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Head-to-head comparison

Nano Banana 2 Lite vs. Seedream 5.0 Pro

Compare arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Text-to-image generation and image editing are never blended into an artificial overall score.

12

shared result series

4

shared sample prompts

2026-08-16

latest arena retrieval

Change image model selection

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 Nano Banana 2 Lite and Seedream 5.0 Pro
AttributeNano Banana 2 LiteSeedream 5.0 Pro
ProviderGoogleByteDance
ReleasedJune 2026July 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, Web app
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
ParametersNot publishedNot published
Maximum output1K2K
Arena configurationGemini 3.1 Flash Lite ImageNo separate configuration named
Text-to-image price$33.6 per 1,000 images$90 per 1,000 images
Editing price$33.6 per 1,000 images$90 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Nano Banana 2 LiteSeedream 5.0 Pro
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6Lower price
Seedream 5.0 Pro$90
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6Lower price
Seedream 5.0 Pro$90

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.

12 shared result series
Nano Banana 2 LiteSeedream 5.0 Pro
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,292 EloNo clear arena lead
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,282 Elo
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,200 Elo
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,250 EloHigher arena score
Arena Text to Image: 3D modelingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,225.619 arena points
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,244.482 arena pointsNo clear arena lead
Arena Text to Image: ArtBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,256.202 arena points
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,265.974 arena pointsNo clear arena lead
Arena Text to Image: CartoonBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,258.29 arena points
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,271.272 arena pointsNo clear arena lead
Arena Text to Image: Commercial designBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,250.568 arena pointsHigher arena score
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,232.843 arena points
Arena Text to Image: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,250.916 arena points
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,256.865 arena pointsNo clear arena lead
Arena Text to Image: PhotorealismBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,259.798 arena points
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,277.69 arena pointsHigher arena score
Arena Text to Image: PortraitsBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,248.247 arena points
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,287.35 arena pointsHigher arena score
Arena Text to Image: Text renderingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,275.354 arena pointsHigher arena score
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,252.031 arena points
Arena Image Editing: Multi-image editingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,285.821 arena points
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,413.844 arena pointsHigher arena score
Arena Image Editing: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,313.956 arena points
Seedream 5.0 Pro1,392.574 arena pointsHigher arena score
Arena benchmark scores for Nano Banana 2 Lite and Seedream 5.0 Pro
BenchmarkNano Banana 2 LiteSeedream 5.0 ProSource
Text to Image Arena
1,292 EloNo clear arena lead
Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 13,652 ratings
1,282 Elo
Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 11,291 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Image Editing Arena
1,200 Elo
Rank 16, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 8,704 ratings
1,250 EloHigher arena score
Rank 5, 95% confidence interval: ±11, 3,353 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Arena Text to Image: 3D modeling
1,225.619 arena points
Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±14.48, 1,580 ratings
1,244.482 arena pointsNo clear arena lead
Rank 6, 95% confidence interval: ±12.4, 2,280 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Art
1,256.202 arena points
Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±12.19, 2,304 ratings
1,265.974 arena pointsNo clear arena lead
Rank 5, 95% confidence interval: ±10.13, 3,711 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Cartoon
1,258.29 arena points
Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±8.66, 6,273 ratings
1,271.272 arena pointsNo clear arena lead
Rank 5, 95% confidence interval: ±7.94, 9,462 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Commercial design
1,250.568 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±8.73, 5,912 ratings
1,232.843 arena points
Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±7.55, 9,462 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Overall
1,250.916 arena points
Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±6.18, 16,419 ratings
1,256.865 arena pointsNo clear arena lead
Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±5.11, 26,510 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Photorealism
1,259.798 arena points
Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±8.54, 6,768 ratings
1,277.69 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 5, 95% confidence interval: ±7.63, 10,332 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Portraits
1,248.247 arena points
Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±10.65, 3,364 ratings
1,287.35 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 4, 95% confidence interval: ±9.48, 4,809 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Text rendering
1,275.354 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9.1, 5,421 ratings
1,252.031 arena points
Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±7.82, 8,809 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Image Editing: Multi-image editing
1,285.821 arena points
Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±4.86, 21,484 ratings
1,413.844 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 2, 95% confidence interval: ±6.39, 13,473 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Image Editing: Overall
1,313.956 arena points
Rank 16, 95% confidence interval: ±4.91, 59,331 ratings
1,392.574 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 4, 95% confidence interval: ±4.44, 71,266 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16

Visual comparison

Sample images from documented runs

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Character and detail
Nano Banana 2 Lite
Seedream 5.0 Pro, Character and detail
Seedream 5.0 Pro
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.

Nano Banana 2 Lite. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/flash-image-3.1-lite, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 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

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 6c7d17b2a84129cbeba7d52c8de703773e9296562d9d603688256d2717e65a0c

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: c8a36467199e361b900613c1db90cb99b0f552ddb7f7c7f2dd4aeb51ddb5ee1a

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: 06eb1919b5157094ba0ecf0ddcfb921ebbfc937c496cee7627f4717fdd4a7d90

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: b87da08d3dc323cc39777805d520115b9c2a5c2c546e4255f76350cfced21c93

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Infographic
Nano Banana 2 Lite
Seedream 5.0 Pro, Infographic
Seedream 5.0 Pro
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.

Nano Banana 2 Lite. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/flash-image-3.1-lite, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 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

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 11d8b5ddf15becefa6e4e32fca21729ff7d57f561a10e3a2b4b6f5c7a0aed6ef

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: 0e6096a9f082a718e45fcf3733bf3ffc92cb6c9db66b8c2c73d6c764ea0b15c8

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: bec4d5de9deed41729f7e7d93f77450e76ddd0f579b5f0c74244a25e0c03a224

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: 6378a9ed943b1c15141e5f0f7889734e6c1dd936829106b7673862af0dc0618b

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Product photography
Nano Banana 2 Lite
Seedream 5.0 Pro, Product photography
Seedream 5.0 Pro
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.

Nano Banana 2 Lite. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/flash-image-3.1-lite, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 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

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 30d9b09b92917eca84675448260a083ad368d9ea25376dabccac0f526f3a3ab7

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: cab5c6b0ea5c96eb96b640e581e0fe296421c7fffec3aad04f9394c978814ca1

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: fd38abd0e7bde742e8e859fbcbc76e4e96f443673445378a42364bc56382ac57

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: fd964253baf8416825b563e8e84be2ed24f4f650f2f364ca15beb60541050585

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Typography and layout
Nano Banana 2 Lite
Seedream 5.0 Pro, Typography and layout
Seedream 5.0 Pro
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.

Nano Banana 2 Lite. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/flash-image-3.1-lite, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 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

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 9fab80fe1ad268b9ceceb4ef61ef1dd0e965dd3f28d377af7cf9cf201fdf47fa

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: 942506d572642220473dd80be80ff16950d6d11f31fab2b5c3145f3f2a9b2513

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.