Head-to-head comparison

MAI-Image-2.5 vs. Seedream 5.0 Pro

Compare shared capability tests, arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Research benchmarks, preference arenas, and our n = 1 samples remain separate.

shared result series: 15
shared sample prompts: 4
latest arena retrieval: 2026-09-22

First image modelSecond image model

Specifications and cost

General specifications and task-specific pricing

A model can have one price for generating new images and another for editing. Prices therefore remain tied to the corresponding arena configuration.

Specifications and pricing for MAI-Image-2.5 and Seedream 5.0 Pro
Attribute	MAI-Image-2.5	Seedream 5.0 Pro
Provider	Microsoft AI	ByteDance
Released	June 2026	July 2026
Access	API, Web app	API, Web app
Lifecycle	Preview in Microsoft Foundry Status source	No separate lifecycle notice
Weights	Proprietary	Proprietary
Parameters	20 billion	Not published
Maximum output	1,048,576 pixels	2K
Arena configuration	No separate configuration named	No separate configuration named
Text-to-image price	$48.1 per 1,000 images	$90 per 1,000 images
Editing price	$48.1 per 1,000 images	$90 per 1,000 images
Technical source	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15

MAI-Image-2.5Seedream 5.0 Pro

Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

MAI-Image-2.5$48.1

Seedream 5.0 Pro$90

Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

MAI-Image-2.5$48.1

Seedream 5.0 Pro$90

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Both checkpoints completed the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, 30 archived first outputs are ranked in three differently ordered, model-blind passes. The published 0-100 value normalizes the mean rank. It must still be read as an n = 1 sample per model. No exact shared result from the integrated research benchmarks is available for this pair.

MAI-Image-2.5Seedream 5.0 Pro

Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

MAI-Image-2.582.8 / 100

Seedream 5.0 Pro48.3 / 100

Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

MAI-Image-2.579.3 / 100

Seedream 5.0 Pro70.1 / 100

Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

MAI-Image-2.520.7 / 100

Seedream 5.0 Pro18.4 / 100

Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

MAI-Image-2.564.4 / 100

Seedream 5.0 Pro92 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for MAI-Image-2.5 and Seedream 5.0 Pro
Benchmark	MAI-Image-2.5	Seedream 5.0 Pro
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout	Higher blind-rank score82.8 / 100 Mean rank: 6 (3 / 7 / 8) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.67 / 2 Layout: 1.67 / 2	48.3 / 100 Mean rank: 16 (11 / 21 / 16) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.67 / 2 Layout: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography	Higher blind-rank score79.3 / 100 Mean rank: 7 (6 / 12 / 3) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.67 / 2 Time: 1.67 / 2 Watch details: 1.67 / 2 Photography: 1.67 / 2 Exclusions: 1.67 / 2	70.1 / 100 Mean rank: 9.67 (10 / 13 / 6) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.67 / 2 Time: 1.67 / 2 Watch details: 1.67 / 2 Photography: 1.67 / 2 Exclusions: 1.67 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail	Higher blind-rank score20.7 / 100 Mean rank: 24 (24 / 21 / 27) Five rubric scores Scene: 1 / 2 Wardrobe: 1 / 2 Anatomy: 1 / 2 Props: 1 / 2 Environment: 1 / 2	18.4 / 100 Mean rank: 24.67 (27 / 28 / 19) Five rubric scores Scene: 1 / 2 Wardrobe: 1 / 2 Anatomy: 1 / 2 Props: 1 / 2 Environment: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic	64.4 / 100 Mean rank: 11.33 (11 / 12 / 11) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1.33 / 2 Labels: 1 / 2 Diagram: 1.67 / 2 Clarity: 1.33 / 2	Higher blind-rank score92 / 100 Mean rank: 3.33 (3 / 3 / 4) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1.67 / 2 Labels: 1.67 / 2 Diagram: 1.67 / 2 Clarity: 1.67 / 2
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Independent preference tests

Shared arena benchmarks

Artificial Analysis and Arena derive scores from blind comparisons. Raters see outputs for the same prompt and choose the image they prefer. Separate series cover text rendering, photorealism, portraits, art, commercial design, and image editing. Confidence intervals indicate how certain a measured lead is.

11 shared result series

MAI-Image-2.5Seedream 5.0 Pro

Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,103 Elo

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,078 Elo

Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,113 Elo

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,107 Elo

LMArena Text to Image: 3D modelingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,248.552

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,251.535

LMArena Text to Image: ArtBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,277.455

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,266.222

LMArena Text to Image: CartoonBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,269.579

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,271.336

LMArena Text to Image: Commercial designBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,260.92

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,234.55

LMArena Text to Image: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,254.072

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,257.104

LMArena Text to Image: PhotorealismBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,250.943

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,280.52

LMArena Text to Image: PortraitsBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,257.755

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,294.768

LMArena Text to Image: Text renderingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,282.526

