{ "data": { "similar": [ { "grade": "BB", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/openai-image-api.json", "name": "OpenAI Image API", "score": 72.4, "shared": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.reference" ], "slug": "openai-image-api" }, { "grade": "B", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/fal-image.json", "name": "fal image models", "score": 65.2, "shared": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.reference" ], "slug": "fal-image" }, { "grade": "B", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/black-forest-labs.json", "name": "Black Forest Labs FLUX API", "score": 63.9, "shared": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.reference" ], "slug": "black-forest-labs" }, { "grade": "B", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/bria.json", "name": "Bria API", "score": 63.7, "shared": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.reference" ], "slug": "bria" }, { "grade": "D", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/recraft.json", "name": "Recraft API", "score": 52.8, "shared": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.reference" ], "slug": "recraft" }, { "grade": "D", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/replicate-image.json", "name": "Replicate image models", "score": 50.2, "shared": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.reference" ], "slug": "replicate-image" } ], "tool": { "slug": "seedream-on-byteplus-modelark", "name": "Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk", "vendor": "BytePlus Pte. Ltd. (ByteDance)", "vendorUrl": "https://www.byteplus.com", "kind": "model", "category": "image-generation", "summary": "BytePlus ModelArk's hosted API for ByteDance's Seedream image models. One endpoint handles text-to-image, reference-image editing, batches of related images and layer decomposition, billed per generated image.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.json", "repo": "https://github.com/volcengine/ark-runtime-go", "license": "Proprietary service under the BytePlus Customer Agreement and Service Specific Terms. The Go and Python SDK repositories are Apache-2.0", "transports": [ "http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com/api/v3", "packages": [ { "registry": "pypi", "name": "arkruntime" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "byteplus-python-sdk-v2" }, { "registry": "go", "name": "github.com/volcengine/ark-runtime-go" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "The image endpoint takes a ModelArk API key as a Bearer token and, per its reference, no other credential. Keys are created in the console after a browser sign-up, belong to one resource project and one region, and can be limited to named model IDs or custom inference endpoints and to an IP allowlist. A key can be disabled, re-enabled or deleted, and a primary account holds up to 50. Each model must be activated in the console before use.", "pricing": "usage", "pricingNotes": "Pay as you go per successfully generated image, in US dollars, published without a login. Seedream 5.0 flash $0.018, 4.0 $0.03, 5.0 lite $0.035, 4.5 $0.04, 5.0 pro $0.045 up to 2.61 million pixels and $0.09 above. Input images are free except on 5.0 pro, which charges $0.003 from the second. No free image quota is listed for Seedream, and an account in arrears for two hours is suspended (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-pricing).", "priceSummary": "Pay per use", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the API reference, the pricing page or the error codes (checked 2026-10-09).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-09" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/image-generation-api", "capabilities": [ "image.generate", "image.edit", "image.reference" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "closed-source", "api-key", "python", "go", "java", "openai-compatible", "watermark", "streaming", "regional-endpoints" ], "lastRelease": "2026-09-17", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 53.8, "grade": "D", "agentReady": false, "rank": 700, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 950, "categoryRank": 5, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 72, "maintenance": 73, "payments": 20, "reliability": 43, "schema": 62, "security": 70, "transparency": 60 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "breakdown": [ { "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "weight": 16, "effectiveWeight": 20, "score": 43, "points": 8.6, "reason": "Graded as a hosted service. No status page or incident history was found in the docs or the site pages read (0), so the 90-day record is scored as unreadable (5). The model list gives 500 images a minute for each Seedream model, with a note that limits are theoretical maximums and not guaranteed (15). The error reference lists 15 distinct 429 codes including `ModelAccountIpmRateLimitExceeded`, and a burst-traffic guide gives exponential backoff with jitter. No idempotency key was found (13). The legal index lists SLAs for 16 other BytePlus products and none named for ModelArk. We did not open those documents (0). The image API is not labelled beta or preview (10)." }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "weight": 10, "effectiveWeight": 0, "pending": true, "points": 0, "reason": "Pending. Latency is measured per call by our probes, which haven't run yet, so this run doesn't score it. Its weight is shared across the assessed categories until the first probe window closes." }, { "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "weight": 13, "effectiveWeight": 16.25, "score": 62, "points": 10.07, "reason": "No OpenAPI file for the data plane was found. The Go and Python SDKs publish typed request and response models, and an API Explorer page exists that we did not read (8). No llms.txt or Markdown docs for agents were found, and the docs site is drawn by script (0). Each parameter states its purpose, the