Seedream: API images cost $0.018 to $0.09 each, but Dreamina's free daily credits have no stated amount
Updated October 6, 2026 · By Elias Brandt · Documentation review, not tested hands-on
Pros
- Per-image prices are published
- Failed outputs are not billed
- A free route exists
Cons
- Versions differ by surface
- Free allowance is not quantified
- Resolution doubles the 5.0 Pro price
- Pack prices are one-time offers
Bottom line
Dreamina's FAQ says it provides free daily credits for images and videos with no upfront payment. The amount, expiry and which Seedream version they cover are not stated on the page we read.
You are adding image generation to a product and want spend to follow output: every API image has a published per-image rate and no subscription is required.
You need to know your free allowance before you start: Dreamina publishes neither the daily credit amount nor a paid plan price on the pages read.
Best forDevelopers building image generation into a productCreators who want to try it firstAnyone expecting a single fixed Seedream
Strengths, limits and who it suits, in full
Strengths
- Per-image prices are published The BytePlus billing page lists a price for each model and resolution band, from $0.018 to $0.09 per output image.
- Failed outputs are not billed The billing page says images not output because of content moderation are not charged.
- A free route exists Dreamina's FAQ says free daily credits let you start without upfront payment.
Limits
- Versions differ by surface The Seed page shows 4.0, BytePlus 5.0 Pro and Dreamina 5.0 Lite, and nothing we read maps results between them.
- Free allowance is not quantified Dreamina does not state the daily credit amount on the page we read, and its pricing page was not found.
- Resolution doubles the 5.0 Pro price Output above 2.61 million pixels costs $0.09 instead of $0.045 per image.
- Pack prices are one-time offers The $6.99, $24.99 and $49.99 packs are labelled first-purchase offers.
Who it suits
- Developers building image generation into a product The BytePlus API bills per output image from $0.018 to $0.09, so cost scales with volume rather than a seat plan.
- Creators who want to try it first Dreamina's FAQ describes free daily credits for images and videos; check the amount and model in your own account.
- Anyone expecting a single fixed Seedream The Seed page, BytePlus and Dreamina name different versions, so results and prices are not interchangeable.
How much does Seedream cost?
Some details not confirmed · checked
Regional prices: API prices are in USD per output image from the BytePlus billing page read on 6 Oct 2026; tax, regional pricing and any enterprise discount were not checked.
The product page's pack prices are first-purchase offers. Dreamina's free daily credit amount and any paid Dreamina plan were not published on the pages we could read (dreamina.capcut.com/pricing returned a not-found page), so no Dreamina price is quoted. The free-credit route applies to Dreamina, not to the API.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Dreamina free credits | Free daily credits sourceFrom docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/ModelArk/1544106, checked Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) | Dreamina's FAQ says it provides free daily credits for images and videos with no upfront payment. The amount, expiry and which Seedream version they cover are not stated on the page we read. |
| Seedream 5.0 Pro (API) | $0.045 per image up to 2.61 million pixels; $0.09 above sourceFrom docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/ModelArk/1544106, checked Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) | Billed per output image. The first input image is free; from the 2nd image, $0.003 each. Layer decomposition costs $0.0225 per layer up to 2.61 million pixels and $0.045 above. |
| Seedream 5.0 Flash (API) | $0.018 per image sourceFrom docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/ModelArk/1544106, checked Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) | Input images are free. Images that are not output because of content moderation are not billed. |
| Seedream 5.0 Lite (API) | $0.035 per image sourceFrom docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/ModelArk/1544106, checked Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) | Input images are free. Sequential image generation is billed by the number of images actually generated. |
| Seedream 4.5 (API) | $0.04 per image sourceFrom docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/ModelArk/1544106, checked Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) | Input images are free. Sequential generation is billed by images actually generated. |
| Seedream 4.0 (API) | $0.03 per image sourceFrom docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/ModelArk/1544106, checked Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) | Input images are free. Sequential generation is billed by images actually generated. |
| Seedream 5.0 Pro image packs | $6.99 for 310 images; $24.99 for 800; $49.99 for 1,555 sourceFrom docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/ModelArk/1544106, checked Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) | The BytePlus product page lists these as first-purchase offers, valid 30 days, with unused quota expiring. Listed original prices are $13.99, $35.99 and $69.99. The page does not say whether packs can be bought again at other prices. |
Taxes, currency and promotions can change the price you see at checkout.
Try Seedream free (opens in a new tab)
Key features
| Feature | What it does | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Text-to-image and prompt-based editing in one model (Seedream 4.0 page) | — | |
| Multiple reference images in, several outputs per request (Seedream 4.0 page) | — | |
| Output up to 4K resolution (Seedream 4.0 page) | — | |
| Layer decomposition on Seedream 5.0 Pro (billing page) | — | |
| Sequential image generation on 5.0 Lite, 4.5 and 4.0 (billing page) | — |
Which Seedream are you buying?
Seedream is a model family, not one app, and the three official pages we read show different versions. The ByteDance Seed page describes Seedream 4.0 as a single model for generation and editing with output up to 4K. The BytePlus product page sells Seedream 5.0 Pro through an API, and the Dreamina homepage names Seedream 5.0 Lite as its image model. We cannot tell from these pages whether the same prompt gives the same result on each, so check the version before you compare outputs or costs. The Seed page for 5.0 could not be read.
