Seedream 5.0 Provs.GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, GPT Image 2.5 Flare leads. GPT Image 2.5 Flare costs 2.3 times as much per image.

Test images

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — Seedream 5.0 Pro99 out of 100

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — GPT Image 2.5 Flare91 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:Seedream 5.0 Pro 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

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 5.0 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.045000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:32 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: 06eb1919b5157094ba0ecf0ddcfb921ebbfc937c496cee7627f4717fdd4a7d90

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 85b17c41b19389cae3ea073ef582e6065a321d741978e772987d22e3ea3e3b08

Infographic

Seedream 5.0 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.045000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:34 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: bec4d5de9deed41729f7e7d93f77450e76ddd0f579b5f0c74244a25e0c03a224

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: bc752abfce1c0d27b73e4084c3e7d82c4c0f71e0e5af97a80f4b24326cc4686e

Product photography

Seedream 5.0 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.045000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:29 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: fd38abd0e7bde742e8e859fbcbc76e4e96f443673445378a42364bc56382ac57

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 69fedb7d635d1329c461ff1ee9e5cf8384119e218e3b3bdb93b9e11f728335d8

Typography and layout

Seedream 5.0 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.045000, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:05 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:52 PM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: 4e9693d5da3e445b69cc5da6f869caddb88ca5560f010556b168ac8e9aaa70b2

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: cc90d54a99e1bad9e0cc8e4196746fb1d56a2fdd2a9ee101dbbf270ef5e4b6a8

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,250

Seedream 5.0 Pro

Rank 10 of 21

1,401

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 2 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro

Rank 6 of 108

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 18 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.09

Seedream 5.0 Pro

expensive

$0.21

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

expensive

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 5.0 Pro

Subscription: No ByteDance subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 38 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.09 per image, 100 images $9.

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Subscription: No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.34 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 61 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.21 per image, 100 images $21.07.

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

Arena rating (LMArena) from Oct 28, 2026 · GraduallyBench from Nov 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 3, 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 5.0 Pro	GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,250	1,401
Arena rank	Rank 10 of 21	Rank 2 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	105,824	39,218
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	76	72
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	68	64
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	77	69
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	60	63
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	99	91
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.09	$0.21
100 images	$9	$21.07
Profile
Released	July 2026	Sep 8, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	2K	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	38	61

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

Sources: Seedream 5.0 Pro model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · GPT Image 2.5 Flare model source (verified Sep 22, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

From blind votes on LMArena. “Ahead” means the lead is clear.

Arena rating per categoryfrom votes by users · higher is betterSeedream 5.0 ProGPT Image 2.5 Flare

Text to Image Arena1,1011,207ahead

Image Editing Arena1,1291,183ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,2481,378ahead

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,2411,358ahead

Text to Image: Art1,2591,387ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,2641,431ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,2361,387ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,2501,401ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,2741,415ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,2861,439ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,2551,435ahead

Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,4091,495ahead

Image Editing: Multi-image editing1,4131,477ahead

Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editing1,4251,478ahead

Image Editing: Overall1,3901,482ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 3, 2026 · LMArena from Oct 28, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	Seedream 5.0 Pro	GPT Image 2.5 Flare	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,101	1,207	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,129	1,183	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,248	1,378	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,241	1,358	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,259	1,387	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,264	1,431	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,236	1,387	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,250	1,401	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,274	1,415	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,286	1,439	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,255	1,435	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation	1,409	1,495	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Multi-image editing	1,413	1,477	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editing	1,425	1,478	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,390	1,482	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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Predecessor and successor

No predecessor recorded for Seedream 5.0 Pro
Seedream 5.0 Pro has no successor yet
No predecessor recorded for GPT Image 2.5 Flare
GPT Image 2.5 Flare has no successor yet

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