Nano Banana 2 vs Nano Banana Pro vs Nano Banana 2 Lite
Nano Banana is the consumer name for Google DeepMind's Gemini image models. Three are live in September 2026: Nano Banana 2 for everyday work and the Gemini app's free plan, Nano Banana 2 Lite for volume and drafts, and Nano Banana Pro for text-heavy and complex briefs. Each has its own page with prices, settings and the same twelve prompts run through it.
Google DeepMind · facts checked
Which one to pick
Nano Banana 2
$0.067 per 1k image via Gemini API
Default choice. Free in the Gemini app, half Pro's price on the API, and close to it on quality.
Nano Banana 2 Lite
$0.034 per 1k image via Gemini API
Hundreds of images, thumbnails, or drafts you will regenerate anyway.
Nano Banana Pro
$0.134 per 1k or 2k image via Gemini API
Posters and infographics with a lot of set text, briefs with many reference photos, or the most detailed 4K.
Side by side, measured
| Model | Price | Seconds per image | 12 prompts cost | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana 2 | $0.067 per 1k image via Gemini API | 9 to 14 | $0.96 | Four sizes, 512px, 1K, 2K and 4K, in fifteen fixed shapes including extreme 8:1 strips |
| Nano Banana 2 Lite | $0.034 per 1k image via Gemini API | 3 to 4 | $0.408 | Output is 1K only, in fifteen fixed shapes |
| Nano Banana Pro | $0.134 per 1k or 2k image via Gemini API | 15 to 87 | $1.80 | Three sizes, 1K, 2K and 4K, in ten fixed shapes from wide 21:9 to tall 9:16 |
Seconds and cost are from our own runs of the same 12 prompts through each model; open a model for every picture and the request behind it.
Every version
| Version | Released | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana gemini-2.5-flash-image | First model under the name. Character consistency across edits, photo blending and multi-turn editing inside the Gemini app. Retired as the app default in February 2026. | |
| Nano Banana Pro gemini-3-pro-image | Built on Gemini 3 Pro. Legible multi-language text, 2K and 4K output, up to 14 reference images, Google Search grounding. | |
| Nano Banana 2 gemini-3.1-flash-image | Pro-level quality at Flash speed and about half of Pro's price. Became the default in the Gemini app, Search AI Mode, Lens, Ads and Flow. | |
| Nano Banana 2 Lite gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image | Cheapest tier at about $0.034 per image, output fixed at 1K, about four seconds a picture. |
Frequently asked questions
Which Nano Banana model is free?
Nano Banana 2, and depending on the setting Nano Banana 2 Lite, in the Gemini app's free plan at 1K. Nano Banana Pro needs a Google AI Plus, Pro or Ultra plan there, and none of the three has a free tier on the Gemini API.
What happened to the original Nano Banana?
Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, the August 2025 model, was replaced by Nano Banana 2 as the Gemini app default on 26 February 2026. It still exists on the API at $0.039 per image but there is little reason to choose it.
Is Nano Banana the same as Gemini?
Nano Banana is the consumer name for the image models inside Gemini. Each has a Gemini API id: gemini-3.1-flash-image for Nano Banana 2, gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image for 2 Lite, and gemini-3-pro-image for Pro.