AI image model comparison
Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Seedream 4.5
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
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
Seedream 5.0 Lite
$0.035 vs $0.04, 1.1x cheaper
Better image quality
Not available
Not enough arena data
Better at editing
Not available
Not enough arena data
Newer release
Seedream 5.0 Lite
Released August 13, 2026
Pricing
Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Seedream 4.5 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 | $0.04 |
| Image outputPer 1M image tokens | $8.38 | $9.58 |
| 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 | 4K tokens |
| Reasoning step | No | No |
| Release date | August 13, 2026 | December 23, 2025 |
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 | Not supported |
| Reproducible seedsSame seed, same image | Not 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.
- Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Nano Banana 2
- 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
- Seedream 5.0 Lite 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 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 Qwen Image 3
- 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
Seedream 5.0 Lite is 1.1x 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 Seedream 4.5 cheaper?
Seedream 5.0 Lite is cheaper at about $0.035 per standard image, compared with $0.04 for Seedream 4.5. For 1,000 images that is $35 versus $40.
Can Seedream 5.0 Lite 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 Seedream 5.0 Lite and Seedream 4.5 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 Seedream 4.5 results side by side and keep the one you like.
Why choose? Generate with both.
Send one prompt to Seedream 5.0 Lite and Seedream 4.5 at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.