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

Grok Imagine Image vs Seedream 4.5

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

  1. xAI

    Grok Imagine Image

    Released Jan 28, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,329
    • From$0.02/image
    • Max size2K
    Full specs Remove Grok Imagine Image

  2. ByteDance Seed

    Seedream 4.5

    Released Dec 3, 2025

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,303
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove Seedream 4.5

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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 ImageGrok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25) · Seedream 4.5 1,149 (#35) — blind human votes
  • Preferred for image editingGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image 1,329 (#24) · Seedream 4.5 1,303 (#27) — blind human votes
  • NewestGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026 · Seedream 4.5 Dec 3, 2025
  • Widest inputsSame inputsGrok Imagine Image: Text prompts, Reference images · Seedream 4.5: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image yes · Seedream 4.5 yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsGrok Imagine ImageGrok Imagine Image: 3 · Seedream 4.5: 1
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Grok Imagine Image vs Seedream 4.5 specifications side by side
SpecificationGrok Imagine ImagexAISeedream 4.5ByteDance Seed
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,169 ±3#25 of 82 · 286,515 votes (best)1,149 ±3#35 of 82 · 318,120 votes
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,329 ±2#24 of 61 · 805,966 votes (best)1,303 ±2#27 of 61 · 1,361,328 votes
Price
Starting price$0.02/image 1K–2K—
Extra charges$0.002 per input image—
How it is billedPer image—
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions1K · 2K—
Highest resolution2K—
Largest image2K—
Images per requestUp to 10—
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images5—
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API model IDgrok-imagine-image—
API hosts3 (best)1
ReleasedJan 28, 2026Dec 3, 2025
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Grok Imagine Image or Seedream 4.5?

For text to image, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image (Grok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25) · Seedream 4.5 1,149 (#35)). For image editing, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image (Grok Imagine Image 1,329 (#24) · Seedream 4.5 1,303 (#27)). 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 costs from $0.02/image (1K–2K). Seedream 4.5 has no published per-image price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between Grok Imagine Image and Seedream 4.5?

Grok Imagine Image is an image model from xAI (Jan 28, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. Seedream 4.5 is an image model from ByteDance Seed (Dec 3, 2025), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

Grok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026; Seedream 4.5 Dec 3, 2025.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image yes; Seedream 4.5 yes.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

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

04 — Keep comparing

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