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Seedream 5.0 Provs.Qwen-Image-2.1

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, Seedream 5.0 Pro leads. Qwen-Image-2.1 has no API price.

Test images

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
Seedream 5.0 Pro60 out of 100
Qwen-Image-2.1: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
Qwen-Image-2.134 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:Seedream 5.0 Pro slightly ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency.

“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

Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=1591420783, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: 06eb1919b5157094ba0ecf0ddcfb921ebbfc937c496cee7627f4717fdd4a7d90

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: b29bb7e207ad464957ee060bbf0655104bcbece703360254e48daa3ec35a62d7

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: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=1283422012, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, prior anonymous attempt refused before inference (ZeroGPU quota), completed through authenticated browser, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: bec4d5de9deed41729f7e7d93f77450e76ddd0f579b5f0c74244a25e0c03a224

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 316e38ed63ff401f86a7ceee9cc65c74413e0e9c7c899a6e6bf453acc2940dac

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: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=196359631, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: fd38abd0e7bde742e8e859fbcbc76e4e96f443673445378a42364bc56382ac57

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 041f559d4261865b327fcae4f8bb0bd3b176c55a3b1255a042ab3e0fc4f9bc4b

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: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=158818011, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

Seedream 5.0 Pro image SHA 256: 4e9693d5da3e445b69cc5da6f869caddb88ca5560f010556b168ac8e9aaa70b2

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 4670269190f492154c05e3f18c4eb9e3938910ca1aca32503b6a1ceb16d39b38

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,250

Seedream 5.0 Pro

Rank 10 of 21

1,225

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 14 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
76

Seedream 5.0 Pro

Rank 6 of 108

65

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 40 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.09

Seedream 5.0 Pro

expensive

n/a

Qwen-Image-2.1

no API price

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.

Qwen-Image-2.1

Subscription
No Alibaba subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.51 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 5 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: local, Web app.
License
Open weights, Qwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license.

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.

KennzahlSeedream 5.0 ProQwen-Image-2.1
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,2501,225
Arena rankRank 10 of 21Rank 14 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating105,82419,604
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1007665
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition6854
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details7790
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency6034
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization9983
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.09n/a
100 images$9n/a
Profile
ReleasedJuly 2026Sep 20, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryopenQwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license
AccessAPI, Web applocal, Web app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output2K2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model385

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 model source, status 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 ProQwen-Image-2.1
Text to Image ArenaSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,101Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,043Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead
Image Editing ArenaSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,129Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,081Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead
Text to Image: 3D modelingSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,248Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,213Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead
Text to Image: Agentic image generationSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,241Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,231level
Text to Image: ArtSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,259Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,234Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead
Text to Image: CartoonSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,264Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,234Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead
Text to Image: Commercial designSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,236Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,238level
Text to Image: OverallSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,250Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,225Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead
Text to Image: PhotorealismSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,274Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,227Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead
Text to Image: PortraitsSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,286Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,252Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead
Text to Image: Text renderingSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,255Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,250level
Image Editing: Agentic image generationSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,409Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,368Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead
Image Editing: OverallSeedream 5.0 Pro: 1,390Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,362Seedream 5.0 Pro ahead

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

All individual values with sources
RatingSeedream 5.0 ProQwen-Image-2.1Source
Text to Image Arena1,1011,043Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena1,1291,081Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling1,2481,213LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,2411,231LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art1,2591,234LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon1,2641,234LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design1,2361,238LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall1,2501,225LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism1,2741,227LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits1,2861,252LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering1,2551,250LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,4091,368LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall1,3901,362LMArenaRetrieved 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 Qwen-Image-2.1
  • Qwen-Image-2.1 has no successor yet

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