Best AI image generator for text, posters and thumbnails
Text rendering decides whether an AI image is usable for posters, thumbnails and maps. We tested an exact-text retro poster, a YouTube thumbnail and a hand-labelled fantasy map.
Nano Banana 2.1 9.0/10
| 1. Nano Banana 2.1 | 9.0 | $0.04/image |
| 2. Ideogram 4.0 | 8.7 | $0.07/image |
Both models spelled the requested poster text perfectly. Differences showed up in the extra text they made up themselves.
Try Gemini (Nano Banana) ↗Text: GRAND OPENING
“A poster with the exact text "GRAND OPENING SATURDAY" in bold retro type.”
Nano Banana 2.1 9.7 adherence 10quality 9artifacts 10
Exact text, richer retro poster design.
Ideogram 4.0 9.3 adherence 10quality 8artifacts 10
Exact text, clean retro type; plain composition.
YouTube thumbnail
“YouTube thumbnail: a shocked man pointing at a giant glowing graph, high contrast.”
Nano Banana 2.1 8.7 adherence 9quality 9artifacts 8
Strong shocked face, high contrast, glowing graph; busy numbers.
Ideogram 4.0 8.0 adherence 8quality 8artifacts 8
Pointing at glowing graph, added 'INSANE!' text; shock is mild.
Fantasy island map
“Fantasy map of an island kingdom, hand-drawn ink and watercolor.”
Nano Banana 2.1 8.7 adherence 9quality 9artifacts 8
Rich detailed map; duplicated place name and one garbled label.
Ideogram 4.0 8.7 adherence 9quality 9artifacts 8
Ink and watercolour map; 'SEAA' spelling error.
Related
FAQ
What is the best AI image generator for text & logos (images)?
In our October 2026 tests (prompts 14, 20, 17), Nano Banana 2.1 scored highest at 9.0/10, ahead of Ideogram 4.0 (8.7). Both models spelled the requested poster text perfectly. Differences showed up in the extra text they made up themselves.
How much does each output cost?
Nano Banana 2.1: $0.04 per image; Ideogram 4.0: $0.07 per image (Runway Dev API pricing, October 2026).