AI image model comparison

Seedream 5.0 Flash vs Grok Imagine Image 2.0

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

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ByteDance Seed

Seedream 5.0 Flash

Seedream 5.0 Flash is an image generation and editing model from ByteDance Seed.

Per image
$0.018
Output / 1M
$4.31
Image Elo
Not available

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 is an image generation and editing model from xAI.

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

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Seedream 5.0 Flash

$0.018 vs $0.04, 2.2x cheaper

Better image quality

Not available

Not enough arena data

Better at editing

Not available

Not enough arena data

Newer release

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Seedream 5.0 Flash

Released October 1, 2026

Pricing

Seedream 5.0 Flash vs Grok Imagine Image 2.0 price per image

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

Metricbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flashx-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0
Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024)$0.018$0.04
Image outputPer 1M image tokens$4.31$9.58
Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses4,1754,175
Prompt textPer 1M input tokensIncludedIncluded
Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokensIncluded$10000

What it costs in practice

Estimated totals at standard resolution.

Single image

1 image

bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flash$0.018
x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0$0.04

Social media batch

50 images

bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flash$0.90
x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0$2

Product catalog

1,000 images

bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flash$18
x-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0$40

Specs

Inputs, outputs, and limits

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

Metricbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flashx-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0
AcceptsImage, TextImage, Text
ProducesImageImage
Max prompt lengthText plus reference imagesNot available tokens66K tokens
Reasoning stepNoNo
Release dateOctober 1, 2026August 11, 2026

Features

Supported features

Creative controls available for each model.

Metricbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flashx-ai logoGrok Imagine Image 2.0
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 imageNot supportedSupported
Temperature controlTrade consistency for varietySupportedSupported

Our take

Seedream 5.0 Flash is 2.2x 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 Seedream 5.0 Flash or Grok Imagine Image 2.0 cheaper?

Seedream 5.0 Flash is cheaper at about $0.018 per standard image, compared with $0.04 for Grok Imagine Image 2.0. For 1,000 images that is $18 versus $40.

Can Seedream 5.0 Flash and Grok Imagine Image 2.0 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 Seedream 5.0 Flash and Grok Imagine Image 2.0 at the same time?

Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see Seedream 5.0 Flash and Grok Imagine Image 2.0 results side by side and keep the one you like.

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Why choose? Generate with both.

Send one prompt to Seedream 5.0 Flash and Grok Imagine Image 2.0 at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.