Nano Banana 2.1 pricing: what a 4K image costs in the Gemini API
Nano Banana 2.1 pricing per image in the Gemini API: $0.0336 at 1K, $0.0504 at 2K and $0.113 at 4K, with no free tier.
Nano Banana 2.1 pricing: according to Google, a 4K image costs $0.113 in the Gemini API, about eleven cents. At 1K it costs $0.0336 and at 2K, $0.0504. Google announced on October 6, 2026 that the model is generally available, with one important piece of fine print: the API has no free tier.
What is Nano Banana 2.1
It is Google's image generation and conversational editing model. Since October 6, 2026 it is generally available in the Gemini API under the identifier gemini-nano-banana-2.1, so any team already working with the API can integrate it.
What each image costs in the API
These are the per-image prices on the standard paid tier, according to Google's pricing page:
- 1K: $0.0336 per image, about three cents.
- 2K: $0.0504 per image, about five cents.
- 4K: $0.113 per image, about eleven cents.
The gap between resolutions is easy to read: going from 1K to 4K multiplies the cost by a little over three. When an image costs cents, the expensive part is no longer the pixels, it is deciding what to generate.
Panoramic formats and editing by conversation
The model supports aspect ratios of 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1. In practice that means eight-to-one formats, useful for wide banners and long strips that used to force cropping or stitching several pieces together.
Google also cites improvements in visual quality, prompt adherence, text rendering and character consistency across multiple turns. Editing is conversational: you ask for a change, the model applies it and can keep the same character from one image to the next.
The fine print: no free tier
In the API, Nano Banana 2.1 has no free tier, so every image is paid from the first one. The previous model, gemini-3.1-flash-image, is deprecated, although Google has not announced a shutdown date. If your workflow depends on that model, plan the migration calmly.
If you are looking to try models without paying, also see how free access changed in Free Gemini: what Flash and Pro lose.
How to apply it in your business?
The practical change is the cost of replacing a stock photo library. Instead of paying a subscription and searching for the closest photo, you can generate exactly the one you need, at the size you need:
- Start at 1K to explore ideas: it is the cheapest resolution.
- Generate at 4K only the final version you will publish.
- Use the 8:1 or 1:8 formats for banners and long pieces.
- Use conversational editing to adjust an image without starting from scratch.
- Budget from day one: there is no free tier in the API.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 4K image cost with Nano Banana 2.1?
$0.113 per image in the Gemini API, about eleven cents, according to Google.
Does Nano Banana 2.1 have a free tier in the API?
No. The API has no free tier; the price applies from the first image.
Which image formats does it support?
Aspect ratios of 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1, designed for wide banners and long strips.
What happens to the previous model?
gemini-3.1-flash-image is deprecated, with no shutdown date announced.
Conclusion
Nano Banana 2.1 pricing sums up the change: between three and eleven cents per image depending on resolution, with conversational editing and panoramic formats, but no free tier. Before integrating it, confirm the figures on the Gemini API pricing page and decide which size fits your use.