Seedream 5.0 Provs.Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Qwen Image 2.1 Pro has no arena rating yet. Qwen Image 2.1 Pro has no API price.

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 Pro87 out of 100

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — Qwen Image 2.1 Pro26 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

Both models receive the same archived prompt in 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. 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

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.046000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:37 PM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: 06eb1919b5157094ba0ecf0ddcfb921ebbfc937c496cee7627f4717fdd4a7d90

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro image SHA 256: 5cc1b66564896a15198281314423f63a70fd897c4542588230dfe0e946beb76c

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

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.046000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:37 PM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: bec4d5de9deed41729f7e7d93f77450e76ddd0f579b5f0c74244a25e0c03a224

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro image SHA 256: f1eee1f8f0d3355879d5c91b7ae006a95b0511a37f7382b8f6241cb22b3959a0

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

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.046000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:36 PM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: fd38abd0e7bde742e8e859fbcbc76e4e96f443673445378a42364bc56382ac57

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro image SHA 256: 08d93301c324d132b3f5df149f95d57d725c068e6f15b193521f1eb253a1f176

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

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.046000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:36 PM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: 4e9693d5da3e445b69cc5da6f869caddb88ca5560f010556b168ac8e9aaa70b2

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro image SHA 256: 31be32c6b34f27d2ff60eae3979c211ba8c2e0296595ec13e62f6f249c967058

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,250

Seedream 5.0 Pro

Rank 10 of 22

n/a

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Seedream 5.0 Pro

Rank 3 of 74

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

Rank 45 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.09

Seedream 5.0 Pro

expensive

n/a

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

no API price

Ranks among the 22 image models with an arena rating and the 74 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.

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API.
Weights: unknown.

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 1, 2026 · API prices from Oct 28, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (34 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	Qwen Image 2.1 Pro
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,250	n/a
Arena rank	Rank 10 of 22	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	105,824	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	80	52
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	67	29
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	82	87
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	83	67
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	87	26
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.09	n/a
100 images	$9	n/a
Profile
Released	July 2026	n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	unknown
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	2K	2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	38	n/a

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) · Qwen Image 2.1 Pro model source (verified Nov 1, 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 5.0 Pro and Qwen Image 2.1 Pro from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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First image modelSecond image model

More matchups

Compare Seedream 5.0 Pro and Qwen Image 2.1 Pro with other important image models.

View the complete image model comparison

Same prompt, two images

The numbers at a glance

Seedream 5.0 Pro

Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

Compare another matchup

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