AI image model comparison
Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Riverflow V2.5 Pro
Image quality, cost per image, and editing features compared side by side. Or skip the guesswork and generate with both.
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
Sourceful
Riverflow V2.5 Pro
Riverflow V2.5 Pro is the most powerful variant of Sourceful's Riverflow 2.5 lineup, best for top-tier control and quality-sensitive outputs.
- Per image
- $0.13
- Output / 1M
- $31.14
- Image Elo
- 1366
At a glance
Quick verdict
Which model wins on the things that matter most when you're making images.
Cheaper per image
Seedream 5.0 Lite
$0.035 vs $0.13, 3.7x cheaper
Better image quality
Not available
Not enough arena data
Better at editing
Not available
Only one editing score is available
Newer release
Seedream 5.0 Lite
Released August 13, 2026
Quality
Image quality rankings
Elo ratings from Design Arena, where people vote between two anonymous images made from the same prompt. Higher is better.
Image generation
Image editing
Graphic design
Logos
Pricing
Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Riverflow V2.5 Pro price per image
What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024) | $0.035 | $0.13 |
| Image outputPer 1M image tokens | $8.38 | $31.14 |
| 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 | Image, Text | Image, Text |
| Produces | Image | Image |
| Max prompt lengthText plus reference images | Not available tokens | 33K tokens |
| Reasoning step | No | Always on |
| Release date | August 13, 2026 | June 4, 2026 |
Features
Supported features
Creative controls available for each model.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Supported |
| Reproducible seedsSame seed, same image | Not supported | Not supported |
| Temperature controlTrade consistency for variety | Supported | Not supported |
Keep exploring
More on these models
Other head-to-heads, the full model page, and the alternatives list for each model.
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Nano Banana 2
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Seedream 4.5
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Nano Banana
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Muse Image
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Seedream 5.0 Flash
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Seedream 5.0 Pro
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs FLUX.2 Pro
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Grok Imagine Image 2.0
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs FLUX.2 Klein 4B
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Recraft V4.1 Flash
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs FLUX.3 Image
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Grok Imagine Image Quality
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Qwen Image 3
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs MAI-Image-2.6
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs Nano Banana 2
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs Nano Banana Pro
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs MAI-Image-2.5
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs FLUX.2 Flex
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs FLUX.2 Pro
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs Nano Banana
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs Seedream 4.5
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs Seedream 5.0 Flash
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs Seedream 5.0 Pro
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs Grok Imagine Image 2.0
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs FLUX.3 Image
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs Grok Imagine Image Quality
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs Qwen Image 3
- Riverflow V2.5 Pro vs FLUX.2 Max
Our take
Seedream 5.0 Lite is 3.7x 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 Lite or Riverflow V2.5 Pro cheaper?
Seedream 5.0 Lite is cheaper at about $0.035 per standard image, compared with $0.13 for Riverflow V2.5 Pro. For 1,000 images that is $35 versus $130.
Can Seedream 5.0 Lite and Riverflow V2.5 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 Lite and Riverflow V2.5 Pro at the same time?
Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see Seedream 5.0 Lite and Riverflow V2.5 Pro results side by side and keep the one you like.
Why choose? Generate with both.
Send one prompt to Seedream 5.0 Lite and Riverflow V2.5 Pro at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.