Seedream 4.0vs.Wan 2.6 Text to Image
Which one is better?
In our own test both are on par. Neither is in the arena. Seedream 4.0 has no API price.
Test images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
Result for “Typography and layout”:Seedream 4.0 ahead
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
Each test attempt uses the same archived prompt and one request. The first output of that attempt counts. Repeats after technical test failures are disclosed for the affected images. 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image: together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:30 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 81b5aa023fa252472878015448b5ee1cefcbc61844dd6cff98997685d7ab1511
Wan 2.6 Text to Image image SHA 256: cf49d7136a442f4f1c1ae29af99e917aa83bcbf501fdacfe3a13a3b3e74d7f9a
Infographic
Seedream 4.0: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source
Wan 2.6 Text to Image: together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:30 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 63dcddf4bf7bb58ea0c67eea96f2c71834158568f29ed3b7f2523b56a91e6526
Wan 2.6 Text to Image image SHA 256: 28eecbf460194ec047237c35415d934929baee9de9938bdff435cd21a4416435
Product photography
Seedream 4.0: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:24 PM. Source
Wan 2.6 Text to Image: together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:29 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 1fbad61d03b05e6cd8523e76409983e86c11c74fca2fa1a14d20f07f0d801519
Wan 2.6 Text to Image image SHA 256: e8dbcfd0ce965814d72d676eddf74f723d476c1f78c5928c7b6efbc4eca4765e
Typography and layout
Seedream 4.0: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source
Wan 2.6 Text to Image: together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
Seedream 4.0 image SHA 256: 029be40f71522352246ad0de0de2e6c1ed2e45608f59c4f0e1be87b4dc2353c1
Wan 2.6 Text to Image image SHA 256: 7e9557478ee297369d7680b31ab3b23a13c984981c0e0c922ef07372999122a7
The numbers at a glance
Seedream 4.0
not in the arena
Wan 2.6 Text to Image
not in the arena
Seedream 4.0
Rank 47 of 108
Wan 2.6 Text to Image
Rank 44 of 108
Seedream 4.0
no API price
Wan 2.6 Text to Image
cheap
Ranks among the 21 image models with an arena rating and the 108 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.
Wan 2.6 Text to Image
- Subscription
- n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
- Via API
- $0.03 per image, 100 images $3.
Subscriptions only count plans that name exactly this model. Subscription prices include VAT, API prices are in dollars.
GraduallyBench from Nov 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 6, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (38 days old)
All data side by side
The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.
| Kennzahl | Seedream 4.0 | Wan 2.6 Text to Image |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 62 | 63 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 65 | 41 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 44 | 54 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 73 | 79 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 67 | 77 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | n/a | $0.03 |
| 100 images | n/a | $3 |
| Profile | ||
| Released | September 2025 | January 2026 |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | proprietary | proprietary |
| Access | API, Web app | API |
| Parameters | not published | not published |
| Largest output | 4K | 2K |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | 16 | n/a |
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) · Wan 2.6 Text to Image model source (verified Aug 15, 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 Wan 2.6 Text to Image from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
Published specialist tests
This pair shares 12 results from published research benchmarks.
GEBench from Aug 26, 2026
All individual values with sources
| Rating | Seedream 4.0 | Wan 2.6 Text to Image | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEBench Chinese, single-step | 62 / 100 | 64 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench Chinese, multi-step | 49 / 100 | 50 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench Chinese, fictional app | 49 / 100 | 53 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench Chinese, real app | 51 / 100 | 50 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench Chinese, grounding | 54 / 100 | 60 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench Chinese, overall | 53 / 100 | 55 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench English, single-step | 53 / 100 | 60 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench English, multi-step | 38 / 100 | 44 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench English, fictional app | 48 / 100 | 50 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench English, real app | 49 / 100 | 45 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench English, grounding | 44 / 100 | 53 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
| GEBench English, overall | 46 / 100 | 50 / 100 | GEBenchRetrieved Aug 26, 2026 |
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