models that accept it and its restrictions (15). Inputs carry types, defaults, enums and pixel and aspect-ratio ranges, though `size` is a string with two exclusive formats (13). The tutorial has curl, Python, Java, Go and OpenAI SDK examples, and the error reference maps HTTP status to code, message and meaning (14). The path is versioned at `/api/v3`, model IDs carry a date, and release pages are dated by month (12)." }, { "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "weight": 13, "effectiveWeight": 16.25, "score": 72, "points": 11.7, "reason": "Graded on the model lines. Responses can be a URL or `b64_json`, `size` takes resolution levels, and `max_images` caps a batch (20). There is nothing to paginate. Sequential generation, streaming and per-request output controls cover size (14). Errors carry a code, a message and a request ID, and a failed image in a batch reports its own error without failing the rest (17). No idempotency key was found. The SDK retries twice by default, and images that fail are not billed (6). Only `model` and a prompt or image are needed, with SDKs in Python, Go and Java and OpenAI SDK compatibility (15)." }, { "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "weight": 14, "effectiveWeight": 17.5, "score": 70, "points": 12.25, "reason": "API keys are scoped to a resource project and region, can be limited to named model IDs or endpoints and to an IP allowlist, and can be disabled or deleted. No expiry or rotation feature was found. The key travels in a header (26). Model-level key permissions, per-endpoint rate limits and account inference limits narrow what a key can spend, with no read-only notion for a generation API (12). The API returns generated images only (10). The console shows each key's last use and creator, and a usage query API exists. The inference security audit covers only Skylark models (8). No security.txt. The SDK repositories send reports to ByteDance's security centre, which runs a bounty, and the trust centre lists ISO 27001, SOC 2 and PCI DSS for BytePlus as a whole (14)." }, { "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "weight": 10, "effectiveWeight": 12.5, "score": 20, "points": 2.5, "reason": "No x402, MPP or L402 (0). Per-image prices for every Seedream model are published without a login (20). No free image quota is listed for Seedream. The free trial page covers models billed by token, and the model list shows no free quota in the image table (0). Access needs a browser sign-up, model activation in the console and a console-made key (0)." }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "weight": 10, "effectiveWeight": 0, "pending": true, "points": 0, "reason": "Pending. Task success needs the category task suites run through each tool, which haven't run yet, so this run doesn't score it. Its weight is shared across the assessed categories until then. A data provider's data-quality score is published on its listing now and becomes half of this category when it's scored." }, { "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "weight": 7, "effectiveWeight": 8.75, "score": 73, "points": 6.39, "reason": "Graded on the model lines. Seedream 5.0 flash (`dola-seedream-5-0-flash-260915`) is in the September 2026 release table and the deprecation page was last updated on 10 September 2026, 29 days before the check (30). The deprecation process promises at least 30 calendar days' notice and the last two batches gave about eight weeks, but the page says each version is usually retired a few months after launch, and Seedream 3.0 went in May 2026 (12). Dated release and update pages are public, with tickets and a Discord community for support, which we did not test (8). Official SDKs are current. The Python SDK reached v3.0.61 and the Go SDK v0.9.0 on 17 September 2026 (15). Both SDK repositories have CI workflows (8)." }, { "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "weight": 7, "effectiveWeight": 8.75, "score": 60, "points": 5.25, "note": "editorial 61, provenance 59", "reason": "Closed service under a public Customer Agreement and Service Specific Terms. The General Terms for AI Services, which the model terms rely on, did not load for us, so output ownership is not established (13). The data processing page and the ModelArk terms agree that customer data is not used for training without opt-in, name 180 days' retention for filter-triggered content and list processing in Malaysia, Indonesia and the EU or EEA. The Privacy Policy excludes customer data and points to a DPA we did not read (20). A deprecation process with dated batches, named replacements and a 30-day minimum (16). A sub-processor list effective 24 September 2026 with locations and 15 days' notice of changes, which has no row for ModelArk (12)." } ], "assessment": { "date": "2026-10-09", "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "notes": { "ergonomics": "Graded on the model lines. Responses can be a URL or `b64_json`, `size` takes resolution levels, and `max_images` caps a batch (20). There is nothing to paginate. Sequential generation, streaming and per-request output controls cover size (14). Errors carry a code, a message and a request ID, and a failed image in a batch reports its own error without failing the rest (17). No idempotency key was found. The SDK retries twice by default, and images that fail are not billed (6). Only `model` and a prompt or image are needed, with SDKs in Python, Go and Java and OpenAI SDK compatibility (15).", "maintenance": "Graded on the model lines. Seedream 5.0 flash (`dola-seedream-5-0-flash-260915`) is in the September 2026 release table and the deprecation page was last updated on 10 September 2026, 29 days before the check (30). The deprecation process promises at least 30 calendar days' notice and the last two batches gave about eight weeks, but the page says each version is usually retired a few months after launch, and Seedream 3.0 went in May 2026 (12). Dated release and update pages are