Recraft V4.1 Utility Pro vs Seedream 5.0 Pro
Preferred for text to image: Seedream 5.0 Pro · Newest: Seedream 5.0 Pro · Widest inputs: Seedream 5.0 Pro. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.
RecraftRecraft V4.1 Utility Pro
- Arena1,168
- From—
- Max size—
ByteDance SeedSeedream 5.0 Pro
- Arena1,390
- From$0.045/image
- Max size2K
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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 imageSeedream 5.0 ProRecraft V4.1 Utility Pro 1,168 (#26) · Seedream 5.0 Pro 1,250 (#14) — blind human votes
- NewestSeedream 5.0 ProRecraft V4.1 Utility Pro May 14, 2026 · Seedream 5.0 Pro Jul 11, 2026
- Widest inputsSeedream 5.0 ProRecraft V4.1 Utility Pro: Text prompts · Seedream 5.0 Pro: Text prompts, Reference images
- Image editingSeedream 5.0 ProTakes a reference image as input: Recraft V4.1 Utility Pro no · Seedream 5.0 Pro yes
- Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
- Most API hostsSame reachRecraft V4.1 Utility Pro: 1 · Seedream 5.0 Pro: 1
Every spec in one table
Dashes mean the data is not published.
| Specification | Recraft V4.1 Utility ProRecraft | Seedream 5.0 ProByteDance Seed |
|---|---|---|
| Quality (blind human votes) | ||
| Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better | 1,168 ±11#26 of 82 · 2,618 votes | 1,250 ±4#14 of 82 · 105,824 votes (best) |
| Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better | — | 1,390 ±3#13 of 61 · 317,111 votes |
| Price | ||
| Starting price | — | $0.045/image 1K |
| Top price | — | $0.09/image 2K |
| How it is billed | — | Per image |
| Output | ||
| Produces | Images | Images |
| Resolutions | — | 1K · 2K |
| Highest resolution | — | 2K |
| Largest image | — | 2K (about 4 MP) |
| Images per request | — | Up to 1 |
| Inputs | ||
| Text prompts | Yes | Yes |
| Reference images (editing) | No | Yes |
| Max reference images | — | 14 |
| Access | ||
| Weights | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| API hosts | 1 | 1 |
| Released | May 14, 2026 | Jul 11, 2026 |
Which should you choose?
Which is better, Recraft V4.1 Utility Pro or Seedream 5.0 Pro?
For text to image, voters prefer Seedream 5.0 Pro (Recraft V4.1 Utility Pro 1,168 (#26) · Seedream 5.0 Pro 1,250 (#14)). 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?
Seedream 5.0 Pro costs from $0.045/image (1K), up to $0.09/image (2K). Recraft V4.1 Utility Pro has no published per-image price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.
What is the difference between Recraft V4.1 Utility Pro and Seedream 5.0 Pro?
Recraft V4.1 Utility Pro is an image model from Recraft (May 14, 2026), taking text prompts 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?
Recraft V4.1 Utility Pro May 14, 2026; Seedream 5.0 Pro Jul 11, 2026.
Which can edit an existing image?
Takes a reference image as input: Recraft V4.1 Utility Pro no; 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.
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