FLUX.1 vs Stable Diffusion: it's the AI image generation showdown everyone's talking about. In one corner, we have the new challenger, FLUX.1, making waves with its impressive capabilities. In the other, an established powerhouse, the Stable Diffusion model family (1.5, XL, and 3). Who will come out on top in our comparison? Let's find out!

Stable Diffusion vs FLUX.1 - intro and methodology

For this test, we'll use two powerful FLUX.1 variants, turbo-fast [schnell] and even higher quality [dev], and test it against three popular Stable Diffusion models: 1.5, XL, and 3.  But who are our contenders exactly? 

Stable Diffusion, developed by Stability AI, has been a cornerstone of the AI image generation community since its debut in August 2022. Its open-source nature, impressive performance, and flexibility quickly made it a favorite among developers, artists, and marketers alike. As for the versions we are using today:

• Stable Diffusion 1.5: released in October 2022, this version quickly became a community favorite for its balance of quality and efficiency;

• Stable Diffusion XL: launched in July 2023, SDXL brought significant improvements in image quality and prompt understanding;

• Stable Diffusion 3: the latest iteration, released in February 2024, promised big advancements across the board (but especially in typography).

Meanwhile, FLUX.1, the newcomer from Black Forest Labs, burst onto the scene in 2024, promising to redefine the meaning of a state-of-the-art image generation model. It's already turning heads with its purported advancements in visual quality and prompt following.

As for our methodology, we're keeping things fair and square here. Each model gets the same prompts, and we'll judge them on how well they deliver. We’ll create all the images using our AI Generator (and you can, too: test it out if you’d like to gain immediate access to the best and most popular Text to Image models!). 

Let the FLUX.1 vs Stable Diffusion competition begin!

Text generation

Let's kick things off with (almost) every Text to Image AI's nemesis: text, since Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.1 is thought to deliver groundbreaking quality in this category. 

We threw these prompts at our contenders:

• “a neon sign saying 'WELCOME TO THE FUTURE'”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

• “graffiti mural on a brick wall that reads 'Revolution Starts Here'”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

• “a tattoo on an arm reading 'CARPE DIEM'”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

As you can see, FLUX.1 (both [schnell] and [dev]) is the clear winner in the typography category, with Stable Diffusion 3 also delivering a satisfactory performance (it seems more likely to make small mistakes, however). Meanwhile, Stable Diffusion XL and 1.5 have trouble generating legible text no matter the context.

Human form

For many Text to Image models, generating realistic faces and an accurate number of fingers (and limbs in general) has been challenging. So, next up, we're testing how well these AIs can handle the human form with these prompts:

• “a ballerina mid-leap on stage”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

• “close-up portrait of an elderly man with kind eyes”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

• “a group of children playing in a park”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

Yet again, FLUX.1 flexed its muscles. It performed excellently for dynamic poses, portraits, and even more complex scenes involving multiple subjects.

Stable Diffusion 3 (and, on occasion, SDXL) tried to keep up, but it often has a problem with limb placement or multiplication. As for the oldest Stable Diffusion version in the running, 1.5, it seems to be tailor-made for horror aficionados.

Artistic styles

High-quality, realistic AI images are important, but we can't forget about digital art. Time to see how versatile our AI artists are. Can they nail different styles without breaking a sweat?

• “pixel art, cozy cabin in the woods at night in winter, smoke rising from the chimney, stars twinkling in the sky”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

• “digital rendering of a mountain range at dawn, created using low-poly style with sharp, angular shapes and flat colors”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

• “a woman walks alongside a large, friendly forest spirit, capturing the feel of Studio Ghibli films like 'My Neighbor Totoro' or 'Spirited Away'”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

While both FLUX.1 and newer Stable Diffusion models can generate digital art in a variety of styles, Black Forest Labs' new creation delivers the most consistent performance.

It strictly adheres to the described style (e.g., low poly) and avoids mistakes both big (like mountain range duplication) and small (double chimney). As a bonus, the output is truly stunning, especially in the case of [dev] variant.

Specific use cases

Let's get practical. How do these models handle real-world scenarios, such as AI home design or creating concept art?

• “3D render of a sleek smartphone on a reflective surface”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

• “fantasy character design: male elf mage in battle gear, holding a magic staff in right hand and a fireball in the left hand"

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

• “an architectural visualization of a modern eco-friendly house”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

It's one of the categories where models are more evenly matched, but still, FLUX.1, especially the [dev] variant, edges out the competition with its attention to detail and high visual quality.

Prompt following with complex scenes

Now for the big guns in our FLUX.1 vs Stable Diffusion comparison. With longer and more complicated prompts, it’s difficult for AI models to capture all the details users might request. Let's see how they handle a scene that would make a human artist sweat:

“Ancient temple deep in a jungle at dawn, partially covered in moss and vines. Weathered stone steps with stone statues with glowing eyes on both sides lead up to a massive, intricately carved golden door. In the background, the dense jungle is alive with exotic birds and lush flora. A waterfall cascades from the cliffs to the right, its mist catching the first rays of sunlight, creating a rainbow arching over the temple”

FLUX.1 [dev]

FLUX.1 [schnell]

Stable Diffusion 3

Stable Diffusion XL

Stable Diffusion 1.5

To judge the results more precisely, we’re going to break them down into a table specifying how many parts of the prompt were followed:

This means that FLUX.1 dominated yet another category, proving it could deliver detailed images exactly as ordered. Both variants delivered all the details we asked for, with [dev]'s output quality shining particularly bright.

Final results - FLUX.1 vs Stable Diffusion 1.5, XL and 3

So, who takes the crown in this AI art battle royale? While Stable Diffusion models have been the go-to choice for many, FLUX.1 (especially the [dev] variant) demonstrates superior performance in every category. It effortlessly impresses with its versatility and consistent quality across the board, no matter what challenge you throw at it.

Of course, Stable Diffusion models are a beloved staple in the AI art world for a reason. Their open-source nature and strong community make them a useful tool, especially for those who love to tinker and customize. But overall, it seems like FLUX.1 is poised to dominate the Text to Image AI models landscape sooner rather than later.

Both [schnell] and [dev] offer unparalleled prompt following and typography generation capabilities, all while stunning users with their diverse output. Since FLUX.1's popularity is rapidly growing, a strong community should soon follow, and with it, essential resources: prompt books, tutorials, and fine-tuned LoRAs.

But don’t take us at our word: with getimg.ai’s AI Generator, you can easily test FLUX.1 [schnell] and [dev], Stable Diffusion 1.5, XL, 3, and dozens of other AI models for yourself. It’s all on the web: no need to download any files or install anything on your device. Click here and start generating beautiful images in seconds today!