How to Choose the Right Model
A guide to selecting the best model for your use case.
Decision Framework
1. Identify Your Task Type
| Task | Category | Recommended Models |
|---|---|---|
| Generate images | Text-to-Image | FLUX Dev, Seedream V4.5 |
| Edit images | Image-to-Image | FLUX Kontext, Qwen Image Edit |
| Create videos | Text-to-Video | Sora 2, Wan 2.6 T2V |
| Animate images | Image-to-Video | Veo 3.1, Kling V2.6 |
| Generate speech | Text-to-Speech | Minimax Speech, ElevenLabs |
| Create music | Text-to-Audio | Minimax Music |
| Talking avatars | Digital Human | InfiniteTalk, MultiTalk |
| Create 3D models | Image-to-3D | Hunyuan3D, Tripo3D |
2. Consider Quality vs. Speed
| Priority | Choose |
|---|---|
| Highest quality | Pro/Max variants (slower, more expensive) |
| Balanced | Standard/Dev variants |
| Fastest speed | Turbo/Schnell/Fast variants |
| Lowest cost | Lite/Mini variants |
3. Consider Resolution
| Output | Resolution | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnails | 512x512 | Previews, testing |
| Standard | 1024x1024 | Social media, web |
| High quality | 2048x2048 | Print, professional |
| Video SD | 480p | Quick previews |
| Video HD | 720p | Standard quality |
| Video FHD | 1080p | High quality production |
Model Comparison by Category
Text-to-Image
| Model | Speed | Quality | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX Schnell | Fast | Good | Low | Quick iterations |
| FLUX Dev | Medium | High | Medium | General purpose |
| Seedream V4.5 | Medium | Very High | Medium | Photorealistic |
| Nano Banana Pro | Fast | High | Low | Creative styles |
Image-to-Video
| Model | Speed | Quality | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wan 2.1 I2V 480p | Fast | Good | Low | Quick previews |
| Wan 2.1 I2V 720p | Medium | High | Medium | Standard quality |
| Kling V2.6 | Medium | High | Medium | Motion control |
| Veo 3.1 | Slow | Very High | High | Premium quality |
Tips
- Start cheap, iterate — Use fast/cheap models for prompt testing, then switch to premium for final output
- Check model pages — Each model has specific parameters and examples
- Use the Playground — Test models in the web interface before integrating via API
- Compare outputs — Run the same prompt on different models to find your preference
Next Steps
- How to Write Better Prompts — Improve your results
- How to Reduce Costs — Optimize spending