Head to head

FLUX 3 vs MAI-Image-2.5-Pro

Same prompts, same settings: how the two models compare on score, price and time to image in every use case we tested both on.

Short answer

FLUX 3 beats MAI-Image-2.5-Pro in all 4 use cases we tested: interior & architecture (4.5 vs 4.3), portraits & people (4.1 vs 4.0), product photos (4.4 vs 4.2) and social media ads (4.5 vs 4.2). FLUX 3 is cheaper ($0.024 vs $0.170 per image) and faster (26.3 s vs 30.3 s median).

Last tested

Results by use case

ModelRankScore$/imageTime to image
Interior & architecture
FLUX 3wins#7 of 134.5$0.02425.1 s
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro#10 of 134.3$0.17030.0 s
Portraits & people
FLUX 3wins#8 of 134.1$0.02428.2 s
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro#11 of 134.0$0.17030.6 s
Product photos
FLUX 3wins#5 of 134.4$0.02423.8 s
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro#9 of 134.2$0.17034.2 s
Social media ads
FLUX 3wins#3 of 134.5$0.02427.5 s
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro#12 of 134.2$0.17029.1 s

Rank among every model scored for that use case. Price is the average and time the median per image. How we test

Same prompt, side by side

Both models received each prompt with identical settings. Click an image to enlarge it.

Café storefront with a sign · Interior & architecture

FLUX 3: Street-level photo of a small corner café with a dark green painted facade, large windows and two bistro chairs outside. Gold lettering above the door reads "Maison Clair", and a chalkboard sign on the sidewalk reads "Fresh croissants".
FLUX 3AI 4.9 · 78.8 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Street-level photo of a small corner café with a dark green painted facade, large windows and two bistro chairs outside. Gold lettering above the door reads "Maison Clair", and a chalkboard sign on the sidewalk reads "Fresh croissants".
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.4 · 43.0 sSee all models →

Modern house at blue hour · Interior & architecture

FLUX 3: Architectural exterior photo of a two-story modern concrete and glass house at blue hour, warm interior lights glowing through floor-to-ceiling windows, a rectangular swimming pool in front reflecting the house, minimal landscaping.
FLUX 3AI 4.5 · 23.8 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Architectural exterior photo of a two-story modern concrete and glass house at blue hour, warm interior lights glowing through floor-to-ceiling windows, a rectangular swimming pool in front reflecting the house, minimal landscaping.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.5 · 27.4 sSee all models →

Marble kitchen with three pendants · Interior & architecture

FLUX 3: Luxury kitchen interior with a white marble island with gray veining, exactly three brass pendant lights in a row above it, dark green cabinets and two bar stools. Evening ambient light with the pendants switched on.
FLUX 3AI 4.0 · 26.6 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Luxury kitchen interior with a white marble island with gray veining, exactly three brass pendant lights in a row above it, dark green cabinets and two bar stools. Evening ambient light with the pendants switched on.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.3 · 46.9 sSee all models →

Scandinavian living room · Interior & architecture

FLUX 3: Interior design photo of a bright Scandinavian living room: a light gray sofa, an oak coffee table, a wool rug, a large window with sheer curtains and a fiddle-leaf fig plant in the corner. Soft overcast daylight, wide-angle view with vertical lines kept straight.
FLUX 3AI 4.7 · 22.5 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Interior design photo of a bright Scandinavian living room: a light gray sofa, an oak coffee table, a wool rug, a large window with sheer curtains and a fiddle-leaf fig plant in the corner. Soft overcast daylight, wide-angle view with vertical lines kept straight.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.0 · 30.0 sSee all models →

Bathroom with patterned tiles · Interior & architecture

FLUX 3: Bathroom interior with blue and white patterned cement floor tiles, a freestanding white bathtub, a round mirror above a wooden vanity and a brass faucet. Morning light from a small frosted window.
FLUX 3AI 4.5 · 25.1 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Bathroom interior with blue and white patterned cement floor tiles, a freestanding white bathtub, a round mirror above a wooden vanity and a brass faucet. Morning light from a small frosted window.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.2 · 27.3 sSee all models →

Corporate headshot on gray · Portraits & people

FLUX 3: Professional corporate headshot of a man in his forties with short salt-and-pepper hair, wearing a navy suit and a white shirt, with a slight smile, against a neutral mid-gray seamless backdrop. Soft key light from the left with a gentle fill, sharp focus on the eyes, shallow depth of field.
FLUX 3AI 4.3 · 28.2 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Professional corporate headshot of a man in his forties with short salt-and-pepper hair, wearing a navy suit and a white shirt, with a slight smile, against a neutral mid-gray seamless backdrop. Soft key light from the left with a gentle fill, sharp focus on the eyes, shallow depth of field.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.0 · 27.5 sSee all models →

Four friends laughing outdoors · Portraits & people

FLUX 3: Candid photo of four friends of different ethnicities laughing together at a picnic table in a park at golden hour, one of them raising a glass of lemonade. Natural expressions, warm backlight, 35mm lens look.
FLUX 3AI 4.8 · 24.6 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Candid photo of four friends of different ethnicities laughing together at a picnic table in a park at golden hour, one of them raising a glass of lemonade. Natural expressions, warm backlight, 35mm lens look.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.5 · 31.6 sSee all models →

