Stable Diffusion (Stability AI)
Stability AI's open-weight image models, also available through a credit-based API.
FLUX (Black Forest Labs) vs Stable Diffusion (Stability AI)
AI Image Generators
FLUX (Black Forest Labs)
Black Forest Labs' FLUX image models, available through an API, a playground, and open-weight licences you can self-host.
- Provider
- —
- Latest confirmed model
- Not applicable / not verified
- Pricing
- Paid only
- Free plan
- No
- API
- Yes
- Status
- Available
- Last verified
- Oct 18, 2026
What is FLUX (Black Forest Labs)?
Black Forest Labs' FLUX image models, available through an API, a playground, and open-weight licences you can self-host.
Getting a state-of-the-art image model either as a hosted API or as weights you can run and fine-tune on your own infrastructure.
Why use FLUX (Black Forest Labs)?
Who it suits
Not documented yet.
When another tool may fit better
Not documented yet.
- Learning curve
- Not assessed
- Skills needed
- None beyond basic computer use
Getting started
Start in the playground at dashboard.bfl.ai to try prompts, then move to the API quick-start if you need programmatic access. Self-hosting requires a licence and your own GPU infrastructure.
What can it do?
- FLUX image models (3, 2 and Klein variants) through a documented API
- Browser playground for testing prompts without code
- Open-weight licensing with fine-tuning and LoRA rights
- Image editing tools such as outpainting, erasing and virtual try-on
- FLUX 3 also generates video and audio from text, images or keyframes
Good for
- Building image generation into a product via API
- Self-hosting and fine-tuning an image model
- Rapid prompt iteration in the playground
- Generating short video clips from the same model family
Where it runs
Pricing and plans
Paid only API access is pay-as-you-go with a published per-image calculator and no subscription; open-weight use requires a paid licence tier (Builder, Platform, Professional or Enterprise). Verify current rates on BFL's pricing page.
Pricing not verified. We have not confirmed a plan-by-plan breakdown for FLUX (Black Forest Labs) yet — the summary below comes from the provider's own pages.
API and developer access
FLUX (Black Forest Labs) offers developer access — documentation (opens in a new tab); the details have not been verified yet.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Both hosted API and open weights, so you are not locked into one deployment model
- Documented per-image API pricing calculator
- Fine-tuning and LoRA rights under the open-weight licences
Disadvantages
- No free consumer plan is advertised — API use is pay-as-you-go and open weights require a paid licence
- Self-hosting needs a capable GPU and operational work
- Licence tiers cap monthly images, domains and licensed users
Privacy: Self-hosted weights keep prompts and images on your own infrastructure; the hosted API processes them on BFL's servers.
FLUX (Black Forest Labs) alternatives
Midjourney
Subscription image generator known for stylised, high-detail artwork, with short image-to-video animation.
FLUX (Black Forest Labs) vs MidjourneyRecraft
An AI image and vector design platform aimed at designers, with custom styles and editable SVG output.
FLUX (Black Forest Labs) vs Recraft