Seedream v5 Lite
Fast, low-cost text-to-image from ByteDance's Seedream family, with 2K and high quality tiers and 8 aspect ratios.
Made with Seedream v5 Lite
Sample outputs. Open in Studio to generate your own.
Where Seedream v5 Lite shines
Text to image
Generate finished images straight from a written prompt with no input image required.
Reference editing
Attach up to 10 reference images to switch into image-to-image mode and guide the output.
Rapid drafts
Use flat low pricing and up to 8 variations per request to explore many directions quickly.
Strengths
- Text-to-image by default, no input image needed to start
- Image-to-image mode by attaching up to 10 reference images
- Two quality tiers: basic at 2K and a higher tier
- Eight aspect ratios including widescreen 21:9 and portrait 9:16
- Flat, low per-image price regardless of the quality tier chosen
- Generates up to 8 prompt variations or images per request
Trade-offs
- Image generation only, with no video or audio output
- Image-to-image mode requires uploading at least one reference image
- Prompt length is bounded (HexGen accepts 5 to 2000 characters)
- Positioned as the lighter, faster variant below Seedream v4.5 for fine detail
At a glance
About Seedream v5 Lite
Seedream v5 Lite is ByteDance's lightweight, lower-cost image model, built for fast text-to-image generation when you do not need to upload anything to get started. Type a prompt and it produces a finished image, with two quality tiers to choose from: basic at 2K and a higher tier for more resolution.
When you want to work from existing visuals, attach one or more reference images, up to 10, and the model switches into image-to-image mode so you can guide composition and style from your own source material. You can shape every result with eight aspect ratios, from square 1:1 to widescreen 21:9 and tall portrait 9:16, and export as PNG or JPG.
Pricing is flat: a single low per-image credit cost no matter which quality tier you pick, so it is an easy choice for quick iteration and high-volume work. On HexGen you can also request up to 8 prompt variations per run to explore directions in one pass. It sits below the fuller Seedream v4.5 for fine detail, making it the fast, affordable option in the family.
Starting points
Copy, tweak, and run. Good prompts get you most of the way there.
A neon-lit night market in the rain, reflections on wet pavement, cinematic 21:9 widescreen, moody atmosphere.
Minimalist product shot of a ceramic coffee mug on a marble counter, soft daylight, square 1:1 composition.
Portrait of an astronaut reading a book in a sunlit greenhouse, tall 9:16 framing, warm color palette.
Pay only for what you render. 1 USD = 1,000 HGcoins. HGcoins never expire and failed runs refund automatically.
Seedream v5 Lite vs other models
Seedream v5 Lite is the fast, affordable image option in ByteDance's Seedream family. Here is how it stacks up against close siblings on HexGen.
| Model | Quality | Speed | Cost | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seedream v5 Lite This ByteDance | Great | Fastest | Lower cost | Best when you want quick, flat-priced images and can trade some fine detail for speed and cost. |
ByteDance | Best | Fast | Mid cost | Step up to this when fine detail matters more than speed or price. |
Google | Great | Fastest | Mid cost | Consider Google's option if you want an alternative image model to compare results. |
Related models
Frequently asked questions
It is ByteDance's lightweight image model that generates images from a text prompt, and can also work from your own reference images in image-to-image mode.