Lowest price
Either one
Both cost from $0.0336 / image.
Nano Banana 2.1 vs Nano Banana 2 Lite: price, context and capabilities
Choose Nano Banana 2.1 for very long inputs and the latest release; on the other points the two are level or the data is missing.
In short
- Both cost the same at the headline price (from $0.0336 / image).
- Nano Banana 2.1 reads more per request: 131k tokens against 66k.
- Nano Banana 2.1 is the newer model (October 2026, against June 2026).
Which should you choose?
Each answer below comes straight from the published prices, specifications and independent benchmark results.
Very long inputs
Choose Nano Banana 2.1
Nano Banana 2.1 reads up to 131k tokens per request, against 66k for Nano Banana 2 Lite.
Latest release
Choose Nano Banana 2.1
Nano Banana 2.1 is the newer release (October 2026, against June 2026 for Nano Banana 2 Lite).
Monthly cost at three volumes
| Volume | Nano Banana 2.1 | Nano Banana 2 Lite | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 images | $3.36 | $3.36 | = |
| 1,000 images | $33.60 | $33.60 | = |
| 10,000 images | $336.00 | $336.00 | = |
Standard rates, without caching or batch discounts. Volumes are per month.
Specifications side by side
| Nano Banana 2.1 | Nano Banana 2 Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | ||
| Category | Image generation | Image generation |
| Status | Generally available | Generally available |
| Headline price | from $0.0336 / image | $0.0336 / image |
| Context window | 131k | 66k |
| Max output | 33k | 4k |
| Released | October 2026 | June 2026 |
| Knowledge cutoff | No data | No data |
| Licence | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Capabilities | No data | No data |
| API model id | gemini-nano-banana-2.1 | gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image |
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose Nano Banana 2.1 or Nano Banana 2 Lite?
Choose Nano Banana 2.1 for very long inputs and the latest release; on the other points the two are level or the data is missing.
Which is cheaper, Nano Banana 2.1 or Nano Banana 2 Lite?
Both cost the same at the headline price (from $0.0336 / image).
Which has the larger context window, Nano Banana 2.1 or Nano Banana 2 Lite?
Nano Banana 2.1 reads more per request: 131k tokens against 66k.
What is the difference between Nano Banana 2.1 and Nano Banana 2 Lite?
Nano Banana 2.1 is made by Google and Nano Banana 2 Lite by Google. Both cost the same at the headline price (from $0.0336 / image). Nano Banana 2.1 reads more per request: 131k tokens against 66k. Nano Banana 2.1 is the newer model (October 2026, against June 2026).
Which is newer, Nano Banana 2.1 or Nano Banana 2 Lite?
Nano Banana 2.1 was released on October 2026 and Nano Banana 2 Lite on June 2026.