Nurse with a readable name badge · Portraits & people

FLUX 3: Friendly portrait of a female nurse in teal scrubs standing in a bright hospital corridor with her arms crossed and a stethoscope around her neck. Her name badge clearly reads "MARIA LOPEZ, RN".
FLUX 3AI 3.5 · 30.0 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Friendly portrait of a female nurse in teal scrubs standing in a bright hospital corridor with her arms crossed and a stethoscope around her neck. Her name badge clearly reads "MARIA LOPEZ, RN".
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 3.8 · 30.6 sSee all models →

Elderly potter's hands at work · Portraits & people

FLUX 3: Close-up documentary photo of an elderly woman's wrinkled hands shaping wet clay on a spinning pottery wheel, with clay slip on her fingers. Warm window light; her smiling face is softly out of focus in the background.
FLUX 3AI 4.2 · 24.9 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Close-up documentary photo of an elderly woman's wrinkled hands shaping wet clay on a spinning pottery wheel, with clay slip on her fingers. Warm window light; her smiling face is softly out of focus in the background.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 3.7 · 33.9 sSee all models →

Rembrandt-lit dramatic portrait · Portraits & people

FLUX 3: Fine-art portrait of a young man with curly dark hair and a short beard, wearing a textured wool sweater. Rembrandt lighting with a small triangle of light on the shadow-side cheek, a black background, moody low-key photographic look.
FLUX 3AI 3.8 · 30.1 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Fine-art portrait of a young man with curly dark hair and a short beard, wearing a textured wool sweater. Rembrandt lighting with a small triangle of light on the shadow-side cheek, a black background, moody low-key photographic look.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.2 · 29.6 sSee all models →

Coffee pouch with a 3-line label · Product photos

FLUX 3: E-commerce packshot of a matte kraft paper stand-up coffee pouch with a resealable zip, on a plain warm white background with a soft contact shadow, a few roasted coffee beans in front. The label has three lines of text: "HIGHLAND ROAST" in bold serif, "Single Origin · Ethiopia" below it, and "250 g" at the bottom.
FLUX 3AI 4.8 · 21.7 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: E-commerce packshot of a matte kraft paper stand-up coffee pouch with a resealable zip, on a plain warm white background with a soft contact shadow, a few roasted coffee beans in front. The label has three lines of text: "HIGHLAND ROAST" in bold serif, "Single Origin · Ethiopia" below it, and "250 g" at the bottom.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.6 · 34.2 sSee all models →

Headphones held in hand · Product photos

FLUX 3: Lifestyle product photo of a woman's hand holding matte black over-ear wireless headphones by the headband, in a sunlit café with a softly blurred background. Natural window light, visible leather texture on the ear cushions, a small brushed aluminum hinge on each side.
FLUX 3AI 4.2 · 24.6 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Lifestyle product photo of a woman's hand holding matte black over-ear wireless headphones by the headband, in a sunlit café with a softly blurred background. Natural window light, visible leather texture on the ear cushions, a small brushed aluminum hinge on each side.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 3.8 · 36.5 sSee all models →

Perfume on a black mirror · Product photos

FLUX 3: Luxury studio photo of a faceted clear glass perfume bottle with a heavy black cap, standing on a glossy black mirror surface that reflects it. Thin rim light outlines the edges, a soft gradient from charcoal to black in the background, crisp caustic highlights in the glass. The front label reads "NOIR 07" in thin gold capital letters.
FLUX 3AI 4.5 · 23.8 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Luxury studio photo of a faceted clear glass perfume bottle with a heavy black cap, standing on a glossy black mirror surface that reflects it. Thin rim light outlines the edges, a soft gradient from charcoal to black in the background, crisp caustic highlights in the glass. The front label reads "NOIR 07" in thin gold capital letters.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.9 · 29.2 sSee all models →

Serum bottle on wet slate · Product photos

FLUX 3: Studio product photo of a frosted glass skincare serum bottle with a bamboo cap, standing on a wet dark slate stone. Soft window light from the left, tiny water droplets on the glass, shallow depth of field, clean neutral background. The label reads "LUMA" in a minimalist sans-serif font.
FLUX 3AI 4.8 · 22.8 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Studio product photo of a frosted glass skincare serum bottle with a bamboo cap, standing on a wet dark slate stone. Soft window light from the left, tiny water droplets on the glass, shallow depth of field, clean neutral background. The label reads "LUMA" in a minimalist sans-serif font.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.5 · 34.9 sSee all models →

Sneaker flat lay · Product photos

FLUX 3: Top-down flat lay e-commerce photo of a single white leather sneaker with orange accents on a pastel sage green background, surrounded by a folded beige sock, a pair of sunglasses and a small potted succulent. Even soft lighting, crisp short shadows, generous empty space.
FLUX 3AI 3.7 · 27.1 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Top-down flat lay e-commerce photo of a single white leather sneaker with orange accents on a pastel sage green background, surrounded by a folded beige sock, a pair of sunglasses and a small potted succulent. Even soft lighting, crisp short shadows, generous empty space.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 3.3 · 28.7 sSee all models →

