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Seedream 4.0vs.FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]

Which one is better?

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

Same prompt, two images

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

Seedream 4.0: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
Seedream 4.069 out of 100
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]33 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:Seedream 4.0 ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

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

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

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

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=1661036738, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source

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

Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 81b5aa023fa252472878015448b5ee1cefcbc61844dd6cff98997685d7ab1511

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: a2b5cfe16c918f33c56d04a35a8cea5433ea17db1f41ab3f3ccefdc20791a3d1

Infographic

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

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=261169301, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source

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

Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 63dcddf4bf7bb58ea0c67eea96f2c71834158568f29ed3b7f2523b56a91e6526

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: 8ec7449c0fd1b68f984aaa28dda6cb4d74a053cd88af42c10d79fac31980ffbe

Product photography

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

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=3307245438, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source

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

Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 1fbad61d03b05e6cd8523e76409983e86c11c74fca2fa1a14d20f07f0d801519

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: 367531e667dd9156abe9666dc571fc122174a66788d726b2b4ab06d9c8226d9d

Typography and layout

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

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=4284980986, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source

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

Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 029be40f71522352246ad0de0de2e6c1ed2e45608f59c4f0e1be87b4dc2353c1

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: d14a3243cc28d6996fd549722f34d49227f278151c441fa635f955e1c8140414

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
n/a

Seedream 4.0

not in the arena

n/a

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
44

Seedream 4.0

Rank 51 of 74

31

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]

Rank 57 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
n/a

Seedream 4.0

no API price

n/a

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]

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.

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.

FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]

Subscription
No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.39 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 23 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.

KennzahlSeedream 4.0FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is bettern/an/a
Arena rankn/an/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer ratingn/an/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1004431
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition3614
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details3121
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency4055
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization6933
API price
Per imagelower is bettern/an/a
100 imagesn/an/a
Profile
ReleasedSeptember 2025n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryunknown
Lifecycleno noticeEdit-first model line; API also supports image creation from text, but the main GraduallyBench tasks are not edit-based
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output4Knot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model1623

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

Sources: Seedream 4.0 model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] 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 Seedream 4.0 and FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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