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AI image model comparison

Seedream 5.0 Flash vs Seedream 5.0 Pro

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
bytedance-seed logo

ByteDance Seed

Seedream 5.0 Pro

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

Per image
$0.045
Output / 1M
$10.78
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 5.0 Flash

$0.018 vs $0.045, 2.5x 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 Seedream 5.0 Pro price per image

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

Metricbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flashbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Pro
Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024)$0.018$0.045
Image outputPer 1M image tokens$4.31$10.78
Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses4,1754,175
Prompt textPer 1M input tokensIncludedIncluded
Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokensIncluded$3000

What it costs in practice

Estimated totals at standard resolution.

Single image

1 image

bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flash$0.018
bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Pro$0.045

Social media batch

50 images

bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flash$0.90
bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Pro$2.25

Product catalog

1,000 images

bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flash$18
bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Pro$45

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 Flashbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Pro
AcceptsImage, TextImage, Text
ProducesImageImage
Max prompt lengthText plus reference imagesNot available tokensNot available tokens
Reasoning stepNoNo
Release dateOctober 1, 2026August 12, 2026

Features

Supported features

Creative controls available for each model.

Metricbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Flashbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Pro
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 supportedNot supported
Temperature controlTrade consistency for varietySupportedSupported

Our take

Seedream 5.0 Flash is 2.5x 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 Seedream 5.0 Pro cheaper?

Seedream 5.0 Flash is cheaper at about $0.018 per standard image, compared with $0.045 for Seedream 5.0 Pro. For 1,000 images that is $18 versus $45.

Can Seedream 5.0 Flash and Seedream 5.0 Pro 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 Seedream 5.0 Pro 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 Seedream 5.0 Pro 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 Seedream 5.0 Pro at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.

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