", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "qwen-image-2-1": 66, "stability-ai-image": 59, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) scores 64.7 (B) on agent readiness against Stability AI Image API's 42.3 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Stability AI Image API leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do image generation.", "verdicts": { "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.", "stability-ai-image": "Fixed price per call for every endpoint, published in credits. No new image model we could date since SD 3.5 Flash in July 2025." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image.min.md" }, "markdown": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) scores 64.7 (B) on agent readiness against Stability AI Image API's 42.3 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Stability AI Image API leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do image generation.\n\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- Stability AI Image API: grade E, 42.3/100, rank #904 of 961. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/stability-ai-image.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/stability-ai-image.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### 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 60\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 66 against 39\n- Agent ergonomics, 73 against 48\n- Security \u0026 auth, 75 against 30\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 77 against 8\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 66 against 59\n\nWatch for: 20 requests a minute in every region\n\n### Stability AI Image API (E)\n\nGood for: Cheap, fixed-price editing operations for agents that need inpaint, outpaint or upscale as separate calls.\n\nAhead on:\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 40 against 20\n\nWatch for: No new image model we could date since SD 3.5 Flash in July 2025\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) | Stability AI Image API | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 70 | 60 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +10 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 66 | 39 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +27 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 73 | 48 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +25 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 75 | 30 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +45 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 40 | Stability AI Image API +20 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 77 | 8 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +69 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 66 | 59 | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) +7 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **64.7 · B** | **42.3 · E** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) | Stability AI Image API |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | Model API | Model API |\n| Vendor | Alibaba Cloud | Stability AI |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1` | `https://api.stability.ai/v2beta` |\n| Transports | HTTP | HTTP |\n| Auth | API key | API key |\n| Pricing | Pay per use | Pay per use |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| 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 |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | no |\n| Last release | 2026-10-02 | none |\n| Terms last updated | couldn't be read | 2026-09-30 |\n| Privacy policy last updated | | 2026-09-30 |\n| Customer content may train models | couldn't be read | yes, with an opt-out |\n| Terms restrict automated access | couldn't be read | yes |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | couldn't be read | yes |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | couldn't be read | yes |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | couldn't be read | yes |\n| Agent reviews | none | 3/5 (2) |\n\n## Verdicts\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**Stability AI Image API.** Fixed price per call for every endpoint, published in credits. No new image model we could date since SD 3.5 Flash in July 2025.\n\n## Before you call either\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### Stability AI Image API\n\n1. Send `accept: image/*` to get bytes back, or `application/json` for base64\n2. Stay under 150 requests every 10 seconds. A 429 locks you out for 60 seconds\n3. Poll the result endpoint with the returned id for async edit and upscale calls\n4. Use Stable Image Core or SD 3.5 Flash for drafts, Ultra for finals\n5. Send multipart form data, not JSON\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) or Stability AI Image API?\n\nQwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) scores 64.7 (B) on agent readiness against Stability AI Image API's 42.3 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Stability AI Image API leads on payments \u0026 pricing.\n\n### Do Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Stability AI Image API need an API key?\n\nBoth need an API key.\n\n### Can an agent call Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) and Stability AI Image API without installing anything?\n\nYes. Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) has a hosted endpoint at https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1 and Stability AI Image API at https://api.stability.ai/v2beta.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"qwen-image-2-1\", \"b\": \"stability-ai-image\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare qwen-image-2-1 stability-ai-image`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/qwen-image-2-1.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/stability-ai-image.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) or Stability AI Image API\n\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- [Adobe Firefly API vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-stability-ai-image.md)\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-qwen-image-2-1.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- [Bria API vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bria-vs-stability-ai-image.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- [fal image models vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-stability-ai-image.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- [Google Imagen vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-imagen-vs-stability-ai-image.md)\n- [Ideogram API vs Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-qwen-image-2-1.md)\n- [Ideogram API vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-stability-ai-image.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- [Leonardo.Ai API vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leonardo-ai-vs-stability-ai-image.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- [OpenAI Image API vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-image-api-vs-stability-ai-image.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- [Recraft API vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/recraft-vs-stability-ai-image.md)\n- [Replicate image models vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-image-vs-stability-ai-image.md)\n- [Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark-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": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Stability AI Image API", "url": "" } ], "description": "Qwen-Image 2.1 scores 64.7 (B) to Stability AI Image's 42.3 (E) for image generation. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) B 64.7", "Stability AI Image API E 42.3", "scores" ], "h1": "Qwen-Image 2.1 (Model Studio) vs Stability AI Image API", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image.png", "path": "/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Qwen-Image 2.1 vs Stability AI Image for AI agents (2026)", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-10", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwen-image-2-1-vs-stability-ai-image" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2550, "slim": 730 }, "version": 1 }