Ideogram 4.0vs.Seedream 4.5
Which one is better?
In our own test both are on par. Neither is in the arena. Seedream 4.5 has no API price.
Test images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
Result for “Infographic”:Ideogram 4.0 ahead
What the rating looks at: Numbers, labels, and visual organization.
“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
Ideogram 4.0: together, requested 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:28 PM. Source
Seedream 4.5: fal, requested native 2048x2048 square, n=1, seed=607017308, estimated cost $0.040000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 2, 2026, 2:50 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
Ideogram 4.0 image SHA 256: d63d24515e4c3a8b7feafecaf995a511433307ae5faae1a1c26b2f0289578af9
Seedream 4.5 image SHA 256: 614d5b810be9f7cc54c999fb930e5bb1a7a5b58f7211a3b71aa92e83a360cf78
Infographic
Ideogram 4.0: together, requested 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:28 PM. Source
Seedream 4.5: fal, requested native 2048x2048 square, n=1, seed=467481828, estimated cost $0.040000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 2, 2026, 2:51 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
Ideogram 4.0 image SHA 256: f57e6f5b7ae9038953087720387aa4a901832a1794dbb5e3f337f9d3ef213d62
Seedream 4.5 image SHA 256: ec1e2be1080670edf050cff00a094ff471c1b480a11a3922cf8c25f0ef0f6a5e
Product photography
Ideogram 4.0: together, requested 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:27 PM. Source
Seedream 4.5: fal, requested native 2048x2048 square, n=1, seed=1880157282, estimated cost $0.040000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 2, 2026, 2:50 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
Ideogram 4.0 image SHA 256: 59b59cf5294653460f06085eedcfeb676b8c50f88f58f038b32659841f0500dd
Seedream 4.5 image SHA 256: 48a36dede8c680fa8e2231ac33a95b1417dcded96ad753c98218cc78ed96a65b
Typography and layout
Ideogram 4.0: together, requested 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source
Seedream 4.5: fal, requested native 2048x2048 square, n=1, seed=775629027, estimated cost $0.040000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 2, 2026, 2:50 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
Ideogram 4.0 image SHA 256: 088eabf7b8c37bd377011dd2649a2deeee49ffb903e4798a6930bb94144f1eb4
Seedream 4.5 image SHA 256: 62d4e5b0b3c9ca5a55952dc2c5aca878ed687c76f302ad632136bd3e6bee3872
The numbers at a glance
Ideogram 4.0
not in the arena
Seedream 4.5
not in the arena
Ideogram 4.0
Rank 57 of 108
Seedream 4.5
Rank 64 of 108
Ideogram 4.0
fairly cheap
Seedream 4.5
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.
Ideogram 4.0
- Subscription
- Free to use at Ideogram (Ideogram Free, with limited credits), more from ≈ €21.20 a month (Ideogram Plus, with limited credits). Through other providers from ≈ €9.54 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 16 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- $0.06 per image, 100 images $6.
- License
- Open weights.
Seedream 4.5
- Subscription
- No ByteDance / Volcengine subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.36 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 39 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
- Weights
- unknown.
Subscriptions only count plans that name exactly this model. Subscription prices include VAT, API prices are in dollars.
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.
| Kennzahl | Ideogram 4.0 | Seedream 4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better | n/a | n/a |
| Arena rank | n/a | n/a |
| Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating | n/a | n/a |
| GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 | 55 | 48 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 67 | 84 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 22 | 44 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 59 | 37 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 73 | 27 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | $0.06 | n/a |
| 100 images | $6 | n/a |
| Profile | ||
| Released | June 2026 | n/a |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | open | unknown |
| Lifecycle | no notice | Still-listed T2I/I2I model ID; Ark marks it as pending shutdown without giving a date in the reviewed source |
| Access | API, Web app, local | API, Web app |
| Parameters | 9.3 billion | not published |
| Largest output | 2K | not consistently published |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | 16 | 39 |
API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.
Sources: Ideogram 4.0 model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · Seedream 4.5 model source, status source (verified Nov 1, 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 Ideogram 4.0 and Seedream 4.5 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
More comparisons
Compare Ideogram 4.0 and Seedream 4.5 with the models people compare them with most often.