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GPT Image 1.5vs.Seedream 4.0

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Seedream 4.0 has no arena rating yet. Seedream 4.0 has no API price.

Test images

Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.

GPT Image 1.5: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
GPT Image 1.589 out of 100
Seedream 4.0: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
Seedream 4.073 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:GPT Image 1.5 slightly ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting under a transparent umbrella at a rainy tram stop in Hamburg at blue hour. She wears a mustard raincoat, navy trousers, red sneakers, a silver helmet, and carries a teal messenger bag. Keep both hands visible, render the bicycle correctly, use realistic wet-street reflections, and include no readable brand names.

What the rating looks at: Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency.

“Ahead”: better in all three rating rounds. “Slightly ahead”: a higher value, but not in every round.

Test protocol of the images

Each test attempt uses the same archived prompt and one request. The first output of that attempt counts. Repeats after technical test failures are disclosed for the affected images. Files are normalized to 1,024 × 1,024 pixels without cropping. Provider resolution, randomness, quality tier and prompt processing can still differ. The images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

GPT Image 1.5: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:17 PM. Source

Seedream 4.0: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:24 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 0dff52ccd39400ac66ac8870c9ea937512ff1474688e70118688f420c38c2296

Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 81b5aa023fa252472878015448b5ee1cefcbc61844dd6cff98997685d7ab1511

Infographic

GPT Image 1.5: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:17 PM. Source

Seedream 4.0: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 1c9ff59c32621c8b48b002dacb0ae66487262280c7c0a5b3d6456c81b248ebe9

Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 63dcddf4bf7bb58ea0c67eea96f2c71834158568f29ed3b7f2523b56a91e6526

Product photography

GPT Image 1.5: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:16 PM. Source

Seedream 4.0: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:24 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 67cfa2f324447027ceb5f82e9446d40a1395b46ce425890a74606b4d97731cf6

Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 1fbad61d03b05e6cd8523e76409983e86c11c74fca2fa1a14d20f07f0d801519

Typography and layout

GPT Image 1.5: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:59 PM. Source

Seedream 4.0: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 6a4cec86850fd371b65274198e2bf630b3cf36a096f9fb953d4bfe17c3222ebe

Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 029be40f71522352246ad0de0de2e6c1ed2e45608f59c4f0e1be87b4dc2353c1

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,236

GPT Image 1.5

Rank 13 of 21

n/a

Seedream 4.0

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
68

GPT Image 1.5

Rank 29 of 108

62

Seedream 4.0

Rank 47 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.13

GPT Image 1.5

expensive

n/a

Seedream 4.0

no API price

Ranks among the 21 image models with an arena rating and the 108 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.

GPT Image 1.5

Subscription
No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.36 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 42 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.13 per image, 100 images $13.30.

Seedream 4.0

Subscription
No ByteDance subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 16 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: API, Web app.

Subscriptions only count plans that name exactly this model. Subscription prices include VAT, API prices are in dollars.

Arena rating (LMArena) from Nov 6, 2026 · GraduallyBench from Nov 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 6, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (38 days old)

All data side by side

The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.

KennzahlGPT Image 1.5Seedream 4.0
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,236n/a
Arena rankRank 13 of 21n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating173,798n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1006862
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition6065
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details5244
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency8973
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization7267
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.13n/a
100 images$13.30n/a
Profile
ReleasedDecember 2025September 2025
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryproprietary
LifecycleMarked as deprecated by OpenAI; removed from the API on December 1, 2026no notice
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, Web app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output1,536 × 1,024 pixels4K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model4216

API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.

Sources: GPT Image 1.5 model source, status source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · Seedream 4.0 model source (verified Aug 15, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

From blind votes on LMArena. “Ahead” means the lead is clear.

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

The stored benchmark database contains no measurement for GPT Image 1.5 and Seedream 4.0 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

Published specialist tests

This pair shares 38 results from published research benchmarks.