What the API costs for a batch
BytePlus bills each output image at a fixed price set by model, and by resolution for 5.0 Pro. Using the billing page rates, 100 images cost $1.80 on Flash, $4.50 on 5.0 Pro at 1.5K or lower, and $9.00 on 5.0 Pro above 2.61 million pixels, before any extra reference images ($0.003 each from the second). Images that are not delivered because of content moderation are not billed. The 310-image pack at $6.99 works out to about $0.023 an image, but it is a first-purchase offer, so it is not a price you can plan a second month on.
Which API model fits your job?
The five API models differ in price and in which extra features the billing page lists for them:
- 5.0 Flash, $0.018 per image: the lowest listed rate, with no extra feature named beyond free input images.
- 4.0 at $0.03, 5.0 Lite at $0.035 and 4.5 at $0.04: all three support sequential image generation, where you pay only for images that actually come out.
- 5.0 Pro, $0.045 per image or $0.09 above 2.61 million pixels: the one model with layer decomposition, at $0.0225 per layer in the lower resolution band.
Where the free route stops
Dreamina is the only free route we found, and its page says free daily credits exist without saying how many. Its pricing address returned a not-found page when we checked, so we quote no Dreamina subscription price. If you need predictable volume, the API’s published per-image rates are the only figures we can verify.
Proposed evaluation, not performed: pick one reference photo and one prompt, generate the same image in Dreamina with free credits and through the BytePlus API on Flash and on 5.0 Pro at 1.5K. Record the model name each surface shows, the credits or dollars each run consumes, and whether the result keeps the reference subject. The result would show which version and cost fit your task; it would not show quality on other prompts or at 4K.
Is Seedream worth it?
Documentation review plus dated public user reports. Documentation review, not tested hands-on. Not scored.
Worth it if
- You are adding image generation to a product and want spend to follow output: every API image has a published per-image rate and no subscription is required.
- You run high-volume batches on a fixed budget: 5.0 Flash is $0.018 per image, and outputs blocked by content moderation are not charged.
- You want to try Seedream before paying anything: Dreamina's FAQ describes free daily credits that need no upfront payment.
Probably not if
- You need to know your free allowance before you start: Dreamina publishes neither the daily credit amount nor a paid plan price on the pages read.
- You need large output on a tight budget: 5.0 Pro moves from $0.045 to $0.09 per image once output passes 2.61 million pixels.
- You must clear commercial-use or data-handling terms from this page alone: the licence and data terms were not checked, so confirm them with the provider first.
Seedream alternatives
Other images & design tools checked with the same method. Pick by the job, not by a score.
AI images, video and audio inside an Adobe workflow
Rigged 3D avatars from a selfie for games and apps
AI images placed straight into templated designs
Turning a written story into a character-consistent comic series, and optionally a short film
Homeowners, stagers, short-term rental hosts and designers who want quick room redesign concepts from a real photo before spending on furniture or paint
Lifestyle scenes from existing product photos
Product-photo background replacement and batch exports
YouTube thumbnails and titles from prompts or references
Used Seedream? Write the first review. Visitor opinions are moderated and kept separate from our source checks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Seedream free?
Not through the API, which charges from $0.018 to $0.09 per output image depending on the model. Dreamina's FAQ says it gives free daily credits, but the page we read gives no amount and does not say which Seedream version they use, so check your account before planning around them.
Who makes Seedream?
The ByteDance Seed team publishes it at seed.bytedance.com. BytePlus sells API access, and Dreamina offers it in a web app. We did not check licence terms or where data is processed, so read the terms for your use before uploading private images.
How much does Seedream cost per image?
On the BytePlus API it costs $0.018 per image on 5.0 Flash, $0.03 on 4.0, $0.035 on 5.0 Lite, $0.04 on 4.5 and $0.045 on 5.0 Pro, which rises to $0.09 for output above 2.61 million pixels. There is no subscription. On 5.0 Pro, every reference image after the first adds $0.003.
Can Seedream edit an existing image?
Yes. ByteDance Seed describes Seedream 4.0 as one model that creates images from text and also changes them from a written instruction. It takes several reference images at once, can return more than one result per request and outputs up to 4K. On the API, 5.0 Pro adds layer decomposition, billed per layer.
Sources and method4 official sources · Oct 6, 2026
Sources for this profile
- BytePlus ModelArk billing pagedocs.byteplus.com
- BytePlus Seedream product pagebyteplus.com
- ByteDance Seed, Seedream 4.0seed.bytedance.com
- Dreamina homepage and FAQdreamina.capcut.com
Official pages read on 6 Oct 2026. The Seed page for Seedream 5.0 and the Dreamina pricing page could not be read, so no Dreamina plan price or 5.0 feature claim from the Seed site is made. Seedream's license, commercial-use terms and data handling were not checked. The proposed evaluation has not been performed, and we make no statement on image quality.
Sources checked Oct 6, 2026. Found something out of date? See how we correct profiles.