Seedream 4.0 vs Seedream 5.0 Pro

Seedream 4.0 (ByteDance) vs Seedream 5.0 Pro (ByteDance), compared on price, context, speed and Arabic support. Both run on thalam through one OpenAI-compatible API, so you can switch between them with a single model id change. At a glance, Seedream 4.0 is the cheaper option and Seedream 4.0 is rated faster.

Specs side by side

SpecSeedream 4.0Seedream 5.0 Pro
ProviderByteDanceByteDance
TypeImageImage
Price$0.030 / image$0.045 / image
SpeedFastMedium
Arabic supportPartialNone

Which should you choose?

Choose Seedream 4.0 if…
  • Lower cost, about 1.5× cheaper ($0.030 / image)
  • Rated faster (Fast) for latency-sensitive workloads
  • Stronger Arabic support for Gulf and MENA use
Choose Seedream 5.0 Pro if…
  • The top tier of the Seedream 5 line. Single-image output up to 2K, with multi-image fusion for style and character references
Run both Seedream 4.0 and Seedream 5.0 Pro on one API

One OpenAI-compatible endpoint, one bill. Switch between them with a single model id change, pay per use, credits never expire.

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FAQ

What's the difference between Seedream 4.0 and Seedream 5.0 Pro?

Seedream 4.0 costs less ($0.030 / image vs $0.045 / image); Seedream 4.0 is rated faster; Seedream 4.0 has stronger Arabic support. Both are available on thalam behind one OpenAI-compatible API.

Is Seedream 4.0 or Seedream 5.0 Pro cheaper?

Seedream 4.0 is cheaper on input ($0.030 / image vs $0.045 / image). On thalam you pay per use, so you can route cheap-by-default and fall back to the other only when needed.

Can I use both Seedream 4.0 and Seedream 5.0 Pro with one API key?

Yes. thalam is OpenAI-compatible, so both models are reachable through the same endpoint. Switching between them is a one-line model id change, no code rewrite.