Compare · Last checked October 20, 2026
FLUX vs Stable Diffusion: two image model families compared
FLUX, from Black Forest Labs, and Stable Diffusion, from Stability AI, are image model families you reach through an API, a browser playground or self hosted weights, not consumer apps with plans. FLUX 3 Image edits from written instructions and combines up to ten references; Stability's API offers Search and Replace, inpainting and relighting per credit. Both price per use at 1 credit = $0.01, and both say you own outputs. Stability's Community License is free under $1M in revenue; FLUX self hosting licenses are sold through purchase or sales.
We make ImageQuarry, which is not one of these two products. We compared FLUX and Stable Diffusion using their own public pages, checked October 20, 2026.
Last updated October 20, 2026
At a glance
| FLUX | Stable Diffusion | |
|---|---|---|
| Current models | FLUX 3 Image, FLUX 3 Image Klein, FLUX.2 [pro], [max], [flex], [klein] | Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Medium and Turbo, SDXL, Stable Image Ultra |
| Editing in words | "Write the change as an instruction" | Search and Replace names the object and its replacement in text |
| Pricing | Per image or megapixel; 1 credit = $0.01 | Per credit; 1 credit = $0.01; 25 free credits to start |
| Self hosting | Licenses by purchase or contact sales | Free Community License under $1M revenue; Enterprise custom |
| Consumer app | Browser Playground | Stable Assistant now redirects away |
FLUX and Stable Diffusion: the differences that matter
Instruction editing and references favor FLUX
FLUX 3 Image takes edits written as instructions and bounding boxes to "recolor, move, replace, or remove one element", and combines up to ten references. Stability's API edits through separate endpoints such as Search and Replace, Inpaint, Erase and Replace Background and Relight.
A free self hosting license at Stability
Stability's Community License is free for researchers, developers, small businesses and creators under $1M in annual revenue. Black Forest Labs lists its self hosted licenses, such as Builder at 10K images a month, with "Purchase" or "Contact Sales" and no price.
Starting credits
Stability says new API users get 25 free credits. Black Forest Labs' pricing page says "Only pay for what you generate", and no free credits were found there.
A playground in the browser
Black Forest Labs offers a browser Playground at the same prices as its API. Stability's consumer chat app, Stable Assistant, now redirects to other pages, and no current image app was found on its site.
Provenance and license conditions
Black Forest Labs says it may embed Content Credentials in outputs and prohibits removing them. Stability's Community License says you own outputs and can use them commercially, and the license can be revoked on violation.
FLUX vs Stable Diffusion, side by side
Checked against each vendor's public pages on October 20, 2026. "Not stated" means the pages we read do not say; it is not a claim that the feature is missing.
| Topic | FLUX | Stable Diffusion |
|---|---|---|
| Text to image | Yes | Yes |
| Inpaint and outpaint | FLUX.1 Fill, FLUX Outpainting, FLUX Erase | Inpaint, Outpaint, Erase Object |
| Upscaling | Upscalers listed among hosted tools | Creative, Conservative and Fast Upscalers |
| Example price | FLUX 3 Image $0.048 at 1K, $0.607 at 4K | SD 3.5 Large 6.5 credits per image |
| Output ownership | You own outputs; personal or commercial use | You own outputs; commercial use subject to policy |
| Other media | FLUX 3 Video with native audio | Audio, video and 3D models listed |
| Agent access | FLUX MCP server | Not stated |
As of 2026-10-20
Sources: FLUX homepage; FLUX llms.txt; FLUX flux3_image_overview.md; FLUX kontext_overview.md; FLUX pricing.md; FLUX pricing; FLUX developer terms of service; Stable Diffusion homepage; Stable Diffusion stable assistant; Stable Diffusion page (Wayback capture); Stable Diffusion stable image; Stable Diffusion pricing; Stable Diffusion api reference; Stable Diffusion license; Stable Diffusion faq; Stable Diffusion api reference; Stable Diffusion conservative
Pricing
Prices as of October 2026, from each vendor's own pages. Credits are not comparable across products, because each vendor defines its own credit. Check the vendor for current pricing.
