Nano Banana 2.1: Price, Uses & What It Is Best At (2026)

Nano Banana 2.1 costs 3 credits for a 1K image, 4 credits for 2K and 6 credits for 4K on VdoBloom, in both the AI Image Generator and the AI Photo Editor. It takes a text prompt plus up to 14 reference images, offers 15 aspect ratios from 8:1 banners to 1:8 strips, and outputs JPG or PNG. New accounts get 10 free credits, enough for three 1K images, and there is no subscription. It is best at fast, cheap iterations and multi-reference composites. It is a still-image model: it does not make video, and explicit content is blocked.

Updated 31 October 2026.

Quick facts

• Price: 3 credits (1K), 4 credits (2K), 6 credits (4K) per image.
• Reference images: up to 14 per job. The price does not change with the number of references.
• Aspect ratios: auto, 1:1, 1:4, 1:8, 2:3, 3:2, 3:4, 4:1, 4:3, 4:5, 5:4, 8:1, 9:16, 16:9, 21:9.
• Where: AI Image Generator (text to image) and AI Photo Editor (image to image).
• Free to try: 10 free credits at signup, plus 2 to 5 credits a day from the daily check-in.
• Content filter: strict. The provider checks both prompts and uploaded photos.
• Model page: Nano Banana 2.1 on VdoBloom.

How much does Nano Banana 2.1 cost?

Nano Banana 2.1 is priced by output resolution, not by the number of reference photos or the length of your prompt. The exact cost shows before you press Generate, and credits are only spent when the job runs.

Resolution	Credits per image	Images from 10 free credits	Images from a 200-credit pack
1K	3	3	66
2K	4	2	50
4K	6	1	33

The same prices apply in the image generator and the photo editor. One-time credit packs start at $10.39 for 200 credits (or ₹299 for 75 credits in India), and one-time pack credits never expire. You can also earn 10 credits for each friend you refer, and they get 10 too.

What is Nano Banana 2.1 best at?

Nano Banana 2.1 carries the full Nano Banana 2 control set (14 references, 15 aspect ratios, 1K/2K/4K) at a per-resolution price. That makes it a sensible default for jobs where you run many versions before keeping one.

• Many prompt variations. At 3 credits a try, you can test ten wordings at 1K for 30 credits, then render the winner at 4K for 6.
• Multi-reference composites. Put a person, a product, its packaging and a background into one image from separate photos, up to 14 in a single job.
• Extreme banner shapes. 8:1 and 4:1 website headers, 1:4 and 1:8 vertical strips, 21:9 covers and 9:16 story frames, without cropping afterwards.
• Everyday photo edits. Swap a background, change clothing, add lettering or remove an object while keeping the rest of the frame.
• Draft then print. Check a layout at 1K, then make the same design at 4K for print without paying a flat top-tier price.

What it is not for: video (use an image-to-video model after you have the still), vector logos, or anything explicit. VdoBloom does not publish a quality ranking between Nano Banana models, so if one prompt matters a lot, run it through two models and keep the better result.

Where to use Nano Banana 2.1 on VdoBloom

Make a new image from text

1. Open the AI Image Generator and sign in (new accounts get 10 free credits).
2. Choose Nano Banana 2.1 in the model picker.
3. Write your prompt. Say the subject, the setting, the style and the light, for example: "A ceramic coffee mug on a walnut desk by a window, morning light, soft shadows, product photo."
4. Optional: add reference images (up to 14) for a face, a product or a style you want kept.
5. Pick an aspect ratio and a resolution (1K, 2K or 4K). The cost (3, 4 or 6 credits) appears on the button.
6. Press Generate. Download the result or keep it in your library.

Edit a photo you already have

1. Open the AI Photo Editor and upload your photo (you can add more reference photos, up to 14 in total).
2. Select Nano Banana 2.1.
3. Describe one change and what must stay the same: "Replace the background with a sunny beach; keep her face, hair and outfit exactly as they are."
4. Choose the resolution and run the edit. If the change goes too far, repeat with a shorter, more specific instruction.

Turn the image into a video

When you are happy with the still, send it to Image to Video and pick a video model. That step is priced by the video model, not by Nano Banana 2.1.

Nano Banana 2.1 vs Nano Banana Pro vs GPT Image 2.5

All three are on VdoBloom, so you can compare them on your own prompt. Here is how they differ on price and inputs.

Model	1K	2K	4K	Reference images	Pick it when
Nano Banana 2.1	3	4	6	Up to 14	You want many variations, many references or extreme aspect ratios at a low per-image cost.
Nano Banana Pro	18	18	24	Up to 8	You want Google's flagship image model for a final hero image and prefer its output on your prompt.
GPT Image 2.5	3	5	8	See the model page	You want OpenAI's image model, for example when its handling of a prompt suits you better.

Credits shown per image. Inside the Nano Banana family there are also Nano Banana 2 (a flat 15 credits at any resolution, same 14-reference limit) and Nano Banana 2 Lite (a flat 8 credits, up to 10 references, no resolution choice).

A simple way to choose: draft on Nano Banana 2.1 at 1K, and only move a prompt to Nano Banana Pro or GPT Image 2.5 if the 2.1 result is not what you need.

Tips for better Nano Banana 2.1 results

• One change per edit. "Change the shirt to navy blue" works better than five changes in one line.
• Say what must not change. Faces, logos and text drift less when you list them as fixed.
• Label your references. In the prompt, say which photo is the person, which is the product and which is the background.
• Draft at 1K. Lock the composition at 3 credits, then rerun at 4K.
• Use auto aspect ratio for edits if you want the output to keep your photo's shape.

FAQ

How much does Nano Banana 2.1 cost?

3 credits for a 1K image, 4 credits for 2K and 6 credits for 4K, in both the AI Image Generator and the AI Photo Editor. The number of reference images does not change the price.

Is Nano Banana 2.1 free?

You can try it free. New VdoBloom accounts get 10 free credits, enough for three 1K images, and the daily check-in adds 2 to 5 credits a day. After that you buy credits; there is no subscription required.

What is the difference between Nano Banana 2.1 and Nano Banana 2?

The inputs are the same: 14 reference images, 15 aspect ratios and 1K/2K/4K output. The price differs. Nano Banana 2 is a flat 15 credits per image, while Nano Banana 2.1 is 3, 4 or 6 credits depending on resolution.

How many reference images can Nano Banana 2.1 use?

Up to 14 per job. Nano Banana 2 Lite accepts up to 10 and Nano Banana Pro up to 8.

Can Nano Banana 2.1 edit my own photos?

Yes. Pick it in the AI Photo Editor, upload your photo and describe the change in plain language.

Can Nano Banana 2.1 make videos?

No. It makes still images. To animate one, send it to Image to Video and choose a video model, which has its own credit price.

Why was my Nano Banana 2.1 image blocked?

The Nano Banana models use a strict provider filter on both text and uploaded photos. Explicit content is always blocked, and borderline wording can be refused too. Rephrase the prompt plainly, or try another model for safe prompts that keep getting flagged.

Do my credits expire?

Credits from one-time packs never expire. Packs start at $10.39 for 200 credits, or ₹299 for 75 credits in India.