Nano Banana is Google's image model inside the Gemini app: it's free to use, edits your own photos with plain instructions and puts clear text into images. Midjourney is a paid-only image and video generator with four plans from $10 a month, known for its artistic style and generous Relax Mode. Pick Nano Banana for quick edits, mock-ups and images with words; pick Midjourney when the look of the image is the whole point.
I read Google's Gemini image generation page and Midjourney's own plan comparison, so the details below are what each company publishes as of October 2026. If you make images for social posts, ads or a blog, the choice comes down to three questions: do you want to pay, do you mostly edit or create from scratch, and how much does style matter?
Nano Banana and Midjourney side by side
| Nano Banana | Midjourney | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Google, inside the Gemini app | Midjourney |
| Free to use (as of October 2026) | Yes, Nano Banana 2 is free in Gemini | No, subscriptions only |
| Paid options | Nano Banana 2.1 with a Google AI plan (Pro, Plus or Ultra) | Basic $10, Standard $30, Pro $60, Mega $120 a month |
| Editing your own photo | Yes: change the background, replace an object, restyle, combine two photos | Image and video generation from prompts |
| Text inside images | Clear text for logos, invites, posters and comics | Not listed on the plan page |
| Resolution | 2K | SD and HD video depending on plan |
| Labelling | Invisible SynthID watermark plus a visible watermark | Stealth Mode keeps work private on Pro and Mega |
Why Nano Banana suits everyday business images
Google's page says Nano Banana 2 is available for free in the Gemini app. You pick Create images from the tools menu, then type a prompt or upload a photo. The strengths Google lists are practical ones: character consistency across images, clear text in many languages, combining photos, precise edits to lighting, camera angle and aspect ratio, and resizing one visual to fit different formats without cropping the details.
If you pay for a Google AI plan, you get Nano Banana 2.1, Google's most advanced image model, with higher limits, and you can redo an image with Nano Banana Pro from the three-dot menu. Every image carries an invisible SynthID watermark and a visible one, so it's clear the picture was made with AI. For a small business that's a plus, not a problem.
Why people still pay for Midjourney
There's no free tier: it's subscription only. Basic is $10 a month, Standard $30, Pro $60 and Mega $120, and paying for a year upfront gives a 20% discount, so Basic works out at $96 a year. The plans mostly differ in GPU time: Basic gets 3.3 hours of Fast time a month, Standard 15 hours, Pro 30 and Mega 60, and you can buy extra at $4 an hour.
The detail most comparisons miss is Relax Mode. From Standard upwards you get unlimited image generations in Relax Mode, and Pro and Mega add unlimited Relax video. Stealth Mode, which keeps your images and videos private, is only on Pro and Mega. And if your company makes more than $1,000,000 a year in gross revenue, Midjourney's terms say you must be on Pro or Mega.
For more image tools to compare, see our list of AI art generators.
Which one to use for which job
- Fixing or restyling a product photo you already have: Nano Banana, because editing your own image is built in.
- A poster, invite or social graphic with words on it: Nano Banana, since Google highlights clear text rendering.
- Mood boards, brand art and striking hero images: Midjourney, where style is the reason people subscribe.
- Lots of images every week on a fixed spend: Midjourney Standard and up, with unlimited Relax images.
- Keeping client work private: Midjourney Pro or Mega, the only plans with Stealth Mode.
For prompts you can copy straight into Gemini, try these Nano Banana prompts for photo edits, and if you'd like to see Midjourney's style at work, these Midjourney portrait prompts are a good start.
My advice on Nano Banana or Midjourney
Start with Nano Banana. It's free, it edits the photos you already have and it handles text, which covers most of what a small business needs for social posts and ads. Move to Midjourney when you want a distinctive look that people notice, and remember that the company size rule pushes bigger firms onto the Pro plan.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Nano Banana free?
Yes. Google's page says Nano Banana 2 is available for free in the Gemini app. Nano Banana 2.1 comes with a Google AI plan.
Does Midjourney have a free plan?
No. Midjourney's plan page says all plans are subscriptions: Basic, Standard, Pro and Mega, from $10 a month as of October 2026.
Which is better for text in images?
Nano Banana. Google lists clear text rendering for logos, invites, posters and comics among its main features.
Can I use Midjourney images commercially?
Midjourney's plan page lists general commercial terms on every plan, but companies with more than $1,000,000 a year in gross revenue must use Pro or Mega.
Do Nano Banana images have a watermark?
Yes. Gemini adds an invisible SynthID watermark and a visible watermark to show the image was made with AI.