public, with tickets and a Discord community for support, which we did not test (8). Official SDKs are current. The Python SDK reached v3.0.61 and the Go SDK v0.9.0 on 17 September 2026 (15). Both SDK repositories have CI workflows (8).", "payments": "No x402, MPP or L402 (0). Per-image prices for every Seedream model are published without a login (20). No free image quota is listed for Seedream. The free trial page covers models billed by token, and the model list shows no free quota in the image table (0). Access needs a browser sign-up, model activation in the console and a console-made key (0).", "reliability": "Graded as a hosted service. No status page or incident history was found in the docs or the site pages read (0), so the 90-day record is scored as unreadable (5). The model list gives 500 images a minute for each Seedream model, with a note that limits are theoretical maximums and not guaranteed (15). The error reference lists 15 distinct 429 codes including `ModelAccountIpmRateLimitExceeded`, and a burst-traffic guide gives exponential backoff with jitter. No idempotency key was found (13). The legal index lists SLAs for 16 other BytePlus products and none named for ModelArk. We did not open those documents (0). The image API is not labelled beta or preview (10).", "schema": "No OpenAPI file for the data plane was found. The Go and Python SDKs publish typed request and response models, and an API Explorer page exists that we did not read (8). No llms.txt or Markdown docs for agents were found, and the docs site is drawn by script (0). Each parameter states its purpose, the models that accept it and its restrictions (15). Inputs carry types, defaults, enums and pixel and aspect-ratio ranges, though `size` is a string with two exclusive formats (13). The tutorial has curl, Python, Java, Go and OpenAI SDK examples, and the error reference maps HTTP status to code, message and meaning (14). The path is versioned at `/api/v3`, model IDs carry a date, and release pages are dated by month (12).", "security": "API keys are scoped to a resource project and region, can be limited to named model IDs or endpoints and to an IP allowlist, and can be disabled or deleted. No expiry or rotation feature was found. The key travels in a header (26). Model-level key permissions, per-endpoint rate limits and account inference limits narrow what a key can spend, with no read-only notion for a generation API (12). The API returns generated images only (10). The console shows each key's last use and creator, and a usage query API exists. The inference security audit covers only Skylark models (8). No security.txt. The SDK repositories send reports to ByteDance's security centre, which runs a bounty, and the trust centre lists ISO 27001, SOC 2 and PCI DSS for BytePlus as a whole (14).", "transparency": "Closed service under a public Customer Agreement and Service Specific Terms. The General Terms for AI Services, which the model terms rely on, did not load for us, so output ownership is not established (13). The data processing page and the ModelArk terms agree that customer data is not used for training without opt-in, name 180 days' retention for filter-triggered content and list processing in Malaysia, Indonesia and the EU or EEA. The Privacy Policy excludes customer data and points to a DPA we did not read (20). A deprecation process with dated batches, named replacements and a 30-day minimum (16). A sub-processor list effective 24 September 2026 with locations and 15 days' notice of changes, which has no row for ModelArk (12)." }, "sources": [ { "what": "image generation API reference (read from the document text embedded in the page markup, as the page is drawn by script)", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/image-generation-api", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "model pricing", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-pricing", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "model list with rate limits and regions", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-list", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "error codes", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/error-codes", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "base URL and authentication", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/base-url-and-authentication", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "API key management", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/manage-api-keys", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "model releases", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-release-announcement", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "model deprecations", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-deprecation-notice", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "product updates", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/product-update-announcements", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "API schema upgrade notice", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/api-schema-upgrade-notice", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "inference free trial", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/free-inference-quota", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "ModelArk data processing", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/BytePlus_ModelArk_Data_Processing", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "region availability", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/region-availability", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "burst traffic and backoff guide", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/traffic-burst-handling-best-practices", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "image generation tutorial with examples and limits", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/seedream-4-0-5-0", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "SDK