Image model vs image model
Seedream 5.0 Lite vs Z-Image Base
People picked Seedream 5.0 Lite’s picture over Z-Image Base’s about 67% of the time in blind votes. Z-Image Base costs 3.5× less ($0.035 against $0.01 an image), so it wins when “good enough” will do.
At a glance
Longer bar means the bigger number. Elo bars start at 800.
Blind votes · how often people would pick each picture
Seedream 5.0 Lite Z-Image Base
Price per image · 1024×1024, lower is better
Text to image · arena Elo, higher is better
Where they sit among all 56 image models
Up and to the left is better pictures for less money. Hover or tap a dot for its numbers, then click it to compare that model with Seedream 5.0 Lite. Models the arena hasn’t rated yet sit in the grey lane at the bottom.
Which one to pick
Pick Seedream 5.0 Lite if
- you want the better picture: in blind votes people chose its image over Z-Image Base’s about 67% of the time
- you need to edit pictures you upload; Z-Image Base only makes new ones here
Pick Z-Image Base if
- price matters: 100 images cost $1.00, against $3.50 with Seedream 5.0 Lite
- you want open weights you can run yourself
The specs
| Spec | Seedream 5.0 Lite | Z-Image Base |
|---|---|---|
| Price per image | $0.035 | $0.01 |
| 100 images | $3.50 | $1.00 |
| Text-to-image Elo | 1017 ±12 (#39 in the arena) | 891 ±17 (#87 in the arena) |
| Editing Elo | 1062 ±13 (#32 in the arena) | Not scored yet |
| Arena votes | 5,605 | 2,500 |
| Edits uploaded pictures | Yes | No |
| Largest size | — | — |
| Open weights | No | Yes |
| Zero data retention | No | — |
| Lab | ByteDance | Alibaba |
| Official name | Seedream 5.0 Lite | Z-Image Base |
| Released | February 2026 | January 2026 |
Elo ± is the 95% margin. Prices are for one 1024×1024 image from the Vercel AI Gateway and fal.ai.
Questions
Which is better, Seedream 5.0 Lite or Z-Image Base?
People picked Seedream 5.0 Lite’s picture over Z-Image Base’s about 67% of the time in blind votes. Z-Image Base costs 3.5× less ($0.035 against $0.01 an image), so it wins when “good enough” will do.
Which is cheaper, Seedream 5.0 Lite or Z-Image Base?
Z-Image Base: $0.01 for a 1024×1024 image, against $0.035 for Seedream 5.0 Lite. 100 images cost $1.00 and $3.50.
Can Seedream 5.0 Lite and Z-Image Base edit images?
Seedream 5.0 Lite can change a picture you upload. Z-Image Base only makes new pictures from a prompt here.
How can I compare Seedream 5.0 Lite and Z-Image Base myself?
Open the comparison, type one prompt and both models draw it side by side, each with what it cost and how long it took. You sign up with Google before your first run, and new accounts start with free credit.
Related comparisons
Where the numbers come from
Quality scores are Elo ratings from the Artificial Analysis image arenas, where people vote between two pictures made from the same prompt without knowing which model made which. The vote split comes from the Elo gap. Prices are for one 1024×1024 image from the Vercel AI Gateway and fal.ai; models billed per token are estimated at the quality the arena scored. The sample pictures are our own runs. Updated October 25, 2026.