Seedream
Seedream 5.0 and 4.5 API and pricing
Seedream is ByteDance's image model. On Root you can run Seedream 5.0 Pro, 5.0 Lite, 4.5 and 4.0 from the API, from the web app, or from Claude and ChatGPT, and pay for each image from one balance. Images start at $0.04.
Updated
First month free on the Beginner plan, with 650 credits to try any model.
Images turned into shots in Root
Seedream pricing
What one image costs on Root at each size, in dollars; 100 credits is $1. You only pay for images that finish.
| Model | 1K | 2K | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedream 5.0 Pro | $0.06 | $0.11 | — |
| Seedream 5.0 Lite | — | $0.05 | $0.05 |
| Seedream 4.5 | — | $0.05 | $0.05 |
| Seedream 4.0 | $0.04 | $0.04 | $0.04 |
A dash means that model doesn't make that size. The API and the app both show the price before you run it. Compare every model
Which Seedream to use
| Model | Best for | Sizes | Reference images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedream 5.0 Pro | The newest Seedream, for final images. | 1K, 1.5K, 2K | up to 10 |
| Seedream 5.0 Lite | Seedream 5.0 at the larger sizes, for less. | 2K, 3K, 4K | up to 14 |
| Seedream 4.5 | Large images with many references. | 2K, 4K | up to 14 |
| Seedream 4.0 | The cheapest Seedream, for drafts at any size. | 1K, 2K, 4K | up to 14 |
Reference images keep a character, a product or a location the same from one image to the next. Every image lands in your project, where it can start a video shot with Seedance, Kling or Veo.
The Seedream API
Make an API key in Root under Settings, then API. You choose a daily spending limit for each key when you create it. Then send a request:
curl https://root.film/api/v1/generations \
-H "Authorization: Bearer rfk_your_key" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"model":"seedream-5-0-pro","project_id":"YOUR_PROJECT_ID",
"input":{"prompt":"a product shot of a glass perfume bottle on wet stone",
"resolution":"2K"}}'- The other model ids are
seedream-5-0-lite,seedream-4-5andseedream-4-0. - Add reference images with reference_urls, or reuse files already in the project by id.
- Send an Idempotency-Key header and a retry never charges twice.
Or ask for it in Claude
Connect Root to Claude or ChatGPT and you can make Seedream images from the chat, including a set of images built from your own references. How to connect
Seedream questions
How much does Seedream cost?
On Root, a Seedream 5.0 Pro image costs $0.06 at 1K and $0.11 at 2K. The cheapest Seedream image is $0.04. The API and the app show the price before you run it, and failed images are not charged.
Is there a Seedream API?
Yes. Create an API key in Root and send one of the model ids seedream-5-0-pro, seedream-5-0-lite, seedream-4-5 or seedream-4-0 to the generations endpoint with a prompt and a project. The image is saved to that project.
What's the difference between Seedream 5.0 Pro and Lite?
Pro makes images from 1K to 2K and takes up to 10 reference images. Lite makes them from 2K to 4K and takes up to 14, and costs less at the larger sizes.
How many reference images can Seedream use?
Up to 14, depending on the model. Use them for a character, a product or a location that has to look the same in every image.
Can I use Seedream from Claude or ChatGPT?
Yes. Connect Root to Claude or ChatGPT and ask for a Seedream image in the chat. It's priced and saved to your project the same way as an image made in the app.
Can I try Seedream for free?
For a month, yes. The first month of Root's Beginner plan is free and comes with 650 credits, enough for 108 Seedream 5.0 Pro images at 1K. After that the plan is $9 a month, and you can cancel whenever you like.
Try Root free for a month
The first month of the Beginner plan is free and comes with 650 credits to spend on any model. After that it's $9 a month, and you can cancel whenever you like.