AI Image Tools

Seedream 5

ByteDance's image model, offered here in two tiers: Lite at 7 credits and Pro at 18, which renders at 2K. Pro is the most photorealistic option on this site.

tiers: Lite and Pro
2tiers: Lite and Pro
credits, Lite / Pro
7 / 18credits, Lite / Pro
resolution on Pro
2Kresolution on Pro
measured, photo edit
~50smeasured, photo edit
GenerateRestore & EnhanceEditCreate
Try:
Costs18credits

Sign in to start — new accounts get 20 free credits, no card.

Example prompts for Seedream 5

The same prompts sit above the input box; click one there to load it.

  • Product shot

    Matte black ceramic mug on a pale linen surface, soft window light from the left, shallow depth of field, editorial product photography

  • Portrait

    Close-up portrait of an older woman laughing, natural window light, film grain, 85mm lens, shallow depth of field

  • Landscape

    Misty pine forest at dawn, low fog between the trunks, cold blue light, wide shot

Made with these models

Images generated on this site with the same models.

  • Studio portrait with a single soft key light, generated with the image models on this site
  • Gold ring on dark velvet in a macro product shot, generated with the image models on this site
  • Rustic loaf on a bakery counter, generated with the image models on this site

Why Seedream 5 on AI Image Tools

  • The photorealistic tier

    Pro renders at 2K and holds skin, fabric and metal texture better than the cheaper tiers. It is the one to reach for when the image has to pass as a photograph.

  • Good with type on a page

    Posters, packaging and signage with legible lettering are where it separates from the cheap tiers, including text in Chinese.

  • Two tiers, one dropdown

    Draft on Lite at 7 credits, then rerun the prompt you like on Pro at 18. You are not locked into paying for the expensive tier while you are still exploring.

  • Reads several reference images

    Unlike FLUX.1 Kontext it takes a list of images, so it is available in multi-image tools such as Virtual Try-On.

Every image model in one place

Pick any of these from the Model menu above; the price is shown before you generate. Each name links to what that model is good at. Compare every tier.

Seedream 5 specifications

Model
Seedream 5 Lite and Seedream 5 Pro, ByteDance
Modes
Text to Image and Image to Image
Resolution
About 1K on Lite, 2K on Pro
Sizes
1:1, 4:3, 3:4, 16:9, 9:16. This family has no "auto" option, so "Same as input" resolves to the closest listed ratio
Output
PNG, saved to My Creations
Cost
7 credits on Lite, 18 on Pro
Time
About 50 seconds on an edit in our runs, slower than Kontext and faster than a busy Nano Banana
Free plan
20 credits on sign-in; free downloads carry a small watermark

How to use Seedream 5

  1. Step 1

    Draft on Lite

    Seven credits a run. Get the composition and the wording of the prompt right here.

  2. Step 2

    Switch to Pro for the keeper

    Same prompt, 18 credits, 2K out. Use it for the one or two images you will actually publish.

  3. Step 3

    Upscale if it is going to print

    2K covers most screen work. For print, run the result through the Image Upscaler for twice the pixels.

How to write a prompt for Seedream 5

  • Describe the material

    Brushed steel, raw linen, wet slate. Texture is where the Pro tier earns its credits.

  • Put type in quotes

    Give the exact words and keep them short. Long paragraphs of text still come out garbled on every model here.

  • Name the light

    Single hard light, overcast, golden hour from behind. Photorealism is mostly a lighting description.

Transparent pricing, no hidden costs

Start free. Every tool draws from one balance — no separate subscriptions.

monthly

yearly

Free

$0 / month

Enough to see whether the results are any good

20 credits when you sign in
Every tool, one balance
Standard quality (Gemini 2.5 Flash)
Downloads carry a small watermark (except cutouts and upscales)

Starter

$6.9 / month

Enough to find out if this works for you

700 credits per month
~700 background removals or 70 photo restorations
Download full-resolution files
No watermark
No ads
Batch up to 5 files

Pro

$13.9 / month

For people editing every week

1,500 credits per month
~1,500 background removals or 150 photo restorations
Download full-resolution files
No watermark
No ads
Batch up to 20 files
Priority queue
Commercial usage rights

Studio

$39 / month

For teams and heavy output

5,000 credits per month
~5,000 background removals or 500 photo restorations
Download full-resolution files
No watermark
No ads
Batch up to 50 files
Priority queue
Commercial usage rights
Priority support

Seedream 5: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Seedream 5 Lite and Pro?

Lite renders at about 1K for 7 credits; Pro renders at 2K for 18 and holds fine texture better. Same prompt, same sizes, different amount of detail.

When should I pick Seedream over GPT Image?

Seedream Pro for photorealism and material texture. GPT Image 2.5 when the picture has to contain readable text or when you need 4K.

Does it handle Chinese text?

It is the strongest of the models here on Chinese characters and on poster layouts generally. Keep the wording short and put it in quotes.

Why does "Same as input" behave differently here?

This family does not accept an automatic aspect ratio, so the site converts your choice to the closest supported ratio rather than letting the run fail.

What happens if a run fails?

You are only charged when an image comes back. A failed or timed-out run costs nothing.

Draft on Lite, finish on Pro

Seedream 5 Pro is preselected in the generator above. Switch to Lite in the model menu while you are exploring.

Try Seedream 5 nowSee pricing

The other models

All of them are in the same dropdown, and one credit balance covers every one.

Compare every tier side by side