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

Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Grok Imagine Image

Preferred for text to image: Grok Imagine Image · Preferred for image editing: Grok Imagine Image · Lowest entry price: Grok Imagine 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. 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

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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 ImageSeedream 5.0 Lite 1,140 (#39) · Grok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25) — blind human votes
  • Preferred for image editingGrok Imagine ImageSeedream 5.0 Lite 1,294 (#32) · Grok Imagine Image 1,329 (#24) — blind human votes
  • Lowest entry priceGrok Imagine ImageSeedream 5.0 Lite from $0.035/image (2K) · Grok Imagine Image from $0.02/image (1K–2K)
  • Highest resolutionSame top resolutionSeedream 5.0 Lite: 2K · Grok Imagine Image: 2K
  • NewestSeedream 5.0 LiteSeedream 5.0 Lite Feb 13, 2026 · Grok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026
  • Widest inputsSame inputsSeedream 5.0 Lite: Text prompts, Reference images · Grok Imagine Image: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Seedream 5.0 Lite yes · Grok Imagine Image yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsGrok Imagine ImageSeedream 5.0 Lite: 1 · Grok Imagine Image: 3
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Grok Imagine Image specifications side by side
SpecificationSeedream 5.0 LiteByteDance SeedGrok Imagine ImagexAI
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,140 ±3#39 of 82 · 141,120 votes1,169 ±3#25 of 82 · 286,515 votes (best)
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,294 ±3#32 of 61 · 494,805 votes1,329 ±2#24 of 61 · 805,966 votes (best)
Price
Starting price$0.035/image 2K$0.02/image 1K–2K (best)
Extra charges—$0.002 per input image
How it is billedPer imagePer image
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions2K1K · 2K
Highest resolution2K2K
Largest image2K (about 4 MP)2K
Images per requestUp to 4Up to 10 (best)
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images14 (best)5
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API model ID—grok-imagine-image
API hosts13 (best)
ReleasedFeb 13, 2026Jan 28, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Seedream 5.0 Lite or Grok Imagine Image?

For text to image, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image (Seedream 5.0 Lite 1,140 (#39) · Grok Imagine Image 1,169 (#25)). For image editing, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image (Seedream 5.0 Lite 1,294 (#32) · Grok Imagine Image 1,329 (#24)). 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); Grok Imagine Image costs from $0.02/image (1K–2K). Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite is an image model from ByteDance Seed (Feb 13, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. Grok Imagine Image is an image model from xAI (Jan 28, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

Seedream 5.0 Lite Feb 13, 2026; Grok Imagine Image Jan 28, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Seedream 5.0 Lite yes; Grok Imagine Image 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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