Specialist testspublished research benchmarks · higher is betterGPT Image 1.5Seedream 4.0
GenExam Mathematics, strictGPT Image 1.5: 27%Seedream 4.0: 3%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Physics, strictGPT Image 1.5: 46%Seedream 4.0: 4%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Chemistry, strictGPT Image 1.5: 39%Seedream 4.0: 6%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Biology, strictGPT Image 1.5: 56%Seedream 4.0: 19%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Geography, strictGPT Image 1.5: 61%Seedream 4.0: 11%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Computer science, strictGPT Image 1.5: 36%Seedream 4.0: 7%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Engineering, strictGPT Image 1.5: 44%Seedream 4.0: 12%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Economics, strictGPT Image 1.5: 43%Seedream 4.0: 5%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Music, strictGPT Image 1.5: 29%Seedream 4.0: 0%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam History, strictGPT Image 1.5: 51%Seedream 4.0: 7%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam overall, strictGPT Image 1.5: 43%Seedream 4.0: 7%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Mathematics, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 66%Seedream 4.0: 40%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Physics, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 85%Seedream 4.0: 49%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Chemistry, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 78%Seedream 4.0: 46%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Biology, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 92%Seedream 4.0: 71%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Geography, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 93%Seedream 4.0: 65%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Computer science, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 76%Seedream 4.0: 52%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Engineering, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 86%Seedream 4.0: 60%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Economics, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 86%Seedream 4.0: 56%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam Music, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 71%Seedream 4.0: 35%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam History, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 91%Seedream 4.0: 57%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GenExam overall, relaxedGPT Image 1.5: 82%Seedream 4.0: 53%GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GRADE reasoningGPT Image 1.5: 55 / 100Seedream 4.0: 32 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GRADE consistencyGPT Image 1.5: 82 / 100Seedream 4.0: 53 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GRADE readabilityGPT Image 1.5: 91 / 100Seedream 4.0: 77 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GRADE accuracyGPT Image 1.5: 16 / 100Seedream 4.0: 3 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench Chinese, single-stepGPT Image 1.5: 84 / 100Seedream 4.0: 62 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench Chinese, multi-stepGPT Image 1.5: 57 / 100Seedream 4.0: 49 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench Chinese, fictional appGPT Image 1.5: 60 / 100Seedream 4.0: 49 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench Chinese, real appGPT Image 1.5: 56 / 100Seedream 4.0: 51 / 100level
GEBench Chinese, groundingGPT Image 1.5: 53 / 100Seedream 4.0: 54 / 100level
GEBench Chinese, overallGPT Image 1.5: 63 / 100Seedream 4.0: 53 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench English, single-stepGPT Image 1.5: 81 / 100Seedream 4.0: 53 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench English, multi-stepGPT Image 1.5: 59 / 100Seedream 4.0: 38 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench English, fictional appGPT Image 1.5: 64 / 100Seedream 4.0: 48 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench English, real appGPT Image 1.5: 59 / 100Seedream 4.0: 49 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench English, groundingGPT Image 1.5: 49 / 100Seedream 4.0: 44 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead
GEBench English, overallGPT Image 1.5: 63 / 100Seedream 4.0: 46 / 100GPT Image 1.5 ahead

GenExam from Aug 26, 2026 · GRADE from Aug 26, 2026 · GEBench from Aug 26, 2026

All individual values with sources
RatingGPT Image 1.5Seedream 4.0Source
GenExam Mathematics, strict27%3%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Physics, strict46%4%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Chemistry, strict39%6%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Biology, strict56%19%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Geography, strict61%11%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Computer science, strict36%7%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Engineering, strict44%12%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Economics, strict43%5%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Music, strict29%0%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam History, strict51%7%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam overall, strict43%7%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Mathematics, relaxed66%40%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Physics, relaxed85%49%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Chemistry, relaxed78%46%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Biology, relaxed92%71%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Geography, relaxed93%65%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Computer science, relaxed76%52%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Engineering, relaxed86%60%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Economics, relaxed86%56%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam Music, relaxed71%35%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam History, relaxed91%57%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GenExam overall, relaxed82%53%GenExamRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GRADE reasoning55 / 10032 / 100GRADERetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GRADE consistency82 / 10053 / 100GRADERetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GRADE readability91 / 10077 / 100GRADERetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GRADE accuracy16 / 1003 / 100GRADERetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench Chinese, single-step84 / 10062 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench Chinese, multi-step57 / 10049 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench Chinese, fictional app60 / 10049 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench Chinese, real app56 / 10051 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench Chinese, grounding53 / 10054 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench Chinese, overall63 / 10053 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench English, single-step81 / 10053 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench English, multi-step59 / 10038 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench English, fictional app64 / 10048 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench English, real app59 / 10049 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench English, grounding49 / 10044 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026
GEBench English, overall63 / 10046 / 100GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026

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