installation", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/install-and-upgrade-sdk", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "inference security audit", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/console-inference-security-audit", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "international availability of the model service", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/ModelArk/availability", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "Service Specific Terms (ModelArk and Model Services sections)", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-service-specific-terms", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "Customer Agreement", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-customer-agreement", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "Privacy Policy", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-privacy-policy", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "sub-processor list", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/sub-processors-list", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "trust centre", "url": "https://www.byteplus.com/en/trust-center", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "security.txt request (returned the HTML shell)", "url": "https://www.byteplus.com/.well-known/security.txt", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "Go SDK repository (shallow clone, tags, README, SECURITY.md)", "url": "https://github.com/volcengine/ark-runtime-go", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "Python SDK repository (shallow clone, tags, retry defaults)", "url": "https://github.com/byteplus-sdk/byteplus-python-sdk-v2", "seen": "2026-10-09" }, { "what": "RDAP record for byteplus.com", "url": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/byteplus.com", "seen": "2026-10-09" } ], "openQuestions": [ "unchecked: the ModelArk product page and the rest of www.byteplus.com marketing pages are drawn by script and showed no text, so any claims there (free credits, status link, enterprise SLA) went unread.", "unchecked: the General Terms for AI Services (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/AI-Services-terms) returned an empty page, so output ownership and usage rules for generated images are not established.", "unchecked: the Data Processing Addendum, the platform Terms of Service, the GenAI Acceptable Use Policy and the security whitepaper were not read. No clause on benchmarking or automated access was found in the Customer Agreement, and the unread Terms of Service should be checked before any probe is run.", "unchecked: the API Explorer at api.byteplus.com was not read, so whether it publishes a machine-readable description of `ImageGenerations` is unknown.", "unchecked: PyPI and Maven download figures and release dates. Release dates come from repository tags.", "No free image quota for Seedream was found. Whether new accounts get any free images, and whether sign-up needs a card, was not established.", "The model list and the deprecation page disagree on whether `seedream-5-0-lite` still runs in eu-west-1. We made no API call to settle it.", "The lead named Seedream 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0. The API reference today covers 5.0 pro, 5.0 flash, 5.0 lite, 4.5 and 4.0, and Seedream 3.0 was deactivated on 13 May 2026.", "The Customer Agreement (section 6.2) bars holding out as a reseller or model-as-a-service provider of the Services without written consent, which matters to anyone wrapping the API for others. Recorded as a fact with no deduction.", "`lastRelease` is the date of the latest SDK tags (17 September 2026). Model releases are dated by month only." ] }, "negative": -3, "negativeNotes": [ "The model list (updated 28 September 2026) says `seedream-5-0-lite` is supported in eu-west-1, while the deprecation page says the model was deactivated in that region on 10 September 2026 and the region page lists only `seed-2-0-lite` for the EU. The batch that carries the notice is dated 8 September 2026, two days earlier, against the page's own 30-day minimum. We made no call to confirm which page is right. 3 points (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-deprecation-notice)." ], "verdict": "Per-image prices from $0.018 are public, and API keys can be limited to named models and an IP allowlist. No status page, SLA or OpenAPI file was found, onboarding needs a browser sign-up, and BytePlus says its model services are not available in the United States.", "bestFor": "Agents that need ByteDance's Seedream models first-hand, multi-reference edits, 4K output or layered PNG output at a published per-image price, for users outside the United States.", "strengths": [ "Per-image prices are public for five Seedream models, from $0.018 (5.0 flash) to $0.09 (5.0 pro above 1.5K), and failed or moderated images are not billed", "API keys are scoped to a project and can be limited to named model IDs or endpoints and to an IP allowlist", "Up to 14 reference images on Seedream 5.0 lite, 4.5 and 4.0, and up to 4K output (4096x4096) on those models", "The error reference lists 15 distinct 429 codes, and a burst-traffic guide gives backoff code with jitter", "The service terms say customer data is not used for training unless the customer opts in", "A written deprecation process promises at least 30 calendar days' notice, with dated batches and named replacements" ], "weaknesses": [ "No status page, incident history or ModelArk SLA was found in the pages read", "No OpenAPI file, llms.txt or Markdown docs for agents were found. The docs site is drawn by script", "The model list says `seedream-5-0-lite` runs in eu-west-1, while the deprecation page says it was deactivated there on 10 September 2026", "The Service Specific Terms say BytePlus Model Services are not available in the United States", "No idempotency key was found, so a retried request that succeeded is a second paid