App launch ad with a phone · Social media ads

FLUX 3: Square ad announcing a budgeting app: a modern smartphone tilted at an angle, its screen showing a simple bar chart, on a deep purple to pink gradient background with a soft glow. The headline above reads "Your money, sorted." and smaller text below reads "Download free".
FLUX 3AI 4.8 · 26.1 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Square ad announcing a budgeting app: a modern smartphone tilted at an angle, its screen showing a simple bar chart, on a deep purple to pink gradient background with a soft glow. The headline above reads "Your money, sorted." and smaller text below reads "Download free".
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.4 · 29.1 sSee all models →

Iced latte promo with a price · Social media ads

FLUX 3: Vertical social media ad for an iced latte: a tall glass with visible ice cubes and swirling milk on a pastel peach background, condensation droplets on the glass. The top text in a playful rounded font reads "Summer Sips", and a round green sticker in the corner reads "$4.50".
FLUX 3AI 4.8 · 27.6 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Vertical social media ad for an iced latte: a tall glass with visible ice cubes and swirling milk on a pastel peach background, condensation droplets on the glass. The top text in a playful rounded font reads "Summer Sips", and a round green sticker in the corner reads "$4.50".
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.5 · 28.6 sSee all models →

Pizza delivery 2-for-1 ad · Social media ads

FLUX 3: Landscape Facebook ad for pizza delivery: a top-down shot of a pepperoni pizza on a dark wooden table, with one slice being pulled away and stretching melted cheese. A red banner on the left side reads "2 FOR 1" and below it, in white, "Tuesdays only".
FLUX 3AI 4.4 · 27.5 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Landscape Facebook ad for pizza delivery: a top-down shot of a pepperoni pizza on a dark wooden table, with one slice being pulled away and stretching melted cheese. A red banner on the left side reads "2 FOR 1" and below it, in white, "Tuesdays only".
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 3.6 · 28.1 sSee all models →

UGC-style skincare selfie · Social media ads

FLUX 3: Authentic user-generated style photo for a skincare ad: a smiling young woman with freckles holds a small plain white moisturizer jar next to her cheek in a bright bathroom, natural daylight, a slight phone-camera look, no heavy makeup.
FLUX 3AI 4.0 · 108.7 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Authentic user-generated style photo for a skincare ad: a smiling young woman with freckles holds a small plain white moisturizer jar next to her cheek in a bright bathroom, natural daylight, a slight phone-camera look, no heavy makeup.
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.3 · 31.6 sSee all models →

Sneaker sale ad with a button · Social media ads

FLUX 3: Square Instagram ad for a running shoe sale: a single bright orange running shoe floating mid-air against a solid cobalt blue background, with subtle motion lines behind it. A large bold white sans-serif headline at the top reads "RUN FASTER", and a yellow rounded button at the bottom reads "30% OFF TODAY".
FLUX 3AI 4.8 · 27.1 sSee all models →
MAI-Image-2.5-Pro: Square Instagram ad for a running shoe sale: a single bright orange running shoe floating mid-air against a solid cobalt blue background, with subtle motion lines behind it. A large bold white sans-serif headline at the top reads "RUN FASTER", and a yellow rounded button at the bottom reads "30% OFF TODAY".
MAI-Image-2.5-ProAI 4.4 · 35.9 sSee all models →

Frequently asked questions

Is FLUX 3 better than MAI-Image-2.5-Pro?

Yes. FLUX 3 beats MAI-Image-2.5-Pro in all 4 use cases we tested: interior & architecture (4.5 vs 4.3), portraits & people (4.1 vs 4.0), product photos (4.4 vs 4.2) and social media ads (4.5 vs 4.2). Scores are 1-5 on identical prompts and settings.

Which is cheaper, FLUX 3 or MAI-Image-2.5-Pro?

FLUX 3: $0.024 per image on average vs $0.170 for MAI-Image-2.5-Pro, via the fal.ai API.

Which is faster, FLUX 3 or MAI-Image-2.5-Pro?

FLUX 3: a median 26.3 s from request to finished image vs 30.3 s for MAI-Image-2.5-Pro, queue time included.

FLUX 3 or MAI-Image-2.5-Pro for interior & architecture?

FLUX 3 scored higher for interior & architecture: 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5, ranking #7 vs #10 of 13 models.

FLUX 3 or MAI-Image-2.5-Pro for portraits & people?

FLUX 3 scored higher for portraits & people: 4.1/5 vs 4.0/5, ranking #8 vs #11 of 13 models.

FLUX 3 or MAI-Image-2.5-Pro for product photos?

FLUX 3 scored higher for product photos: 4.4/5 vs 4.2/5, ranking #5 vs #9 of 13 models.

FLUX 3 or MAI-Image-2.5-Pro for social media ads?

FLUX 3 scored higher for social media ads: 4.5/5 vs 4.2/5, ranking #3 vs #12 of 13 models.