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AI image model comparison

Seedream 5.0 Pro vs Seedream 4.5

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 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
bytedance-seed logo

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

bytedance-seed logo

Seedream 4.5

$0.04 vs $0.045, 1.1x 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 Pro

Released August 12, 2026

Pricing

Seedream 5.0 Pro vs Seedream 4.5 price per image

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

Metricbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Probytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5
Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024)$0.045$0.04
Image outputPer 1M image tokens$10.78$9.58
Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses4,1754,175
Prompt textPer 1M input tokensIncludedIncluded
Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokens$3000Included

What it costs in practice

Estimated totals at standard resolution.

Single image

1 image

bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Pro$0.045
bytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5$0.04

Social media batch

50 images

bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Pro$2.25
bytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5$2

Product catalog

1,000 images

bytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Pro$45
bytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5$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 Probytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5
AcceptsImage, TextImage, Text
ProducesImageImage
Max prompt lengthText plus reference imagesNot available tokens4K tokens
Reasoning stepNoNo
Release dateAugust 12, 2026December 23, 2025

Features

Supported features

Creative controls available for each model.

Metricbytedance-seed logoSeedream 5.0 Probytedance-seed logoSeedream 4.5
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 4.5 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 Pro or Seedream 4.5 cheaper?

Seedream 4.5 is cheaper at about $0.04 per standard image, compared with $0.045 for Seedream 5.0 Pro. For 1,000 images that is $40 versus $45.

Can Seedream 5.0 Pro 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 Pro 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 Pro and Seedream 4.5 results side by side and keep the one you like.

bytedance-seed logobytedance-seed logo

Why choose? Generate with both.

Send one prompt to Seedream 5.0 Pro and Seedream 4.5 at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.

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