Recraft V4.1 Flashvs.Seedream 5.0 Flash

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Neither is in the arena. Neither has an API price.

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

Recraft V4.1 Flash: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Recraft V4.1 Flash96 out of 100

Seedream 5.0 Flash: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Seedream 5.0 Flash61 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:Recraft V4.1 Flash ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Legible text, hierarchy, and composition.

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

Test protocol of the images

Both models receive the same archived prompt in 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. The images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Recraft V4.1 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.007000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:28 PM. Source

Seedream 5.0 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.018000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:29 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Flash image SHA 256: dbce96e506ae3556509e45211cdd885bb4f5b79875e4c0adcc9398286183a910

Seedream 5.0 Flash image SHA 256: ffb32d701168dd57095e39252aba67b191c008c7b9393ae22acf1e1b1caba9b9

Infographic

Recraft V4.1 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.007000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:29 PM. Source

Seedream 5.0 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.018000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:30 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Flash image SHA 256: 0f09d34ba3ae484d03dac33e6d64901b6558dcdf51a46051c146b23ed3173756

Seedream 5.0 Flash image SHA 256: 0758d1251491a26b5d7736c16597318e5807a92c30db03d9431d8584652aae3e

Product photography

Recraft V4.1 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.007000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:28 PM. Source

Seedream 5.0 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.018000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:29 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Flash image SHA 256: 4b7b55957807e99edb69d2ef7ad407b87840eb7d6c6d268c0635834bb4add700

Seedream 5.0 Flash image SHA 256: 3ea7343b12d253b6b0e090054c1e494f5a005632cc263a9b2df4d866ba6b02d0

Typography and layout

Recraft V4.1 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.007000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:28 PM. Source

Seedream 5.0 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.018000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:29 PM. Source

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

Recraft V4.1 Flash image SHA 256: 8c0ce1a0ca50d0eb9cb6707a1e2fa250b4e1ab66c724498b4a72395fd97461d5

Seedream 5.0 Flash image SHA 256: b9739c9a9ab67183f268f41b7ff62a9151cef9d0c8c168eba332a2b6af057426

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

n/a

Recraft V4.1 Flash

not in the arena

n/a

Seedream 5.0 Flash

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Recraft V4.1 Flash

Rank 42 of 74

Seedream 5.0 Flash

Rank 39 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

n/a

Recraft V4.1 Flash

no API price

n/a

Seedream 5.0 Flash

no API price

Ranks among the 22 image models with an arena rating and the 74 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.

Recraft V4.1 Flash

Subscription: Free to use at Recraft (Recraft Free, with limited credits), more from ≈ €12.78 a month (Recraft Basic, with limited credits). Through other providers from ≈ €9.59 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 14 plans in Germany.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
Weights: unknown.

Seedream 5.0 Flash

Subscription: No ByteDance subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 18 plans in Germany.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API.
Weights: unknown.

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

GraduallyBench from Nov 1, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (34 days old)

All data side by side

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

Kennzahl	Recraft V4.1 Flash	Seedream 5.0 Flash
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	56
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	96	61
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	47	49
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	21	34
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	55	79
API price
Per imagelower is better	n/a	n/a
100 images	n/a	n/a
Profile
Released	September 2026	n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locally	unknown	unknown
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	1K	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	14	18

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

Sources: Recraft V4.1 Flash model source (verified Nov 1, 2026) · Seedream 5.0 Flash model 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 Recraft V4.1 Flash and Seedream 5.0 Flash from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

Compare another matchup

First image modelSecond image model

More matchups

Compare Recraft V4.1 Flash and Seedream 5.0 Flash with other important image models.

View the complete image model comparison

Same prompt, two images

The numbers at a glance

Recraft V4.1 Flash

Seedream 5.0 Flash

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

Compare another matchup

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