| Product | Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX | API and Playground | 1 credit = $0.01 per pay per image | Same price for API and Playground; no subscriptions |
| FLUX | FLUX 3 Image | $0.048 at 1K, $0.10 at 2K, $0.607 at 4K per image | FLUX 3 Image Klein from $0.008 |
| FLUX | FLUX.2 [pro] | $0.03 first megapixel, $0.015 each additional per image | FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] $0.04 per image |
| FLUX | Self hosted licenses | Purchase or Contact Sales | Builder: 10K images a month |
| Stable Diffusion | Platform API | 1 credit = $0.01 per pay per credit | Stable Image Ultra 8 credits per image, SD 3.5 Large 6.5, SDXL 1.0 from 0.9 |
| Stable Diffusion | Community License (self hosted) | Free | Under $1M annual revenue |
| Stable Diffusion | Enterprise License | Custom Pricing | Over $1M annual revenue |
Prices as of 2026-10
About each product
FLUX
Black Forest Labs makes the FLUX models. Its homepage leads with FLUX 3, "One multimodal model for Image, Video, Audio and Action-Prediction", and its docs list FLUX 3 Image, FLUX 3 Image Klein and the FLUX.2 family. FLUX 3 Image edits from written instructions and up to ten references. Pricing is pay per image at 1 credit = $0.01 through the API or Playground, with open weights licensed for self hosting.
Stable Diffusion
Stability AI publishes the Stable Diffusion models, including Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large, Medium and Turbo and SDXL, available through its Platform API, self hosted weights and cloud partners. Its API prices generation and editing per credit, with tools such as Search and Replace, Inpaint, Outpaint and Relight. Stable Assistant, its consumer app, now redirects away, so Stable Diffusion today means the API and the weights.
Which one fits your work
Choose FLUX when
- You want to edit by writing an instruction
- You want to combine up to ten references
- You want a browser playground at API prices
- You want an MCP server for agents
Choose Stable Diffusion when
- You want a free self hosting license under $1M revenue
- You want 25 free credits to try the API
- You want separate endpoints for each edit type
- You want SDXL or Stable Diffusion 3.5 weights
Where ImageQuarry fits
FLUX and Stable Diffusion are model families for builders. ImageQuarry is a ready workspace for people who want to make and refine images: describe or upload, ask for changes in words, keep every version and organize work in projects. Its models are Nano Banana 2.1, Nano Banana Pro, GPT Image 2.5 Flare and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst.
Questions about FLUX vs Stable Diffusion
Is FLUX better than Stable Diffusion?
Neither vendor's pages settle that. FLUX 3 Image documents instruction editing and ten references; Stable Diffusion offers a free Community License for self hosting and a menu of edit endpoints.
Can I use FLUX or Stable Diffusion images commercially?
Black Forest Labs' Developer Terms say you own API outputs and may use them commercially. Stability says you own outputs and may use them commercially, subject to law and its Acceptable Use Policy.
How much does each cost per image?
FLUX 3 Image is $0.048 at 1K and $0.607 at 4K. On Stability's API, SD 3.5 Large is 6.5 credits per image at $0.01 per credit.
Is there an app for Stable Diffusion?
Stability's Stable Assistant app now redirects to other pages, and no current Stability image app was found. Stable Diffusion is used through the API, self hosted weights or other products.
Can I run either model myself?
Yes. Stability offers self hosted weights under its Community and Enterprise licenses, and Black Forest Labs sells self hosted licenses such as Builder and Platform.
Sources
Every competitor fact on this page comes from the vendor's own pages, checked on the date shown. Recheck them before you buy.
Checked October 20, 2026
- FLUX homepage
- FLUX llms.txt
- FLUX flux3_image_overview.md
- FLUX kontext_overview.md
- FLUX pricing.md
- FLUX pricing
- FLUX developer terms of service
- Stable Diffusion homepage
- Stable Diffusion stable assistant
- Stable Diffusion page (Wayback capture)
- Stable Diffusion stable image
- Stable Diffusion pricing
- Stable Diffusion api reference
- Stable Diffusion license
- Stable Diffusion faq
- Stable Diffusion api reference
- Stable Diffusion conservative
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