Compare a brief rather than a highlight reel
A useful comparison asks which model suits a particular job. A product reveal, a quiet spoken line and a complex physical gag can place different demands on generation. Keep those tasks separate so an attractive result on one task does not silently become a claim about every kind of video.
According to ByteDance’s Seedance overview, its own evaluation considers multiple task dimensions. That supports looking beyond a single visual impression, but manufacturer demonstrations are not independent evidence for your brief. This guide provides a recording method and current SeaDance costs; it does not report a benchmark we have run.
Write acceptance conditions before seeing any outputs. For example, the person must remain recognizable, a box must open visibly, the spoken line must remain intact, and the final pose must settle. You can prefer a particular texture, but keep that preference separate from whether the requested event happened.
Align the controls you can actually align
Use the same prompt text for the initial pass, including the ending and sound instructions. Select the same supported duration and use the same image files in the same order when comparing image-based routes. Keep the mode consistent: a first-frame request is not equivalent to a text-only request with a vague description of the same picture.
On SeaDance, existing video models offer 5, 10 and 15 seconds in 16:9. Seedance variants run at 480p, Kling 3.0 at 720p, and H3 variants at 768P. These resolutions cannot all be matched. Record that mismatch plainly; do not describe a test across them as a perfectly controlled resolution comparison.
Kling 4.0 can be selected through all models; check the live quote in the generator. Read its visible options before including it in a matched test. According to Kuaishou’s announcement, the model emphasizes dynamic motion and camera work; that is a testable creative focus, not an independent ranking.
Cost of an initial 5-second test
| Model | SeaDance resolution | 5-second test, sound enabled |
|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.0 Mini | 480p | 4 credits / $0.80 |
| Seedance 2.0 | 480p | 7 credits / $1.40 |
| Seedance 2.0 Fast | 480p | 6 credits / $1.20 |
| Seedance 2.5 | 480p | 11 credits / $2.21 |
| Kling 3.0 | 720p | 13 credits / $2.61 |
| MiniMax H3 | 768P | 9 credits / $1.81 |
| MiniMax H3 Max | 768P | 9 credits / $1.81 |
| Kling 4.0 | Check generator options | check the live quote in the generator |
All dollar equivalents allocate prepaid credits at the Basic monthly rate: $29.90 for 149 credits, or approximately $0.2007 per credit. They are not separate checkout prices. See pricing for plans and packs. New accounts start with 0 credits. Each new attempt is charged again, including a completed take you dislike; a failed generation returns its generation credits. That is different from a refund of a subscription payment. See the refund policy.
Use a scorecard that keeps observations visible
For each dimension, record Pass, Partial or Fail plus a specific observation. Do not convert a handful of scenes into a universal numerical ranking. A result can follow the prompt while having a style you dislike, or look appealing while missing a required action. Preserve both facts in the notes.
| Dimension | What to inspect | Observation to record |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt adherence | Subject, action, framing and required prop | Which requested beat is present or missing? |
| Face continuity | Opening, turns and ending | Does the same face remain recognizable? |
| Motion | Contact, balance and object persistence | Where does an action become implausible? |
| Sound | Exact line, speaker and environmental cue | Which words or sound events differ? |
| Ending | Final pose and composition | Does the requested endpoint settle? |
Listen without looking at the picture, then inspect the picture without relying on the soundtrack. These are review passes outside the generation controls; SeaDance has no silent-generation switch. Recombine the observations afterward. Clear speech can make a weak visual seem more convincing, while impressive motion can distract from a changed line.
Copy this test record
Brief name: ____. Creative requirement: ____. Exact prompt: ____. Prompt revision: ____. Model shown: ____. Mode: ____. Duration: ____. Resolution: ____. Aspect ratio: ____. Reference filenames in upload order: ____. Displayed quote: ____. Result identifier or saved filename: ____. Attempt history: ____.
Prompt adherence: ____ because ____. Face continuity: ____ because ____. Motion: ____ because ____. Sound: ____ because ____. Ending: ____ because ____. Accepted for this use: ____. Required correction: ____. Settings that could not be matched: ____. Total charged attempts, including rejected completed outputs: ____.
Before generating: save the prompt, verify the image files, confirm the mode, compare supported duration options and record the quote. After generating: review every criterion, preserve the output, note any failure, and log any new attempt as another paid test. This checklist can be copied into a plain document or spreadsheet without special tools.
Keep the first pass separate from model tuning
The first pass answers how models interpret identical wording. A later pass can adapt wording to each model, but label it as a tuned comparison and retain the earlier results. Otherwise a model that received more prompt revisions can look stronger simply because it received more attention.
If a model lacks the same reference route, either use the common route across the group or split the comparison. Kling 3.0 offers one first frame on SeaDance, while Seedance and H3 also offer Reference mode. Feeding one model an identity packet and another a text description tests different workflows, not just different generators.
Run an equal attempt allowance where practical, or disclose the difference. A chosen best take from a large private pile should not be compared to another model’s unselected first result. There is no fixed success probability implied here: the point is to preserve enough history for someone else to understand how the selected outputs were obtained.
Choose for the deliverable after reviewing the evidence
A scene needing clear speech may favor a different candidate than a silent-looking product turn with generated room tone. Use your recorded requirements to make that choice. Describe a result as suitable for the observed scene and mention unresolved defects. Do not publish “best model” conclusions from an isolated successful shot.
Keep costs attached to the whole experiment. Completed takes you reject remain charged, and a retry is a new request. If a generation actually fails, note the failure and returned generation credits rather than pretending a usable video was produced. The result should explain both creative suitability and the effort spent reaching it.
Frequently asked questions
Can every model use the same resolution?
No. SeaDance’s current model routes have different fixed resolutions. Align duration and inputs where possible, then document the remaining mismatch.
Should prompts be customized immediately?
Keep an identical first pass, then label any adapted pass separately. Saving both helps distinguish initial prompt interpretation from the benefits of later tuning.
Are these tables benchmark results?
No. The tables contain current quotes and a review rubric. No generated outputs, performance scores or success rates are claimed.
What counts as a fair image comparison?
Use the same image files and equivalent modes where supported. If that is impossible, describe the comparison as a workflow test and disclose the different inputs.
Sources
Official background checked November 5, 2026. SeaDance settings and billing in this article follow its current product configuration, rather than the full range of manufacturer features.