Head-to-head comparison

Seedream 5.0 Pro vs. FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Compare shared capability tests, arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Research benchmarks, preference arenas, and our n = 1 samples remain separate.

shared result series: 16
shared sample prompts: 4
latest arena retrieval: 2026-09-22

First image modelSecond image model

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 5.0 Pro and FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Attribute	Seedream 5.0 Pro	FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Provider	ByteDance	Black Forest Labs
Released	July 2026	January 2026
Access	API, Web app	API, local
Lifecycle	No separate lifecycle notice	Weights released under the FLUX Non-Commercial License Status source
Weights	Proprietary	Open weights
Parameters	Not published	9 billion
Maximum output	2K	4 Megapixel
Arena configuration	No separate configuration named	9B
Text-to-image price	$90 per 1,000 images	$15 per 1,000 images
Editing price	$90 per 1,000 images	$17 per 1,000 images
Technical source	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15	Model sourceVerified 2026-09-24

Seedream 5.0 ProFLUX.2 Klein 9B

Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

Seedream 5.0 Pro$90

FLUX.2 Klein 9B$15

Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

Seedream 5.0 Pro$90

FLUX.2 Klein 9B$17

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Both checkpoints completed the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, 30 archived first outputs are ranked in three differently ordered, model-blind passes. The published 0-100 value normalizes the mean rank. It must still be read as an n = 1 sample per model. No exact shared result from the integrated research benchmarks is available for this pair.

Seedream 5.0 ProFLUX.2 Klein 9B

Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

Seedream 5.0 Pro48.3 / 100

FLUX.2 Klein 9B10.3 / 100

Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

Seedream 5.0 Pro70.1 / 100

FLUX.2 Klein 9B43.7 / 100

Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

Seedream 5.0 Pro18.4 / 100

FLUX.2 Klein 9B28.7 / 100

Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

Seedream 5.0 Pro92 / 100

FLUX.2 Klein 9B14.9 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for Seedream 5.0 Pro and FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Benchmark	Seedream 5.0 Pro	FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout	Higher blind-rank score48.3 / 100 Mean rank: 16 (11 / 21 / 16) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.67 / 2 Layout: 1 / 2	10.3 / 100 Mean rank: 27 (27 / 27 / 27) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 0.67 / 2 Text control: 1 / 2 Visual brief: 1.67 / 2 Layout: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography	Higher blind-rank score70.1 / 100 Mean rank: 9.67 (10 / 13 / 6) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.67 / 2 Time: 1.67 / 2 Watch details: 1.67 / 2 Photography: 1.67 / 2 Exclusions: 1.67 / 2	43.7 / 100 Mean rank: 17.33 (13 / 19 / 20) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.67 / 2 Time: 1.33 / 2 Watch details: 1.67 / 2 Photography: 1.67 / 2 Exclusions: 1.67 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail	18.4 / 100 Mean rank: 24.67 (27 / 28 / 19) Five rubric scores Scene: 1 / 2 Wardrobe: 1 / 2 Anatomy: 1 / 2 Props: 1 / 2 Environment: 1 / 2	Higher blind-rank score28.7 / 100 Mean rank: 21.67 (22 / 17 / 26) Five rubric scores Scene: 1 / 2 Wardrobe: 1 / 2 Anatomy: 1 / 2 Props: 1 / 2 Environment: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic	Higher blind-rank score92 / 100 Mean rank: 3.33 (3 / 3 / 4) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1.67 / 2 Labels: 1.67 / 2 Diagram: 1.67 / 2 Clarity: 1.67 / 2	14.9 / 100 Mean rank: 25.67 (25 / 26 / 26) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1 / 2 Labels: 0.33 / 2 Diagram: 0.67 / 2 Clarity: 0.33 / 2
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

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

Seedream 5.0 ProFLUX.2 Klein 9B

Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,078 Elo

FLUX.2 Klein 9B940 Elo

Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,107 Elo

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,014 Elo

LMArena Text to Image: 3D modelingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,251.535

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,078.703

LMArena Text to Image: ArtBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,266.222

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,078.937

LMArena Text to Image: CartoonBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,271.336

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,064.062

LMArena Text to Image: Commercial designBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,234.55

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,069.617

LMArena Text to Image: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,257.104

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,069.544

LMArena Text to Image: PhotorealismBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,280.52

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,090.199

LMArena Text to Image: PortraitsBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,294.768

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,091.959

LMArena Text to Image: Text renderingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,254.645

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,057.327

LMArena Image Editing: Multi-image editingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,413.682

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,212.815

LMArena Image Editing: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro1,394.483

FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,224.422

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for Seedream 5.0 Pro and FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Benchmark	Seedream 5.0 Pro	FLUX.2 Klein 9B	Source
Text to Image Arena	Higher score1,078 Elo Rank 15, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 12,712 ratings	940 Elo Rank 75, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 10,360 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22
Image Editing Arena	Higher score1,107 Elo Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 12,341 ratings	1,014 Elo Rank 32, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 5,177 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22
LMArena Text to Image: 3D modeling	Higher score1,251.535 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9.34, 5,228 ratings	1,078.703 Rank 58, 95% confidence interval: ±6.95, 13,817 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Art	Higher score1,266.222 Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±7.98, 9,013 ratings	1,078.937 Rank 56, 95% confidence interval: ±6.28, 19,040 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Cartoon	Higher score1,271.336 Rank 10, 95% confidence interval: ±6.62, 23,116 ratings	1,064.062 Rank 58, 95% confidence interval: ±5.02, 52,993 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Commercial design	Higher score1,234.55 Rank 16, 95% confidence interval: ±6.49, 20,354 ratings	1,069.617 Rank 59, 95% confidence interval: ±4.6, 55,147 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Overall	Higher score1,257.104 Rank 10, 95% confidence interval: ±4.32, 62,443 ratings	1,069.544 Rank 58, 95% confidence interval: ±3.26, 142,642 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Photorealism	Higher score1,280.52 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±6.51, 24,022 ratings	1,090.199 Rank 57, 95% confidence interval: ±4.71, 60,271 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Portraits	Higher score1,294.768 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±7.7, 12,341 ratings	1,091.959 Rank 58, 95% confidence interval: ±5.75, 32,705 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Text to Image: Text rendering	Higher score1,254.645 Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±6.65, 20,000 ratings	1,057.327 Rank 59, 95% confidence interval: ±4.78, 51,597 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Image Editing: Multi-image editing	Higher score1,413.682 Rank 4, 95% confidence interval: ±4.66, 45,922 ratings	1,212.815 Rank 27, 95% confidence interval: ±3.99, 148,069 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
LMArena Image Editing: Overall	Higher score1,394.483 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±3.59, 179,966 ratings	1,224.422 Rank 39, 95% confidence interval: ±2.91, 507,078 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Visual comparison

Sample images

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

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 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
FLUX.2 Klein 9B. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1587849924, estimated cost $0.006291, model ID fal-ai/flux-2/klein/9b, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: 06eb1919b5157094ba0ecf0ddcfb921ebbfc937c496cee7627f4717fdd4a7d90

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: b87da08d3dc323cc39777805d520115b9c2a5c2c546e4255f76350cfced21c93

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, image SHA 256: 84eceab680e59de6b9d4e68b3c21f6515ce093ff7d110992049e847570dd565f

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, request SHA 256: 5d005ee24926d68b7d2299b8ecbe4e14919f652761f6de2568a043f2a6258da0

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

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 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
FLUX.2 Klein 9B. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1082231541, estimated cost $0.006291, model ID fal-ai/flux-2/klein/9b, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: bec4d5de9deed41729f7e7d93f77450e76ddd0f579b5f0c74244a25e0c03a224

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: 6378a9ed943b1c15141e5f0f7889734e6c1dd936829106b7673862af0dc0618b

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, image SHA 256: 1d2eb263ca5a25794a88df7bb04f5c13e10ed9a289371d1dcc7ed6d6e0a297e2

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, request SHA 256: 8b8014fc63f520d73ff57d3d8df5eae880097383167d44918b963f2830d09940

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

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 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
FLUX.2 Klein 9B. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1388538280, estimated cost $0.006291, model ID fal-ai/flux-2/klein/9b, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:39 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: fd38abd0e7bde742e8e859fbcbc76e4e96f443673445378a42364bc56382ac57

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: fd964253baf8416825b563e8e84be2ed24f4f650f2f364ca15beb60541050585

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, image SHA 256: e7208f19ccfb9b810b9648cb1861797b7155ad91933d1660059236cef413ebe0

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, request SHA 256: 21e2c14d1b6315c30134e1390f531349608855d4ef1a87527e6d0ba57b2974ca

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

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 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
FLUX.2 Klein 9B. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1340991019, estimated cost $0.006291, model ID fal-ai/flux-2/klein/9b, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Seedream 5.0 Pro, image SHA 256: 4e9693d5da3e445b69cc5da6f869caddb88ca5560f010556b168ac8e9aaa70b2

Seedream 5.0 Pro, request SHA 256: 4158892e26a143eaab8c23a0c9d6897a7510af309ae06a2c234f6bbc41854e2c

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, image SHA 256: c5f23870e70f2245d24a3689f2579ceb770e5edf8c3c89b7d6ed7ae138f262f6

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, 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

Compare Seedream 5.0 Pro and FLUX.2 Klein 9B with other important image models under the same evidence rules. Each page shows only exact shared measurements and samples.

View the complete image model comparison

Seedream 5.0 Pro vs. FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Change image model selection

General specifications and task-specific pricing

Shared capability benchmarks

Shared arena benchmarks

Sample images

Character and detail

Infographic

Product photography

Typography and layout

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

Related image model comparisons