generation", "Image URLs expire 24 hours after generation, and a watermark is added unless `watermark` is set to false" ], "agentNotes": [ "POST to `https://ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com/api/v3/images/generations` with `Authorization: Bearer $ARK_API_KEY`. Keys and model activation are per region", "Set `watermark` to false if the image must not carry the AI-generated mark. The default is true", "Download `data[].url` within 24 hours, or ask for `response_format` `b64_json`", "Check each `data[].error` in a sequential batch. One moderated image does not fail the others, and only `usage.generated_images` is billed", "Stay under 500 images a minute per model and back off with jitter on 429. Layer decomposition reserves 17 against that limit per request" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "D", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 53.8 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 72, "maintenance": 73, "payments": 20, "reliability": 43, "schema": 62, "security": 70, "transparency": 61 }, "provenanceScore": 59 }, "connect": { "install": "python -m pip install --upgrade arkruntime", "http": "curl https://ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com/api/v3/images/generations \\\n -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer $ARK_API_KEY\" \\\n -d '{\"model\":\"seedream-5-0-lite-260128\",\"prompt\":\"A lighthouse at dusk\",\"size\":\"2K\",\"output_format\":\"png\",\"watermark\":false}'" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/image.generate", "tool": "https://letme.dev/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark" }, "sameCompany": [ "seedance-on-byteplus-modelark" ], "notable": [ "One endpoint, `POST /api/v3/images/generations`, covers text-to-image, single and multi-reference editing, sequential batches of up to 15 images and layer decomposition into a base image and up to 16 PNG layers (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/image-generation-api)", "The Service Specific Terms say BytePlus Model Services are not available in the United States, and a separate page lists the countries served (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-service-specific-terms)", "The data processing page says ModelArk is a processor, does not train on customer data without authorisation, and keeps input and output that trigger the content filter for 180 days in Malaysia (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/BytePlus_ModelArk_Data_Processing)", "Requests to a regional endpoint may spill over to the other region, AP to EU or EU to AP, according to the region page (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/region-availability)", "The deprecation page promises at least 30 calendar days' notice. Its fourth batch was notified on 8 September 2026 for deactivation on 11 November 2026 (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-deprecation-notice)", "Rate limits in the model list are described as theoretical maximums that are not guaranteed (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-list)" ], "area": "content", "details": [ { "label": "Models", "value": "`dola-seedream-5-0-pro-260628`, `dola-seedream-5-0-flash-260915`, `seedream-5-0-260128` (also `seedream-5-0-lite-260128`), `seedream-4-5-251128`, `seedream-4-0-250828`" }, { "label": "Max resolution", "value": "4K (4096x4096, 16.8 million pixels) on Seedream 5.0 lite, 4.5 and 4.0. 2K (up to 4.62 million pixels) on 5.0 pro and flash" }, { "label": "Edit support", "value": "Yes. Prompt edits with up to 10 reference images on 5.0 pro and flash, up to 14 on the others. Interactive editing by coordinates, boxes and arrows and layer decomposition on 5.0 pro and flash only" }, { "label": "Batch output", "value": "`sequential_image_generation` on 5.0 lite, 4.5 and 4.0. Input plus output images at most 15. Streaming on the same three models" }, { "label": "Output", "value": "URL valid for 24 hours or `b64_json`. JPEG by default, PNG on the 5.0 models. Transparent background on 5.0 pro and flash" }, { "label": "Watermark", "value": "An AI-generated mark in the lower right corner by default. `watermark: false` removes it" }, { "label": "Rate limits", "value": "500 images a minute per model per account, stated as a theoretical maximum. Higher limits by ticket" }, { "label": "Regions", "value": "ap-southeast-1 (Johor) at ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com and eu-west-1 (Dublin) at ark.eu-west.bytepluses.com. The region page lists only `seed-2-0-lite` as an EU model" }, { "label": "Availability", "value": "A published list of countries and regions, last updated 21 April 2026. The terms say the model services are not available in the United States" }, { "label": "SDKs", "value": "Python (`arkruntime`, legacy `byteplus-python-sdk-v2` v3.0.61 of 17 September 2026), Go (`ark-runtime-go` v0.9.0 of 17 September 2026), Java (`com.volcengine:ark-runtime`). The OpenAI SDK works with the base URL changed" }, { "label": "Data handling", "value": "No training on customer data unless the customer opts in. Filter-triggered input and output kept 180 days in Malaysia. Processing in Malaysia, Indonesia and the EU or EEA" }, { "label": "Certifications", "value": "The trust centre lists ISO 27001, 27017, 27018 and 27701, SOC 1, 2 and 3, PCI DSS, CSA STAR and MTCS Level 3 for BytePlus as a whole" }, { "label": "Free tier", "value": "None listed for Seedream. The free trial page covers models billed by token" } ], "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Seedream 5.0 flash", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.018 }, { "item": "Seedream 4.0", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.03 }, { "item": "Seedream 5.0 lite", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.035 }, { "item": "Seedream 4.5", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.04 }, { "item": "Seedream 5.0 pro", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.045, "note": "up to 