# OpenRouter Alternative for Image Generation | CheapAIAPI

> Compare CheapAIAPI and OpenRouter prices per image generation for Nano Banana workloads.

Canonical: https://cheapaiapi.org/compare/openrouter

CheapAIAPI is a lower-cost OpenRouter alternative for supported Nano Banana image workloads. Matched rows compare the same model and resolution in USD per generation. It replaces selected image-generation calls, not OpenRouter's broader LLM routing layer.
## When is CheapAIAPI the right OpenRouter alternative?

### Choose CheapAIAPI when

- One of the exact model, mode, and resolution rows below covers your workload.
- A lower price per generation is your main reason to switch.
- A focused REST API with a recoverable Job lifecycle fits your application.
### Keep OpenRouter when

- You need its broad LLM catalog as well as image generation.
- You depend on provider routing and model fallbacks behind one API key.
- Your image model or resolution is not in the CheapAIAPI public catalog.

This page compares image generation only.
## 30,000 Nano Banana Pro 4K images per month

$3,300 with CheapAIAPI instead of $7,206 at the matched paid OpenRouter price. Save $3,906.
## OpenRouter image generation prices

Scope: one-image prices in USD per completed image request, with source-linked price references where applicable.
Prices are USD per image generation for the listed model and resolution.

| Model | CheapAIAPI | OpenRouter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Nano Banana](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana) | $0.024 | [$0.039](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+62%) |
| [Nano Banana 2 Lite 1k](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana-2-lite-1k) | $0.024 | [$0.035](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+43%) |
| [Nano Banana Pro 1K](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana-pro) | $0.07 | [$0.137](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+94%) |
| [Nano Banana Pro 2K](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana-pro) | $0.08 | [$0.137](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+71%) |
| [Nano Banana Pro 4K](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana-pro) | $0.11 | [$0.241](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+118%) |
| [Nano Banana 2.1 1K](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana-2.1) | $0.028 | [$0.049](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+73%) |
| [Nano Banana 2.1 2K](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana-2.1) | $0.038 | [$0.065](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+70%) |
| [Nano Banana 2.1 4K](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana-2.1) | $0.06 | [$0.125](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+108%) |
| [GPT Image 2.5](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/gpt-image-2.5) | $0.04 | [$0.061](https://openrouter.ai/openai/gpt-image-2.5-sunburst) (+53%) |
| [GPT Image 2.6](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/gpt-image-2.6) | $0.04 | [$0.061](https://openrouter.ai/openai/gpt-image-2.6-sunburst) (+53%) |

- Nano Banana OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-07-03.
- Nano Banana 2 Lite 1k OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-07-03.
- Nano Banana Pro 1K OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-07-03.
- Nano Banana Pro 2K OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-07-03.
- Nano Banana Pro 4K OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-07-03.
- Nano Banana 2.1 1K OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-10-07.
- Nano Banana 2.1 2K OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-10-07.
- Nano Banana 2.1 4K OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-10-07.
- GPT Image 2.5 OpenRouter photo-edit price estimate — estimated from image-output, image-input, and prompt token rates. The 998 image-input-token count is a proxy from a GPT Image 2 edit probe; this is not a paid probe or measured mean.
- GPT Image 2.6 OpenRouter photo-edit price estimate — estimated from image-output, image-input, and prompt token rates. The 998 image-input-token count is a proxy from a GPT Image 2 edit probe; this is not a paid probe or measured mean.

## OpenRouter image editing prices

Scope: one completed image edit, exact model and resolution, USD per generation.
Prices are USD per completed image edit for the listed model and resolution.

| Model | CheapAIAPI | OpenRouter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Nano Banana](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana) | $0.024 | [$0.04](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+63%) |
| [Nano Banana Pro 1K](https://cheapaiapi.org/models/nano-banana-pro) | $0.07 | [$0.138](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/overview/multimodal/image-generation) (+96%) |

- Nano Banana OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-07-03.
- Nano Banana Pro 1K OpenRouter paid response checked 2026-07-03.

## Frequently asked questions about switching from OpenRouter
### Is CheapAIAPI a full OpenRouter replacement?

No. This page compares supported Nano Banana image-generation workloads. Keep OpenRouter when you need its broader LLM catalog, provider routing, model fallbacks, or an image model not listed here.
### Are CheapAIAPI image prices based on tokens?

No. CheapAIAPI image generation is priced in USD per generation for the selected model and resolution, not from customer-facing input or output token usage.
### How are OpenRouter image costs compared?

Nano Banana comparisons use the usage.cost field from completed paid responses for the same model, resolution, and create or edit mode. GPT Image 2.5 is listed as a photo-edit price reference.
### Does the comparison include OpenRouter top-up fees?

No. Nano Banana rows compare completed-generation usage.cost with the published CheapAIAPI per-generation price. GPT Image 2.5 is a photo-edit price reference. Account funding or payment-processing fees are outside this comparison.
## Related

- [Read the API docs](https://cheapaiapi.org/docs)
- [Compare your costs](https://cheapaiapi.org/contact) — bring one model, mode, resolution, monthly volume, and accepted-output rule. We will map the API boundary and calculate total cost.