AI image model comparison

FLUX.3 Image vs Seedream 4.5

Image quality, cost per image, and editing features compared side by side. Or skip the guesswork and generate with both.

black-forest-labs logo

Black Forest Labs

FLUX.3 Image

FLUX.3 Image is Black Forest Labs' flagship image generation and editing model.

Per image
$0.041
Output / 1M
$9.82
Image Elo
Not available
bytedance-seed logo

ByteDance Seed

Seedream 4.5

Seedream 4.5 is the latest in-house image generation model developed by ByteDance.

Per image
$0.04
Output / 1M
$9.58
Image Elo
Not available

At a glance

Quick verdict

Which model wins on the things that matter most when you're making images.

Cheaper per image

bytedance-seed logo

Seedream 4.5

$0.04 vs $0.041, 1.0x cheaper

Better image quality

Not available

Not enough arena data

Better at editing

Not available

Not enough arena data

Newer release

black-forest-labs logo

FLUX.3 Image

Released October 1, 2026

Pricing

FLUX.3 Image vs Seedream 4.5 price per image

What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.

Metricblack-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Imagebytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5
Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024)$0.041$0.04
Image outputPer 1M image tokens$9.82$9.58
Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses4,1754,175
Prompt textPer 1M input tokensIncludedIncluded

What it costs in practice

Estimated totals at standard resolution.

Single image

1 image

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Image$0.041
bytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5$0.04

Social media batch

50 images

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Image$2.05
bytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5$2

Product catalog

1,000 images

black-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Image$41
bytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5$40

Specs

Inputs, outputs, and limits

What each model accepts, what it gives back, and how long your prompt can be.

Metricblack-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Imagebytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5
AcceptsImage, TextImage, Text
ProducesImageImage
Max prompt lengthText plus reference images47K tokens4K tokens
Reasoning stepNoNo
Release dateOctober 1, 2026December 23, 2025

Features

Supported features

Creative controls available for each model.

Metricblack-forest-labs logoFLUX.3 Imagebytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5
Image editingAccepts reference or source imagesSupportedSupported
Text alongside imagesCan explain or caption what it madeNot supportedNot supported
Thinks before drawingPlans the image with a reasoning stepNot supportedNot supported
Reproducible seedsSame seed, same imageSupportedNot supported
Temperature controlTrade consistency for varietyNot supportedSupported

Our take

Seedream 4.5 is 1.0x cheaper per image. The right pick depends on your workload, so the quickest way to settle it is to send the same prompt to both and compare.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is FLUX.3 Image or Seedream 4.5 cheaper?

Seedream 4.5 is cheaper at about $0.04 per standard image, compared with $0.041 for FLUX.3 Image. For 1,000 images that is $40 versus $41.

Can FLUX.3 Image and Seedream 4.5 edit existing images?

Yes. Both accept reference images, so you can upload a photo and ask for changes like a new background, different lighting, or added text.

Can I use FLUX.3 Image and Seedream 4.5 at the same time?

Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see FLUX.3 Image and Seedream 4.5 results side by side and keep the one you like.

black-forest-labs logobytedance-seed logo

Why choose? Generate with both.

Send one prompt to FLUX.3 Image and Seedream 4.5 at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.