Skip to main content

Head-to-head comparison

Seedream 5.0 Pro vs. MAI-Image-2.5 Flash

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
6
shared sample prompts
4
latest arena retrieval
2026-08-26

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 5.0 Pro and MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
AttributeSeedream 5.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
ProviderByteDanceMicrosoft AI
ReleasedJuly 2026June 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, Web app
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticePreview in Microsoft Foundry Status source
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
ParametersNot publishedNot published
Maximum output2K1,048,576 pixels
Arena configurationNo separate configuration namedFlash
Text-to-image price$90 per 1,000 images$20 per 1,000 images
Editing price$90 per 1,000 images$20 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Seedream 5.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Seedream 5.0 Pro$90
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashLower price$20
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Seedream 5.0 Pro$90
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashLower price$20

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Every matchup includes the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, one archived first output from every model is 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 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each
Seedream 5.0 Pro40.7 / 100
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score45.7 / 100
Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each
Seedream 5.0 Pro74.1 / 100
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score93.8 / 100
Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each
Seedream 5.0 Pro58 / 100
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score86.4 / 100
Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each
Seedream 5.0 ProHigher blind-rank score97.5 / 100
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash80.3 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for Seedream 5.0 Pro and MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
BenchmarkSeedream 5.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout
40.7 / 100
Mean rank: 17 (13 / 20 / 18)
Five rubric scores
Headline: 1.67 / 2
Subline: 1.67 / 2
Text control: 1.67 / 2
Visual brief: 1.33 / 2
Layout: 1 / 2
Higher blind-rank score45.7 / 100
Mean rank: 15.67 (14 / 19 / 14)
Five rubric scores
Headline: 1.67 / 2
Subline: 1.67 / 2
Text control: 1.67 / 2
Visual brief: 1.33 / 2
Layout: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography
74.1 / 100
Mean rank: 8 (6 / 7 / 11)
Five rubric scores
Subject: 1.33 / 2
Time: 1.33 / 2
Watch details: 1.33 / 2
Photography: 1.33 / 2
Exclusions: 1.33 / 2
Higher blind-rank score93.8 / 100
Mean rank: 2.67 (2 / 2 / 4)
Five rubric scores
Subject: 1.33 / 2
Time: 1.33 / 2
Watch details: 1.33 / 2
Photography: 1.33 / 2
Exclusions: 1.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail
58 / 100
Mean rank: 12.33 (17 / 11 / 9)
Five rubric scores
Scene: 1.33 / 2
Wardrobe: 1.33 / 2
Anatomy: 1 / 2
Props: 1 / 2
Environment: 1 / 2
Higher blind-rank score86.4 / 100
Mean rank: 4.67 (1 / 2 / 11)
Five rubric scores
Scene: 1.33 / 2
Wardrobe: 1.33 / 2
Anatomy: 1.33 / 2
Props: 1.33 / 2
Environment: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic
Higher blind-rank score97.5 / 100
Mean rank: 1.67 (1 / 3 / 1)
Five rubric scores
Title: 1.67 / 2
Sequence: 1.67 / 2
Labels: 1.67 / 2
Diagram: 1.67 / 2
Clarity: 1.67 / 2
80.3 / 100
Mean rank: 6.33 (7 / 7 / 5)
Five rubric scores
Title: 1.67 / 2
Sequence: 1.33 / 2
Labels: 1.67 / 2
Diagram: 1.33 / 2
Clarity: 1.67 / 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.

2 shared result series
Seedream 5.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Seedream 5.0 ProHigher score1,280 Elo
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash1,229 Elo
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Seedream 5.0 ProNo clear lead1,248 Elo
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash1,235 Elo

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for Seedream 5.0 Pro and MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
BenchmarkSeedream 5.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 FlashSource
Text to Image Arena
Higher score1,280 Elo
Rank 11, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 12,099 ratings
1,229 Elo
Rank 15, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 5,208 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-26
Image Editing Arena
No clear lead1,248 Elo
Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 3,838 ratings
1,235 Elo
Rank 11, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 5,157 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-26

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

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Character and detail
Seedream 5.0 Pro, Character and detail
Seedream 5.0 Pro
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
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
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 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

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: a2637943faf5ae5210c69f645f96c70ea0a1d267c38a64705810947d2ba78dc8

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Infographic
Seedream 5.0 Pro, Infographic
Seedream 5.0 Pro
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
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
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 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

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: 6af00e502934a24a9e535b3f72d9b1ca545a984fc463e785ffe796a700e015b3

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Product photography
Seedream 5.0 Pro, Product photography
Seedream 5.0 Pro
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
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
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 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

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: 9cb652604f7c64d8ebaa4303e924155a1f45581a940045be12775419e635bd8f

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Typography and layout
Seedream 5.0 Pro, Typography and layout
Seedream 5.0 Pro
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
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
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:22 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

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: 185a852b71d68ea37a41091b57f3ec02829b2d1e87fd1045939ffa0f8e4c3cf8

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

Related image model comparisons

Compare Seedream 5.0 Pro and MAI-Image-2.5 Flash with other important image models using the same benchmark and sample methodology.

View the complete image model comparison