2.61 million pixels (1.5K or lower)" }, { "item": "Seedream 5.0 pro above 1.5K", "unit": "image", "usd": 0.09, "note": "more than 2.61 million pixels" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "BytePlus Pte. Ltd.", "domain": "byteplus.com", "domainRegistered": "2002-09-07", "endpointOnVendorDomain": false, "terms": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-customer-agreement", "privacy": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-privacy-policy", "statusPage": "", "changelog": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-release-announcement", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-09", "notes": [ "The Customer Agreement (effective 30 September 2026) is made with BytePlus Pte. Ltd. or another BytePlus affiliate named as the contracting entity. The Service Specific Terms, which hold the ModelArk and Model Services sections, rank above it.", "The API answers at ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com and ark.eu-west.bytepluses.com, a different domain from byteplus.com. BytePlus's own docs name both hosts.", "The Privacy Policy names Byteplus Pte. Ltd. in Singapore as controller and says it does not cover personal data processed on behalf of corporate customers. That processing falls under the Data Processing Addendum, which we did not read.", "https://www.byteplus.com/.well-known/security.txt returns the site's HTML shell, not a security.txt file. The SDK repositories carry a SECURITY.md that sends reports to ByteDance's security centre.", "No status page was found in the docs or on the pages of www.byteplus.com that we could read.", "RDAP for byteplus.com gives a registration date of 2002-09-07 and Gandi SAS as registrar." ], "score": 59, "checks": [ { "check": "Legal entity named", "value": "BytePlus Pte. Ltd.", "points": 20, "max": 20, "state": "ok" }, { "check": "Domain age", "value": "byteplus.com, registered 2002-09-07 (24 years)", "points": 15, "max": 15, "state": "ok" }, { "check": "Endpoint on the vendor's domain", "value": "ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com is not on byteplus.com", "points": 0, "max": 15, "state": "no" }, { "check": "Terms of service", "value": "published, but our reader couldn't read it", "points": 7, "max": 10, "state": "part" }, { "check": "Privacy policy", "value": "published, but our reader couldn't read it", "points": 7, "max": 10, "state": "part" }, { "check": "Status page", "value": "not found", "points": 0, "max": 10, "state": "no" }, { "check": "Changelog", "value": "published", "points": 10, "max": 10, "state": "ok" }, { "check": "security.txt", "value": "not found", "points": 0, "max": 10, "state": "no" } ], "policies": [ { "kind": "terms", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-customer-agreement", "state": "unreadable", "reason": "the page shows only site navigation and a date without a browser, so the document is drawn by script", "readAt": "2026-10-09", "points": 7, "max": 10 }, { "kind": "privacy", "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-privacy-policy", "state": "unreadable", "reason": "the page shows only site navigation and a date without a browser, so the document is drawn by script", "readAt": "2026-10-09", "points": 7, "max": 10 } ] }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.json", "live": { "slug": "seedream-on-byteplus-modelark", "probe": { "target": "https://ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com/api/v3", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-10T01:38:06.269171638Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 401, "lastMs": 452, "lastNote": "asks for credentials", "authRequired": true, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 508, "p95ms24h": 597, "samples24h": 102, "samples30d": 102, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-09", "probes": 85, "ok": 85 }, { "date": "2026-10-10", "probes": 17, "ok": 17 } ] }, "versions": [ { "registry": "pypi", "name": "arkruntime", "version": "0.8.0", "released": "2026-09-17", "seenAt": "2026-10-09T17:19:00.477962822Z" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "byteplus-python-sdk-v2", "version": "3.0.61", "released": "2026-09-17", "seenAt": "2026-10-09T17:19:00.589058252Z" } ], "githubStars": 1, "pypiWeekly": 1265, "pages": [ { "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-release-announcement", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:36:54.525658153Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "2c972ac5021a" }, { "url": "https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-pricing", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:36:52.663758009Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "faaf238183a5" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-10T01:38:06.269171638Z" } }, "verify": { "accepts": "a page on byteplus.com or one of its subdomains, or the README of github.com/volcengine/ark-runtime-go", "badgeUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/badges/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.svg", "body": { "slug": "seedream-on-byteplus-modelark", "url": "the page with the badge or the link" }, "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/builders/#verify", "effect": "none, it never changes a grade, rank or review", "endpoint": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/verify", "listingUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark", "mcpTool": "verify_listing", "recheck": "weekly; two failed checks in a row and it lapses, a later pass restores it", "snippets": { "html": "\u003ca href=\"https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://www.anchorterminal.com/badges/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.svg\" alt=\"Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk on Anchor Terminal\" height=\"20\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e", "markdown": "[![Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk on Anchor Terminal](https://www.anchorterminal.com/badges/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.svg)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark)", "link": "\u003ca href=\"https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark\"\u003eSeedream on BytePlus ModelArk on Anchor Terminal\u003c/a\u003e" } } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.min.md" }, "markdown": "## Overview\n\n**Grade D · 53.8/100 · rank #700 of 950 · #5 in Image generation · not agent-ready · confidence medium**\n\n\nMore from BytePlus Pte. Ltd., listed separately because each is its own product: [Seedance on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedance-on-byteplus-modelark.md) (Video generation).