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

Seedream 5.0 Lite vs GLM-Image

Preferred for text to image: Seedream 5.0 Lite · Newest: Seedream 5.0 Lite · Self-hosting: GLM-Image. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. ByteDance Seed

    Seedream 5.0 Lite

    Released Feb 13, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,294
    • From$0.035/image
    • Max size2K
    Full specs Remove Seedream 5.0 Lite

  2. Z.ai (Zhipu)

    GLM-Image

    Released Jan 14, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,012
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove GLM-Image

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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 imageSeedream 5.0 LiteSeedream 5.0 Lite 1,140 (#39) · GLM-Image 1,012 (#76) — blind human votes
  • NewestSeedream 5.0 LiteSeedream 5.0 Lite Feb 13, 2026 · GLM-Image Jan 14, 2026
  • Widest inputsSame inputsSeedream 5.0 Lite: Text prompts, Reference images · GLM-Image: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Seedream 5.0 Lite yes · GLM-Image yes
  • Self-hostingGLM-ImageDownloadable weights (MIT)
  • Most API hostsSame reachSeedream 5.0 Lite: 1 · GLM-Image: 1
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Seedream 5.0 Lite vs GLM-Image specifications side by side
SpecificationSeedream 5.0 LiteByteDance SeedGLM-ImageZ.ai (Zhipu)
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,140 ±3#39 of 82 · 141,120 votes (best)1,012 ±9#76 of 82 · 4,854 votes
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,294 ±3#32 of 61 · 494,805 votes—
Price
Starting price$0.035/image 2K—
How it is billedPer image—
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions2K—
Highest resolution2K—
Largest image2K (about 4 MP)—
Images per requestUp to 4—
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images14—
Access
WeightsProprietaryOpenMIT
API hosts11
ReleasedFeb 13, 2026Jan 14, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Seedream 5.0 Lite or GLM-Image?

For text to image, voters prefer Seedream 5.0 Lite (Seedream 5.0 Lite 1,140 (#39) · GLM-Image 1,012 (#76)). 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 Lite costs from $0.035/image (2K). GLM-Image has no published per-image price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between Seedream 5.0 Lite and GLM-Image?

Seedream 5.0 Lite is an image model from ByteDance Seed (Feb 13, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. GLM-Image is an image model from Z.ai (Zhipu) (Jan 14, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

Seedream 5.0 Lite Feb 13, 2026; GLM-Image Jan 14, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Seedream 5.0 Lite yes; GLM-Image yes.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

GLM-Image. Downloadable weights (MIT).

04 — Keep comparing

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