Seedream is ByteDance's text-to-image model family — Seedream v4, Seedream 4.5 and Seedream 5 Lite — known for strong character consistency across generations. The Seedream API generates and edits images from a text prompt programmatically. This guide explains the family, its pricing, and how to run the same workflow on Kunavo today.
model field.The Seedream model family
| Model | ByteDance list (approx.) | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Seedream v4 | ~$0.03 / image | Character consistency, flagship quality |
| Seedream 4.5 | ~$0.04 / image | Refined v4, better prompt adherence |
| Seedream 5 Lite | ~$0.035 / image | Fast, cost-effective |
Because ByteDance prices Seedream so aggressively, going direct is currently the cheapest route — which is exactly why Kunavo hasn't enabled it. We'd rather tell you that than resell it at a markup.
Text-to-image on Kunavo today
Kunavo exposes image generation through one OpenAI-style endpoint, POST /v1/images/generations. The live models are Nano Banana and GPT-Image-2. The request shape is identical to what a Seedream call would be — only the model string differs:
import os
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(
api_key=os.environ["KUNAVO_API_KEY"],
base_url="https://api.kunavo.com/v1",
)
# Live text-to-image on the same OpenAI-style endpoint. Swap the model
# string to Seedream once it's enabled — the request shape is identical.
img = client.images.generate(
model="nano-banana", # or nano-banana-pro / gpt-image-2
prompt="a character sheet of a fox ranger, consistent face, 3 poses",
size="1024x1024",
)
print(img.data[0].url)The closest live alternatives
- Nano Banana — Google's image family, strong character consistency, about $0.027 per image. The nearest match to Seedream's strengths. See the Nano Banana API guide.
- GPT-Image-2 — best prompt fidelity and text-in-image, about $0.0633 per image. See the GPT-Image-2 API guide.
- For image editing, both offer image-to-image via
/v1/images/edits— details in the images reference.
FAQ
What is the Seedream API?
ByteDance's text-to-image model family (v4, 4.5, 5 Lite), known for character consistency, priced around $0.03–0.04 per image on ByteDance's list.
Can I use Seedream on Kunavo today?
Not yet — it's on the roadmap. ByteDance's direct price is already so low that Kunavo can't beat it, and we only list models we can serve cheaper. Use Nano Banana or GPT-Image-2 on the same endpoint today.
What is Seedream 4.5?
A refined Seedream v4 with better prompt adherence, around $0.04 per image. On Kunavo, the live equivalents are Nano Banana and GPT-Image-2.
What's the best Seedream alternative?
Nano Banana for consistency at low cost; GPT-Image-2 for prompt fidelity — both live on Kunavo through the OpenAI-compatible images endpoint.