AI image model comparison
Qwen Image 3 vs Seedream 4.5
Image quality, cost per image, and editing features compared side by side. Or skip the guesswork and generate with both.
Qwen
Qwen Image 3
Qwen Image 3 is a unified image generation and editing model from Qwen.
- Per image
- $0.03
- Output / 1M
- $7.19
- Image Elo
- Not available
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
Qwen Image 3
$0.03 vs $0.04, 1.3x cheaper
Better image quality
Not available
Not enough arena data
Better at editing
Not available
Not enough arena data
Newer release
Qwen Image 3
Released August 5, 2026
Pricing
Qwen Image 3 vs Seedream 4.5 price per image
What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.
| Metric | Qwen Image 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024) | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Image outputPer 1M image tokens | $7.19 | $9.58 |
| Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses | 4,175 | 4,175 |
| Prompt textPer 1M input tokens | Included | Included |
| Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokens | $3000 | Included |
What it costs in practice
Estimated totals at standard resolution.
Single image
1 image
Qwen Image 3$0.03Social media batch
50 images
Qwen Image 3$1.50Product catalog
1,000 images
Qwen Image 3$30Specs
Inputs, outputs, and limits
What each model accepts, what it gives back, and how long your prompt can be.
| Metric | Qwen Image 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accepts | Image, Text | Image, Text |
| Produces | Image | Image |
| Max prompt lengthText plus reference images | 66K tokens | 4K tokens |
| Reasoning step | No | No |
| Release date | August 5, 2026 | December 23, 2025 |
Features
Supported features
Creative controls available for each model.
| Metric | Qwen Image 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Image editingAccepts reference or source images | Supported | Supported |
| Text alongside imagesCan explain or caption what it made | Not supported | Not supported |
| Thinks before drawingPlans the image with a reasoning step | Not supported | Not supported |
| Reproducible seedsSame seed, same image | Supported | Not supported |
| Temperature controlTrade consistency for variety | Supported | Supported |
Keep exploring
More on these models
Other head-to-heads, the full model page, and the alternatives list for each model.
Qwen Image 3View full model details- Qwen Image 3 vs Nano Banana 2
- Qwen Image 3 vs Nano Banana
- Qwen Image 3 vs Muse Image
- Qwen Image 3 vs Seedream 5.0 Flash
- Qwen Image 3 vs Seedream 5.0 Pro
- Qwen Image 3 vs FLUX.2 Pro
- Qwen Image 3 vs Grok Imagine Image 2.0
- Qwen Image 3 vs Seedream 5.0 Lite
- Qwen Image 3 vs FLUX.2 Klein 4B
- Qwen Image 3 vs Recraft V4.1 Flash
- Qwen Image 3 vs FLUX.3 Image
- Qwen Image 3 vs Riverflow V2.5 Pro
- Seedream 4.5 vs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
- Seedream 4.5 vs Nano Banana 2
- Seedream 4.5 vs Nano Banana
- Seedream 4.5 vs Nano Banana 2 Lite
- Seedream 4.5 vs Muse Image
- Seedream 4.5 vs GPT-5.4 Image 2
- Seedream 4.5 vs GPT Image 2
- Seedream 4.5 vs Seedream 5.0 Flash
- Seedream 4.5 vs Nano Banana Pro
- Seedream 4.5 vs Ming Image 0.1 Design
- Seedream 4.5 vs Seedream 5.0 Pro
- Seedream 4.5 vs FLUX.2 Pro
- Seedream 4.5 vs Grok Imagine Image 2.0
- Seedream 4.5 vs Seedream 5.0 Lite
- Seedream 4.5 vs FLUX.2 Klein 4B
- Seedream 4.5 vs Recraft V4.1 Flash
- Seedream 4.5 vs FLUX.3 Image
- Seedream 4.5 vs Grok Imagine Image Quality
- Seedream 4.5 vs FLUX.2 Max
- Seedream 4.5 vs MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
- Seedream 4.5 vs Riverflow V2.5 Pro
- Seedream 4.5 vs MAI-Image-2.6
- Seedream 4.5 vs FLUX.2 Flex
Our take
Qwen Image 3 is 1.3x 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 Qwen Image 3 or Seedream 4.5 cheaper?
Qwen Image 3 is cheaper at about $0.03 per standard image, compared with $0.04 for Seedream 4.5. For 1,000 images that is $30 versus $40.
Can Qwen Image 3 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 Qwen Image 3 and Seedream 4.5 at the same time?
Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see Qwen Image 3 and Seedream 4.5 results side by side and keep the one you like.
Why choose? Generate with both.
Send one prompt to Qwen Image 3 and Seedream 4.5 at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.