\n\n## Assessment\n\nPer-image prices from $0.018 are public, and API keys can be limited to named models and an IP allowlist. No status page, SLA or OpenAPI file was found, onboarding needs a browser sign-up, and BytePlus says its model services are not available in the United States.\n\n## Facts\n\n| Field | Value |\n| --- | --- |\n| Vendor | BytePlus Pte. Ltd. (ByteDance) (https://www.byteplus.com) |\n| Kind | Model API |\n| Category | Image generation (https://www.anchorterminal.com/categories/image-generation) |\n| Transport | HTTP |\n| Endpoint | `https://ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com/api/v3` |\n| Auth | API key · The image endpoint takes a ModelArk API key as a Bearer token and, per its reference, no other credential. Keys are created in the console after a browser sign-up, belong to one resource project and one region, and can be limited to named model IDs or custom inference endpoints and to an IP allowlist. A key can be disabled, re-enabled or deleted, and a primary account holds up to 50. Each model must be activated in the console before use. |\n| Pricing | Pay per use (Pay per use) · Pay as you go per successfully generated image, in US dollars, published without a login. Seedream 5.0 flash $0.018, 4.0 $0.03, 5.0 lite $0.035, 4.5 $0.04, 5.0 pro $0.045 up to 2.61 million pixels and $0.09 above. Input images are free except on 5.0 pro, which charges $0.003 from the second. No free image quota is listed for Seedream, and an account in arrears for two hours is suspended (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-pricing). |\n| x402 | No · No x402, MPP or L402 in the API reference, the pricing page or the error codes (checked 2026-10-09). |\n| Licence | Proprietary service under the BytePlus Customer Agreement and Service Specific Terms. The Go and Python SDK repositories are Apache-2.0 |\n| Packages | pypi: `arkruntime`; pypi: `byteplus-python-sdk-v2`; go: `github.com/volcengine/ark-runtime-go` |\n| Source | https://github.com/volcengine/ark-runtime-go |\n| Docs | https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/image-generation-api |\n| llms.txt | not found |\n| Last release | 2026-09-17 |\n| Models | `dola-seedream-5-0-pro-260628`, `dola-seedream-5-0-flash-260915`, `seedream-5-0-260128` (also `seedream-5-0-lite-260128`), `seedream-4-5-251128`, `seedream-4-0-250828` |\n| Max resolution | 4K (4096x4096, 16.8 million pixels) on Seedream 5.0 lite, 4.5 and 4.0. 2K (up to 4.62 million pixels) on 5.0 pro and flash |\n| Edit support | Yes. Prompt edits with up to 10 reference images on 5.0 pro and flash, up to 14 on the others. Interactive editing by coordinates, boxes and arrows and layer decomposition on 5.0 pro and flash only |\n| Batch output | `sequential_image_generation` on 5.0 lite, 4.5 and 4.0. Input plus output images at most 15. Streaming on the same three models |\n| Output | URL valid for 24 hours or `b64_json`. JPEG by default, PNG on the 5.0 models. Transparent background on 5.0 pro and flash |\n| Watermark | An AI-generated mark in the lower right corner by default. `watermark: false` removes it |\n| Rate limits | 500 images a minute per model per account, stated as a theoretical maximum. Higher limits by ticket |\n| Regions | ap-southeast-1 (Johor) at ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com and eu-west-1 (Dublin) at ark.eu-west.bytepluses.com. The region page lists only `seed-2-0-lite` as an EU model |\n| Availability | A published list of countries and regions, last updated 21 April 2026. The terms say the model services are not available in the United States |\n| SDKs | Python (`arkruntime`, legacy `byteplus-python-sdk-v2` v3.0.61 of 17 September 2026), Go (`ark-runtime-go` v0.9.0 of 17 September 2026), Java (`com.volcengine:ark-runtime`). The OpenAI SDK works with the base URL changed |\n| Data handling | No training on customer data unless the customer opts in. Filter-triggered input and output kept 180 days in Malaysia. Processing in Malaysia, Indonesia and the EU or EEA |\n| Certifications | The trust centre lists ISO 27001, 27017, 27018 and 27701, SOC 1, 2 and 3, PCI DSS, CSA STAR and MTCS Level 3 for BytePlus as a whole |\n| Free tier | None listed for Seedream. The free trial page covers models billed by token |\n| Capabilities | image.generate, image.edit, image.reference |\n| Tags | hosted, closed-source, api-key, python, go, java, openai-compatible, watermark, streaming, regional-endpoints |\n| JSON | https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.json |\n\n## Score breakdown (methodology v0.4, October 2026 research run)\n\nAssessed 2026-10-09 from public evidence against the published checklist (https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/#checklist). Confidence: medium. Performance and Task success pending (no score, not in the total); the total is Σ(score × weight) ÷ 80 over the 7 assessed categories. \"This run\" is each category's share of the 100 points.