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Head-to-head comparison

Seedream 4.0 vs. HiDream-O1-Image

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.

2

shared result series

4

shared sample prompts

2026-08-15

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 Seedream 4.0 and HiDream-O1-Image
AttributeSeedream 4.0HiDream-O1-Image
ProviderByteDanceHiDream
ReleasedSeptember 2025May 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, local
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryOpen weights
ParametersNot published8 billion
Maximum output4K2,048 × 2,048 pixels
Arena configurationNo separate configuration namedNo separate configuration named
Text-to-image price$30 per 1,000 imagesNo comparable API price
Editing price$30 per 1,000 images$10 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Seedream 4.0HiDream-O1-Image
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Seedream 4.0$30
HiDream-O1-Image$10Lower price

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.

2 shared result series
Seedream 4.0HiDream-O1-Image
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Seedream 4.01,221 EloHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,178 Elo
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Seedream 4.01,185 Elo
HiDream-O1-Image1,195 EloNo clear arena lead
Arena benchmark scores for Seedream 4.0 and HiDream-O1-Image
BenchmarkSeedream 4.0HiDream-O1-ImageSource
Text to Image Arena
1,221 EloHigher arena score
Rank 17, 95% confidence interval: ±11, 4,014 ratings
1,178 Elo
Rank 49, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 4,032 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Image Editing Arena
1,185 Elo
Rank 25, 95% confidence interval: ±7, 11,378 ratings
1,195 EloNo clear arena lead
Rank 21, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 6,392 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15

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

Seedream 4.0, Character and detail
Seedream 4.0
HiDream-O1-Image, Character and detail
HiDream-O1-Image
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.

Seedream 4.0. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID ByteDance-Seed/Seedream-4.0, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:24 PM. Source
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1735022440, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Seedream 4.0, image SHA 256: 81b5aa023fa252472878015448b5ee1cefcbc61844dd6cff98997685d7ab1511

Seedream 4.0, request SHA 256: 84dbdb6b71e48c5944f2d15aa4069a994358e4f10f81fa84cdef4974deee2317

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 9ac2cbe23ee6a63b0daacd665a40c3471c52c52fd6ad23e46d3027bb95f8c880

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 5d005ee24926d68b7d2299b8ecbe4e14919f652761f6de2568a043f2a6258da0

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Seedream 4.0, Infographic
Seedream 4.0
HiDream-O1-Image, Infographic
HiDream-O1-Image
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.

Seedream 4.0. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID ByteDance-Seed/Seedream-4.0, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1456348218, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Seedream 4.0, image SHA 256: 63dcddf4bf7bb58ea0c67eea96f2c71834158568f29ed3b7f2523b56a91e6526

Seedream 4.0, request SHA 256: 3cdb665a8b6ba558cedce86e937f28b5daa3b3e7a8af57fe9562e13cab212c02

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 258eece8b53e4df0c990b78dee2e02ec57569b1c823c3feff2ab54671240d66f

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 8b8014fc63f520d73ff57d3d8df5eae880097383167d44918b963f2830d09940

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Seedream 4.0, Product photography
Seedream 4.0
HiDream-O1-Image, Product photography
HiDream-O1-Image
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.

Seedream 4.0. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID ByteDance-Seed/Seedream-4.0, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:24 PM. Source
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=124666889, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Seedream 4.0, image SHA 256: 1fbad61d03b05e6cd8523e76409983e86c11c74fca2fa1a14d20f07f0d801519

Seedream 4.0, request SHA 256: 55ce222b205d1832a107db6db7f13941b81298037e4bdf6c0d25054a1dc96c7c

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 5a9cd3c59556412e4de93a3ef5c4121ec12b6cc02730cad527619c2d8a889783

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 21e2c14d1b6315c30134e1390f531349608855d4ef1a87527e6d0ba57b2974ca

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Seedream 4.0, Typography and layout
Seedream 4.0
HiDream-O1-Image, Typography and layout
HiDream-O1-Image
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.

Seedream 4.0. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID ByteDance-Seed/Seedream-4.0, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=2131088503, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Seedream 4.0, image SHA 256: 029be40f71522352246ad0de0de2e6c1ed2e45608f59c4f0e1be87b4dc2353c1

Seedream 4.0, request SHA 256: b2353ce00afff8f1dad912b51b418a7ea7da741b587814625f1ca7fc492b02c5

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 418a9b974b87b751ad2e4e98cdf6b8d7e2f8f352aed63d25be84c02377f310d1

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 530872e813e988ba95025956a3743c6111120af963d90b8970a8bf3eced5547b

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

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View the complete image model comparison