Head to Head
Placeholder Alpha vs. Placeholder Beta
The question is not which tool is better — it is better for whom. Alpha took the top blind score in 68% of paired comparisons in our October battery. Beta produces 89% of that quality at a tenth of the per-image price. Most readers will find the answer depends on which of those two facts describes their work.
The scorecard
| Dimension (weight) | Alpha | Beta |
|---|---|---|
| Output quality (40%) | 9.6 | 9.1 |
| Prompt adherence (25%) | 9.4 | 8.6 |
| Editing control (20%) | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| Value for money (15%) | 8.1 | 9.7 |
| Weighted total | 9.3 | 8.9 |
Where Alpha prevails
Successive inpaints keep the subject's identity stable — the failure mode that cost Beta most of its editing-control points. For hero images and client deliverables, that stability is the product.
Where Beta prevails
At $0.004 per image against Alpha's $0.04 (published pricing, verified October 2026), ten thousand generations a month cost $40 instead of $400. The Gazette's view: for catalog and volume work, this is not a close call.
The bottom line. Alpha sits #1 and Beta #2 on the Gazette's 2026 ranking. The 0.4-point gap is real, but narrower than the price gap.