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

MiniMax H3 vs Seedance 2.5

Preferred for text to video: Too close to call · Preferred for image to video: MiniMax H3 · Self-hosting: MiniMax H3. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. MiniMax

    MiniMax H3

    Released Jul 31, 2026

    • Text to video
    • Image to video
    • Video editing
    • Audio input
    • Native audio
    • Arena1,495
    • From—
    • Max length—
    Full specs Remove MiniMax H3

  2. ByteDance Seed

    Seedance 2.5

    Released Jul 31, 2026

    • Text to video
    • Image to video
    • Video editing
    • Audio input
    • Native audio
    • Arena1,477
    • From$0.103/s
    • Max length30 s
    Full specs Remove Seedance 2.5

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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 videoToo close to callMiniMax H3 1,460 (#8) · Seedance 2.5 1,474 (#7) — blind human votes
  • Preferred for image to videoMiniMax H3MiniMax H3 1,495 (#1) · Seedance 2.5 1,477 (#4) — blind human votes
  • NewestSame release dateMiniMax H3 Jul 31, 2026 · Seedance 2.5 Jul 31, 2026
  • Widest inputsSame inputsMiniMax H3: Text prompts, Reference images, Audio, Video · Seedance 2.5: Text prompts, Reference images, Audio, Video
  • Native audioBoth generate soundGenerates an audio track with the video: MiniMax H3 yes · Seedance 2.5 yes
  • Image to videoBoth animate imagesStarts from an uploaded image: MiniMax H3 yes · Seedance 2.5 yes
  • Self-hostingMiniMax H3Downloadable weights (MiniMax H3 Community License Agreement)
  • Most API hostsSame reachMiniMax H3: 1 · Seedance 2.5: 1
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

MiniMax H3 vs Seedance 2.5 specifications side by side
SpecificationMiniMax H3MiniMaxSeedance 2.5ByteDance Seed
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,460 ±9#8 of 48 · 11,417 votes1,474 ±9#7 of 48 · 8,001 votes (best)
Image to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,495 ±5#1 of 48 · 57,112 votes (best)1,477 ±7#4 of 48 · 15,729 votes
Price
Starting price—$0.103/s 480p
10-second clip—$1.03at the starting rate
How it is billed—Billed per video token ($10.70 per million); higher at 720p.
Output
ProducesVideo with soundVideo with sound
Resolutions—480p · 720p
Highest resolution—720p
Clip length—4–30 s
Longest clip—30 s
SoundAlways generatedOptional
Frame control—First and last frame
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Start image (image to video)YesYes
Video inputYesYes
Audio inputYesYes
References—Up to 50 image, video and audio assets
Access
WeightsOpenMiniMax H3 Community License AgreementProprietary
API hosts11
ReleasedJul 31, 2026Jul 31, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, MiniMax H3 or Seedance 2.5?

For text to video, voters rate them about the same (MiniMax H3 1,460 (#8) · Seedance 2.5 1,474 (#7)). For image to video, voters prefer MiniMax H3 (MiniMax H3 1,495 (#1) · Seedance 2.5 1,477 (#4)). 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?

Seedance 2.5 costs from $0.103/s (480p). A 10-second clip at the lowest rate: Seedance 2.5 $1.03. MiniMax H3 has no published per-second price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

How long can the videos be, and at what resolution?

MiniMax H3: length not published; Seedance 2.5: 4–30 s, 480p / 720p.

What is the difference between MiniMax H3 and Seedance 2.5?

MiniMax H3 is a video model from MiniMax (Jul 31, 2026), taking text prompts, reference images, audio and video and producing video with sound. Seedance 2.5 is a video model from ByteDance Seed (Jul 31, 2026), taking text prompts, reference images, audio and video and producing video with sound.

Which is newer?

MiniMax H3 Jul 31, 2026; Seedance 2.5 Jul 31, 2026.

Which generates video with sound?

Generates an audio track with the video: MiniMax H3 yes; Seedance 2.5 yes.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

MiniMax H3. Downloadable weights (MiniMax H3 Community License Agreement).

04 — Keep comparing

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