Image model comparison · 2 models · Updated Nov 2, 2026

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 vs Seedream 5.0 Pro

Preferred for text to image: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 · Preferred for image editing: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 · Lowest entry price: Grok Imagine Image 2.0. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

xAI
Grok Imagine Image 2.0
Released Aug 7, 2026
- Text to image
- Image editing
- Arena1,439
- From$0.04/image
- Max size2K
Full specs Remove Grok Imagine Image 2.0
ByteDance Seed
Seedream 5.0 Pro
Released Jul 11, 2026
- Text to image
- Image editing
- Arena1,390
- From$0.045/image
- Max size2K
Full specs Remove Seedream 5.0 Pro
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01 — At a glance

Where they differ

Quality is the arena score from blind, side-by-side human votes. Price, length and resolution come from each lab’s own listings.

Preferred for text to imageGrok Imagine Image 2.0Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,317 (#6) · Seedream 5.0 Pro 1,250 (#14) — blind human votes
Preferred for image editingGrok Imagine Image 2.0Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,439 (#5) · Seedream 5.0 Pro 1,390 (#13) — blind human votes
Lowest entry priceGrok Imagine Image 2.0Grok Imagine Image 2.0 from $0.04/image (1K, low) · Seedream 5.0 Pro from $0.045/image (1K)
Highest resolutionSame top resolutionGrok Imagine Image 2.0: 2K · Seedream 5.0 Pro: 2K
NewestGrok Imagine Image 2.0Grok Imagine Image 2.0 Aug 7, 2026 · Seedream 5.0 Pro Jul 11, 2026
Widest inputsSame inputsGrok Imagine Image 2.0: Text prompts, Reference images · Seedream 5.0 Pro: Text prompts, Reference images
Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 yes · Seedream 5.0 Pro yes
Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
Most API hostsGrok Imagine Image 2.0Grok Imagine Image 2.0: 3 · Seedream 5.0 Pro: 1

02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 vs Seedream 5.0 Pro specifications side by side
Specification	Grok Imagine Image 2.0xAI	Seedream 5.0 ProByteDance Seed
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better	1,317 ±7#6 of 82 · 10,902 votes (best)	1,250 ±4#14 of 82 · 105,824 votes
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better	1,439 ±6#5 of 61 · 32,951 votes (best)	1,390 ±3#13 of 61 · 317,111 votes
Price
Starting price	$0.04/image 1K, low (best)	$0.045/image 1K
Top price	$0.08/image 2K, medium	$0.09/image 2K
Extra charges	$0.01 per input image	—
How it is billed	Per image	Per image
Output
Produces	Images	Images
Resolutions	1K · 1.5K · 2K	1K · 2K
Highest resolution	2K	2K
Largest image	2K	2K (about 4 MP)
Images per request	Up to 10 (best)	Up to 1
Inputs
Text prompts	Yes	Yes
Reference images (editing)	Yes	Yes
Max reference images	5	14 (best)
Access
Weights	Proprietary	Proprietary
API hosts	3 (best)	1
Released	Aug 7, 2026	Jul 11, 2026

03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Grok Imagine Image 2.0 or Seedream 5.0 Pro?

For text to image, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image 2.0 (Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,317 (#6) · Seedream 5.0 Pro 1,250 (#14)). For image editing, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image 2.0 (Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,439 (#5) · Seedream 5.0 Pro 1,390 (#13)). Arena scores come from blind, side-by-side human votes on the same prompts; when the gap is inside both models’ error margins we call it a tie. Test your own prompts before you commit.

Which is cheaper?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 costs from $0.04/image (1K, low), up to $0.08/image (2K, medium); Seedream 5.0 Pro costs from $0.045/image (1K), up to $0.09/image (2K). Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between Grok Imagine Image 2.0 and Seedream 5.0 Pro?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 is an image model from xAI (Aug 7, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. Seedream 5.0 Pro is an image model from ByteDance Seed (Jul 11, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 Aug 7, 2026; Seedream 5.0 Pro Jul 11, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 yes; Seedream 5.0 Pro yes.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

No open weights. Both are available only through APIs and apps.