Best AI Image Generator 2026: Models You Can Run in Wellshot

The best AI image generator in 2026 depends on what the picture is for: Seedream 5.0 Pro for top quality and precise edits, Nano Banana Pro for the finest detail and text, GPT Image 2.5 Flare for sharp text, layouts and precise edits, Seedream 5.0 Lite for 4K, Kling Image 3.0 Omni for keeping people and products consistent, and Seedream 5.0 Flash for fast storyboards. These picks cover the 11 image models you can run in Wellshot today. That is the scope of this comparison; we only compare models we offer.

Below is a pick per use case, a full spec table, and how to choose for film and ad work, where stills often become start frames for video.

Our picks by use case

Full spec table

Every image model in Wellshot does text to image and editing with references. You name references in the prompt as @Image 1, @Image 2 and so on, and the Painter node on the Canvas lets you draw on a picture to mark the area to change.

Aspect ratios for all image models: 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2 and 2:3, and every model except GPT Image 2.5 Flare also does 21:9. The Google models (Nano Banana 2.1 and Pro) also do 4:5 and 5:4, which suit portrait social posts.

The families in brief

Seedream (ByteDance)

Five models covering every budget. Seedream 5.0 Pro is the quality pick, Flash is for speed and storyboards, Lite goes up to 4K, and 4.5 and 4.0 remain useful for many-reference edits and cheap work.

Nano Banana (Google)

Two models with 14 references each and the extra 4:5 and 5:4 ratios. Choose Nano Banana Pro when text in the picture and fine detail matter, such as packaging or a poster, and Nano Banana 2.1 for strong edits and consistent characters.

GPT Image 2.5 Flare (OpenAI)

The pick when a still has to carry words and structure: a poster with a headline, a menu, a slide-like layout, or an edit that must change one thing and leave the rest alone. It takes up to 10 references and goes up to 4K.

Kling Image (Kuaishou)

Kling Image 3.0 Omni is built to keep people and products consistent. Kling Image 3.0 is a cheap option from text or a single reference, and O1 is the earlier Omni model for edits and mixing references.

For the two biggest families head to head, read Nano Banana vs Seedream.

Choosing for film and ad work

In a Wellshot project, stills rarely stay stills. They become storyboard frames, character reference sheets and start frames for video. That changes what "best" means:

1. Storyboard fast. Block every shot with Seedream 5.0 Flash. You want speed and low cost, not polish. See Seedream 5.0 Flash for storyboards.
2. Lock characters and products. Use a model with many references and good consistency, such as Kling Image 3.0 Omni, Nano Banana 2.1 or Seedream 4.5, so the same face or bottle looks the same in every frame.
3. Make hero start frames. Seedream 5.0 Pro or Nano Banana Pro for the frames that the video model will animate. The product stills in Wellshot's showcase were made with Seedream 5.0 Pro and used this way.
4. Deliver print or large screens at 4K. Seedream 5.0 Lite, Seedream 4.5, Seedream 4.0, Nano Banana 2.1, Nano Banana Pro, GPT Image 2.5 Flare or Kling Image 3.0 Omni.

Here is a reference edit you can try on any of the 11 models:

Place the perfume bottle from @Image 1 on a slab of wet black stone,
centered, front-on. Keep the bottle's shape, label and color exactly
as in @Image 1. Soft top light, thin rim light from behind, fine mist
in the air, deep teal background. Photographic, sharp product detail.

For more on edits with references and the Painter node, see AI image editing with reference images.

FAQ

What is the best AI image generator in 2026?

Among the models you can run in Wellshot, Seedream 5.0 Pro is the pick for overall quality and precise edits, Nano Banana Pro for the best detail and text, GPT Image 2.5 Flare for sharp text and layouts, Seedream 5.0 Lite for 4K, and Kling Image 3.0 Omni for consistent people and products.

Which AI image generator is best for text in images?

Nano Banana Pro is the premium pick for detail and text, GPT Image 2.5 Flare is built for sharp text and layouts, and Nano Banana 2.1 also has strong text rendering.

Which AI image models can make 4K images?

In Wellshot, Seedream 5.0 Lite, Seedream 4.5, Seedream 4.0, Nano Banana 2.1, Nano Banana Pro, GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Kling Image 3.0 Omni can generate 4K.

How many reference images can I use?

It depends on the model: up to 14 on Seedream 5.0 Lite, Seedream 4.5, Seedream 4.0 and both Nano Banana models; 10 on Seedream 5.0 Pro, Seedream 5.0 Flash, GPT Image 2.5 Flare, Kling Image 3.0 Omni and Kling Image O1; and 1 on Kling Image 3.0.