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FLUX

API-first AI image generator from Black Forest Labs with per-image pay-as-you-go pricing

FLUX is a pay-as-you-go AI image generator from Black Forest Labs. The API charges from $0.014 per image (FLUX.2 klein) up to $0.07 per image (FLUX.2 max). New playground accounts receive 50 free credits ($0.50 value, ~12 Pro images). No monthly subscription — pure usage-based billing. Best for developers and studios that need production-grade photorealistic output billed only for what they use.

Verified JUN 11, 2026 USAGE-BASED Live
Visit bfl.ai ↗ AI Image Generation
Screenshot of FLUX

What is FLUX?

FLUX is a family of AI image generation models built by Black Forest Labs (BFL), a research lab founded by former Stable Diffusion researchers. Unlike subscription-based image generators, FLUX operates on a pure pay-as-you-go API model where cost scales with output resolution rather than a flat per-call fee. The current generation, FLUX.2, uses megapixel-based billing — the first output megapixel costs a flat rate and each additional megapixel adds incrementally — which means generating a small thumbnail costs less than generating a print-resolution image.

The model family spans four tiers: klein (optimized for speed, from $0.014/image), pro (balanced quality, from $0.03), flex (fine-grained control, from $0.06), and max (highest fidelity, from $0.07). Alongside text-to-image generation, BFL offers discrete FLUX Tools endpoints — Virtual Try-On, Outpainting, and Eraser — billed separately rather than bundled. For teams who want to self-host, open weights are available: FLUX.1 schnell is released under Apache 2.0, while newer models require a commercial license from BFL’s licensing tiers. Fine-tuned LoRA endpoints are in public beta at the same rate as base models.

Who is it for?

FLUX is primarily a developer and production tool, not a consumer product. The browser playground at playground.bfl.ai is useful for testing prompts, but the core value proposition is the API and open-weights licensing.

  • Backend developers and startups building image generation features into apps who want to avoid committing to a monthly subscription before validating volume.
  • E-commerce teams needing bulk product photography or virtual try-on at predictable per-image costs — at $0.03–$0.04/image for pro-quality output, the economics are viable for mid-volume catalogs.
  • AI researchers and fine-tuners who want access to open weights (FLUX.1 schnell, Apache 2.0) for local experimentation or custom LoRA training without API dependency.
  • Agencies and studios with variable workloads that spike seasonally, where a flat monthly seat license would be wasteful during low-traffic months.

How much does FLUX cost?

Starting price: $0.014/image · Free tier: yes · Model: usage-based

Pricing verified JUN 11, 2026

Price history tracked from June 2026

FLUX pricing tiers, verified against the official pricing page
Plan Price Includes
Free starter credits Free 50 credits on sign-up (~$0.50) · No credit card required to start · Access to Playground UI
FLUX.2 [klein] 4B from $0.014/image Fastest model · Megapixel-based pricing · Text-to-image and editing
FLUX.2 [pro] from $0.03/image Balanced quality and speed · $0.045/image for editing tasks
FLUX.2 [max] from $0.07/image Highest quality output · Production-grade results
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] $0.04/image Fixed 4-credit cost · Previous-gen, widely supported
Open Weights (self-hosted) Contact Builder/Platform/Professional/Enterprise tiers · 10K–100K+ images/month · Fine-tuning and LoRA rights

What are FLUX's key features?

  • Megapixel-based pay-per-use API — cost scales with output resolution, not a flat per-call fee
  • FLUX.2 model family: klein (fast), pro (balanced), max (highest quality), flex (fine-grained control)
  • FLUX Tools: Virtual Try-On (VTO), Outpainting, Eraser, and image editing endpoints
  • FLUX.1 Kontext models for context-aware image editing and inpainting
  • Open-weights variants (FLUX.1 schnell under Apache 2.0) for local deployment
  • Fine-tuning and LoRA endpoint support (public beta, billed at base model rates)
  • Browser-based Playground at playground.bfl.ai with same pricing as API
  • Character and style consistency controls across multi-image generations

What people use FLUX for

  1. 01 Generating product photography for e-commerce at scale via API
  2. 02 Virtual try-on rendering for fashion and apparel apps
  3. 03 Reference-based image editing to match an existing brand visual style
  4. 04 High-volume synthetic training data generation under the Synthetic Data license tier
  5. 05 Local experimentation and research using the free Apache-2.0 FLUX.1 schnell open weights

Pros and cons

Pros and cons of FLUX
Pros Cons
Pure pay-as-you-go billing — no monthly commitment required for API access No flat-rate subscription option — costs are unpredictable at high volume without enterprise contract
Wide model range from $0.014 (fast/cheap) to $0.07 (max quality) suits different production needs Open-weights commercial use requires a paid licensing tier (Builder plan minimum), not free
Apache 2.0 open-weights model (FLUX.1 schnell) available free for local and research use Pricing page uses a calculator rather than a simple table, making upfront cost estimation less transparent
VTO and editing tools available as discrete API endpoints, not bundled into subscriptions No native mobile app — access is via web playground or API integration only

What are the best FLUX alternatives?

How people make money with FLUX

  • Sell photorealistic product images for e-commerce stores on platforms like Fiverr or 99designs — FLUX.2 pro's low per-image API cost leaves margin on each deliverable
  • Build a Virtual Try-On (VTO) integration for fashion brands using the FLUX Tools VTO API, charging brands per try-on render on top of API cost
  • License fine-tuned brand-specific LoRA endpoints to SMBs — the open-weights licensing tiers (sized 10K–100K+ images/month) include LoRA rights from Builder plan upward

Frequently asked questions

Is FLUX free to use?

New accounts on playground.bfl.ai receive 50 free starter credits (worth $0.50), enough for roughly 12 Pro-quality images. Beyond that, all usage is pay-as-you-go. FLUX.1 schnell is also free under Apache 2.0 for local/non-commercial use.

How much does the FLUX API cost?

FLUX API pricing is usage-based and varies by model and output resolution. FLUX.2 klein starts at $0.014 per image, FLUX.2 pro from $0.03, and FLUX.2 max from $0.07. FLUX.1 Kontext pro is a flat $0.04 per image. 1 credit = $0.01 USD.

Can I use FLUX images commercially?

API-generated images can be used commercially under standard API terms. Self-hosted open weights require a commercial license (Builder plan or above from bfl.ai/licensing). FLUX.1 schnell is Apache 2.0, allowing commercial use of the model itself.

What is the difference between FLUX.1 and FLUX.2?

FLUX.2 is the current-generation model family with improved character consistency, physics understanding, and megapixel-based pricing. FLUX.1 models (including Kontext and the legacy Pro/Ultra series) are the previous generation, still available at fixed per-image credits.

Does FLUX have a subscription plan?

There is no monthly subscription for API access — it is purely pay-as-you-go. Self-hosted open-weights licensing (Builder, Platform, Professional, Enterprise) uses contract-based pricing negotiated with Black Forest Labs.

What is FLUX Kontext?

FLUX.1 Kontext is a model line specialized for context-aware image editing — inpainting, object removal, and style transfer. Kontext [pro] costs $0.04/image and Kontext [max] costs $0.08/image via the API.

Can I fine-tune FLUX?

Yes. Fine-tuned endpoints are in public beta and billed at the same rate as base model endpoints. LoRA rights are included in the Builder self-hosted license tier and above.

Public signals