AI image model comparison
Recraft V4.1 Flash vs Seedream 5.0 Lite
Image quality, cost per image, and editing features compared side by side. Or skip the guesswork and generate with both.
Recraft
Recraft V4.1 Flash
Recraft V4.1 Flash is a text-to-image model from Recraft, the speed and cost tier of the V4.1 family.
- Per image
- $0.007
- Output / 1M
- $1.68
- Image Elo
- Not available
ByteDance Seed
Seedream 5.0 Lite
Seedream 5.0 Lite is an image generation model from ByteDance Seed.
- Per image
- $0.035
- Output / 1M
- $8.38
- 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
Recraft V4.1 Flash
$0.007 vs $0.035, 5.0x cheaper
Better image quality
Not available
Not enough arena data
Better at editing
Not available
Not enough arena data
Newer release
Recraft V4.1 Flash
Released September 23, 2026
Pricing
Recraft V4.1 Flash vs Seedream 5.0 Lite price per image
What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024) | $0.007 | $0.035 |
| Image outputPer 1M image tokens | $1.68 | $8.38 |
| Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses | 4,175 | 4,175 |
| Prompt textPer 1M input tokens | Included | Included |
What it costs in practice
Estimated totals at standard resolution.
Single image
1 image
Social media batch
50 images
Product catalog
1,000 images
Specs
Inputs, outputs, and limits
What each model accepts, what it gives back, and how long your prompt can be.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Accepts | Text | Image, Text |
| Produces | Image | Image |
| Max prompt lengthText plus reference images | 66K tokens | Not available tokens |
| Reasoning step | No | No |
| Release date | September 23, 2026 | August 13, 2026 |
Features
Supported features
Creative controls available for each model.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image editingAccepts reference or source images | Not 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 | Not supported | Not supported |
| Temperature controlTrade consistency for variety | Not supported | Supported |
Our take
Recraft V4.1 Flash is 5.0x 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 Recraft V4.1 Flash or Seedream 5.0 Lite cheaper?
Recraft V4.1 Flash is cheaper at about $0.007 per standard image, compared with $0.035 for Seedream 5.0 Lite. For 1,000 images that is $7 versus $35.
Can Recraft V4.1 Flash and Seedream 5.0 Lite edit existing images?
Only Seedream 5.0 Lite accepts reference images for editing. The other generates from text alone.
Can I use Recraft V4.1 Flash and Seedream 5.0 Lite at the same time?
Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see Recraft V4.1 Flash and Seedream 5.0 Lite results side by side and keep the one you like.
Why choose? Generate with both.
Send one prompt to Recraft V4.1 Flash and Seedream 5.0 Lite at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.