Nano Banana is Google’s Gemini image-generation family. The current image guide recommends Nano Banana 2.1 for new projects using the main efficient model. The original Nano Banana, Nano Banana 2, Lite and Pro names refer to different models; compare exact identifiers instead of treating the family name as one API.
Image creation and editing
The Nano Banana 2.1 model card identifies gemini-nano-banana-2.1. Its documented uses include image generation and conversational editing, with 1K, 2K and 4K output. For a poster or product draft, specify composition, required text and aspect ratio. Keep original reference files, change one instruction at a time and inspect lettering and subject consistency yourself. These are suggested evaluation steps, not results from a test by this site.
Paid API and separate consumer access
The API pricing page marks the Nano Banana 2.1 free tier as unavailable. Input, text/thinking output and image output have separate rates. Resolution, request mode and search grounding can affect the total. Do not interpret an image-output estimate as the complete request price.
Access through Google Flow or Gemini follows that application’s account rules; it does not establish a free developer API allowance. If replacing Imagen 4, review the current request method and response format rather than changing only a model name.
Official documentation checked on October 23, 2026. We did not call the image API or compare generated-image quality.