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,254.645

LMArena Image Editing: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

MAI-Image-2.51,400.21

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,394.483

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for MAI-Image-2.5 and Seedream 5.0 Pro
Benchmark	MAI-Image-2.5	Seedream 5.0 Pro	Source
Text to Image Arena	Higher score1,103 Elo Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 14,914 ratings	1,078 Elo Rank 15, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 12,712 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22
Image Editing Arena	No clear lead1,113 Elo Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 12,485 ratings	1,107 Elo Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 12,341 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22
LMArena Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,248.552 Rank 11, 95% confidence interval: ±9.04, 5,230 ratings	No clear lead1,251.535 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9.34, 5,228 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Art	No clear lead1,277.455 Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±7.76, 8,400 ratings	1,266.222 Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±7.98, 9,013 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Cartoon	1,269.579 Rank 11, 95% confidence interval: ±5.93, 22,528 ratings	No clear lead1,271.336 Rank 10, 95% confidence interval: ±6.62, 23,116 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Commercial design	Higher score1,260.92 Rank 10, 95% confidence interval: ±5.97, 20,864 ratings	1,234.55 Rank 16, 95% confidence interval: ±6.49, 20,354 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Overall	1,254.072 Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±4.28, 57,250 ratings	No clear lead1,257.104 Rank 10, 95% confidence interval: ±4.32, 62,443 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Photorealism	1,250.943 Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±5.89, 21,971 ratings	Higher score1,280.52 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±6.51, 24,022 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Portraits	1,257.755 Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±7.1, 10,873 ratings	Higher score1,294.768 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±7.7, 12,341 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Text rendering	Higher score1,282.526 Rank 11, 95% confidence interval: ±6.17, 19,611 ratings	1,254.645 Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±6.65, 20,000 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Image Editing: Overall	No clear lead1,400.21 Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±3.76, 174,744 ratings	1,394.483 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±3.59, 179,966 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Visual comparison

Sample images

Our images complement preference data, but do not replace it. The prompt, request count, and selection rule match. Provider resolution, quality tier, randomness, and prompt processing remain visible limitations, so this is not a fully controlled laboratory test.

Largely standardized comparison protocol. Both models receive the same archived prompt, exactly one request, and the first result counts. Files are normalized to 1,024 × 1,024 pixels without cropping. Provider resolution, randomness, quality tier, and prompt processing can still differ. These images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency

Prompt and settings

Create 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.

MAI-Image-2.5. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048508, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 PM. Source
Seedream 5.0 Pro. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.045000, model ID bytedance-seed/seedream-5-0-pro, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:32 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

MAI-Image-2.5, image SHA 256: ca1c58688ae4601975d7e1f7b58bb43a0a999e736f610d9f51cd11e06284bced

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: 40fc54cbcee64f9045c44e702e013b649a0d8bbd7f8e2390d839bc38ee183b90

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: 06eb1919b5157094ba0ecf0ddcfb921ebbfc937c496cee7627f4717fdd4a7d90

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: b87da08d3dc323cc39777805d520115b9c2a5c2c546e4255f76350cfced21c93

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Prompt and settings

Create a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly four numbered steps in this order: 1 LICHT, 2 WASSER, 3 CO₂, 4 ZUCKER + SAUERSTOFF. Use a clean editorial science style with one plant cross-section, simple arrows, high contrast, legible labels, and no other text.

MAI-Image-2.5. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048538, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 PM. Source
Seedream 5.0 Pro. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.045000, model ID bytedance-seed/seedream-5-0-pro, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:34 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

MAI-Image-2.5, image SHA 256: eaf00a906231e8859f98ef5dc2cce7e8017797819aea453305a4ef0e970d4dbf

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: bbedc701e9933a8d6ed0fbb2a6fbb7214214fad9d32d9ae80a114a7254a0bcf1

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: bec4d5de9deed41729f7e7d93f77450e76ddd0f579b5f0c74244a25e0c03a224

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: 6378a9ed943b1c15141e5f0f7889734e6c1dd936829106b7673862af0dc0618b

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Prompt and settings

Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing upright on dark green marble. The watch has a cream dial, thin black hands set to 10:10, twelve distinct hour markers, a realistic crown, and a dark brown leather strap. Soft window light from the left, controlled reflections, shallow depth of field, no text, no logo, no extra objects.

MAI-Image-2.5. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048513, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:25 PM. Source
Seedream 5.0 Pro. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.045000, model ID bytedance-seed/seedream-5-0-pro, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:29 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

MAI-Image-2.5, image SHA 256: 67d4930b711fac61482231c4bc270cfcdb41c1b0daf653045781fb2126e237dd

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: 071e156eeb3e65e6744b7c6b675ffcb32b551dcfc1033a55e30e9561c0bd78a9

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: fd38abd0e7bde742e8e859fbcbc76e4e96f443673445378a42364bc56382ac57

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: fd964253baf8416825b563e8e84be2ed24f4f650f2f364ca15beb60541050585

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Prompt and settings

Create a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show the exact German headline MONDFALTER and the exact subline BERLIN NACH LISSABON. Use a restrained midnight-blue and warm-cream palette, one stylized moth, strong Swiss-grid typography, generous negative space, and no additional words or logos.

MAI-Image-2.5. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048473, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:03 PM. Source
Seedream 5.0 Pro. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.045000, model ID bytedance-seed/seedream-5-0-pro, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:05 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

MAI-Image-2.5, image SHA 256: 4c8a60555b57b8c3b5ebaa131371d1bba9d31bfafe7aaa772554969f7c28cb08

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: f14577273bd6b0980f49e13988b01555bb55dc824317b201b5fab3d2ef72e666

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: 4e9693d5da3e445b69cc5da6f869caddb88ca5560f010556b168ac8e9aaa70b2

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: 4158892e26a143eaab8c23a0c9d6897a7510af309ae06a2c234f6bbc41854e2c

How to read this comparison

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

A higher arena score means this specific configuration was preferred more often in blind comparisons.

Typography, character consistency, local execution, licensing, and price may matter more to your workload than overall visual appeal.

Prices cover 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels using settings documented by Artificial Analysis. Subscriptions and special rates are excluded.

More matchups

Compare MAI-Image-2.5 and Seedream 5.0 Pro with other important image models under the same evidence rules. Each page shows only exact shared measurements and samples.

View the complete image model comparison

MAI-Image-2.5 vs. Seedream 5.0 Pro

Change image model selection

General specifications and task-specific pricing

Shared capability benchmarks

Shared arena benchmarks

Sample images

Character and detail

Infographic

Product photography

Typography and layout

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

Related image model comparisons