Start free

Guide

Which model to edit a photo withThe best AI photo editor for each kind of edit

The best one depends on the edit: whether it moves you somewhere else, changes the words on a sign or the light in the room, and how many photos it has to work from. Here are eight models on Leap that edit a photo from a line of instructions, each with a real before and after and its price, a pick for each of those jobs, and recipes that do one common edit with no prompt to write.

Last updated

Try Nano Banana ProSee them side by side
The same woman in a cream sweater, holding a cobalt perfume bottle to her collarbone
A woman with a black bob in a black turtleneck, a plain studio portrait
Her photo and a bottle, as a campaign shot, made on Leap with Nano Banana Pro from the photo in the corner

The short answer

Which one for what

Recipes

Recipes for common edits

Each recipe has its instructions written for one job. You add the photo and pick from a few choices, and it runs on a model chosen for that job.

Side by side

Every model in this guide, spec by spec

Prices are Leap’s, per edit, in dollars. Run times are Leap’s own, at the default settings. A dash means Leap’s catalog doesn’t list it.

ModelStarts fromResolutionPriceRun time on Leap
Nano Banana ProGoogleWords or up to 6 photosUp to 4KFrom $0.19–
GPT Image 2.5 SunburstOpenAIWords or up to 8 photosUp to 4KFrom $0.07–
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]Black Forest LabsWords or a photo–From $0.044–
Seedream 5.0 ProByteDanceWords or up to 4 photos–From $0.039About 60 seconds
Nano Banana 2GoogleWords or up to 6 photosUp to 4KFrom $0.057About 10 seconds
FLUX.1 Kontext [max]Black Forest Labs, in previewWords or a photo–From $0.088–
Seedream 5.0 Flash EditByteDanceWords or up to 4 photos–From $0.03–
IC-Light v2lllyasviel, in previewWords or a photo–From $0.11–

The models

What each one makes

Questions

Questions people ask

What is the best AI photo editor?
It depends on the edit. For the lowest price per image, Seedream 5.0 Flash Edit: $0.03 for an image, the cheapest run here. For the quickest image, Nano Banana 2: about 10 seconds in Leap's own runs at the default settings, the shortest wait here. For the sharpest picture, Nano Banana Pro, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Nano Banana 2: up to 4K, the highest resolution here. For edits that start from your photos, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: up to 8 photos in one run, so you can edit a picture or combine several. They all run in the same studio, so you can give two of them the same prompt and keep the better edit.
How does this compare with Photoshop or Canva?
They are editors you work in by hand, with AI tools built in, and both are subscriptions. On October 6, 2026, Adobe's Photoshop plan cost US$22.99 a month on an annual plan, with 25 generative credits a month for features like Generative Fill. Canva's AI photo tools, such as Magic Edit, Magic Eraser and its background remover, need Canva Pro at US$18 a month or US$144 a year, which allows up to 200 uses of its premium AI tools a month. On Leap you pay per edit with no subscription, and every model here runs from the same balance.
Can I remove a background for free?
Yes. Leap's free background remover cuts the subject out to a transparent PNG in your browser, with no account, and the free image upscaler enlarges a photo the same way. To put the subject somewhere new instead, the background changer above does it in one run.
Can I edit a photo of a real person?
Only a photo of someone who has agreed to it, such as yourself. Leap's Acceptable Use Policy forbids showing a real person who hasn't agreed, and the people in a photo keep their rights in it after you edit it.
Which AI photo editor can I try for free?
All of them. Sign up with a Gmail, Outlook or work address and you start with $2 of free credit, no card needed. The credit works on every model here; on Seedream 5.0 Flash Edit, the cheapest, it covers 67 edits. After that you pay per edit, in dollars, with no subscription.
Do I need an account with each maker?
No. One Leap account runs all 8 of them, in the studio and through the API, from one balance in dollars. You see the price before each run, and a run that fails costs nothing.
Can I use what I make commercially?
Yes. You own what you make on Leap, so you can use it commercially, and we never train AI on it. The people and brands shown in a result can still have rights in it; the Terms say more.
Is there an API?
Yes. Every model here runs through Leap's REST API at the same price as in the studio, and agents can call them through Leap's MCP server.

Try them on your own photo.

Start with $2 of free credit, no card needed. Every edit is priced before you press Generate.

Try Nano Banana Pro