\n\n| Category | Weight | This run | Score (0–100) | Points |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% | 20 | 43 | 8.6 |\n| Performance | 10% | pending | pending | n/a |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% | 16.2 | 62 | 10.1 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% | 16.2 | 72 | 11.7 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% | 17.5 | 70 | 12.2 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% | 12.5 | 20 | 2.5 |\n| Task success | 10% | pending | pending | n/a |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% | 8.8 | 73 | 6.4 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust (editorial 61, provenance 59) | 7% | 8.8 | 60 | 5.2 |\n| Negative events | up to −15 | up to −15 | The model list (updated 28 September 2026) says `seedream-5-0-lite` is supported in eu-west-1, while the deprecation page says the model was deactivated in that region on 10 September 2026 and the region page lists only `seed-2-0-lite` for the EU. The batch that carries the notice is dated 8 September 2026, two days earlier, against the page's own 30-day minimum. We made no call to confirm which page is right. 3 points (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-deprecation-notice). | -3 |\n| **Total** | | | | **53.8 → D** |\n\n### Why each score\n\n- Reliability 43: Graded as a hosted service. No status page or incident history was found in the docs or the site pages read (0), so the 90-day record is scored as unreadable (5). The model list gives 500 images a minute for each Seedream model, with a note that limits are theoretical maximums and not guaranteed (15). The error reference lists 15 distinct 429 codes including `ModelAccountIpmRateLimitExceeded`, and a burst-traffic guide gives exponential backoff with jitter. No idempotency key was found (13). The legal index lists SLAs for 16 other BytePlus products and none named for ModelArk. We did not open those documents (0). The image API is not labelled beta or preview (10).\n- Performance: Pending. Latency is measured per call by our probes, which haven't run yet, so this run doesn't score it. Its weight is shared across the assessed categories until the first probe window closes.\n- Schema \u0026 documentation 62: No OpenAPI file for the data plane was found. The Go and Python SDKs publish typed request and response models, and an API Explorer page exists that we did not read (8). No llms.txt or Markdown docs for agents were found, and the docs site is drawn by script (0). Each parameter states its purpose, the models that accept it and its restrictions (15). Inputs carry types, defaults, enums and pixel and aspect-ratio ranges, though `size` is a string with two exclusive formats (13). The tutorial has curl, Python, Java, Go and OpenAI SDK examples, and the error reference maps HTTP status to code, message and meaning (14). The path is versioned at `/api/v3`, model IDs carry a date, and release pages are dated by month (12).\n- Agent ergonomics 72: Graded on the model lines. Responses can be a URL or `b64_json`, `size` takes resolution levels, and `max_images` caps a batch (20). There is nothing to paginate. Sequential generation, streaming and per-request output controls cover size (14). Errors carry a code, a message and a request ID, and a failed image in a batch reports its own error without failing the rest (17). No idempotency key was found. The SDK retries twice by default, and images that fail are not billed (6). Only `model` and a prompt or image are needed, with SDKs in Python, Go and Java and OpenAI SDK compatibility (15).\n- Security \u0026 auth 70: API keys are scoped to a resource project and region, can be limited to named model IDs or endpoints and to an IP allowlist, and can be disabled or deleted. No expiry or rotation feature was found. The key travels in a header (26). Model-level key permissions, per-endpoint rate limits and account inference limits narrow what a key can spend, with no read-only notion for a generation API (12). The API returns generated images only (10). The console shows each key's last use and creator, and a usage query API exists. The inference security audit covers only Skylark models (8). No security.txt. The SDK repositories send reports to ByteDance's security centre, which runs a bounty, and the trust centre lists ISO 27001, SOC 2 and PCI DSS for BytePlus as a whole (14).\n- Payments \u0026 pricing 20: No x402, MPP or L402 (0). Per-image prices for every Seedream model are published without a login (20). No free image quota is listed for Seedream. The free trial page covers models billed by token, and the model list shows no free quota in the image table (0). Access needs a browser sign-up, model activation in the console and a console-made key (0).\n- Task success: Pending. Task success needs the category task suites run through each tool, which haven't run yet, so this run doesn't score it. Its weight is shared across the assessed categories until then. A data provider's data-quality score is published on its listing now and becomes half of this category when it's scored.\n- Maintenance \u0026 community 73: Graded on the model lines. Seedream 5.0 flash (`dola-seedream-5-0-flash-260915`) is in the September 2026 release table and the deprecation page was last updated on 10 September 2026, 29 days before the check (30). The deprecation process promises at least 30 calendar days' notice and the last two batches gave about eight weeks, but the page says each version is usually retired a few months after launch, and Seedream 3.0 went in May 2026 (12). Dated release and update pages are public, with tickets and a Discord community for support, which we did not test (8). Official SDKs are current. The Python SDK reached v3.0.61 and the Go SDK v0.9.0 on 17 September 2026 (15). Both SDK repositories have CI workflows (8).\n- Transparency \u0026 trust 60: Closed service under a public Customer Agreement and Service Specific Terms. The General Terms for AI Services, which the model terms rely on, did not load for us, so output ownership is not established (13). The data processing page and the ModelArk terms agree that customer data is not used for training without opt-in, name 180 days' retention for filter-triggered content and list processing in Malaysia, Indonesia and the EU or EEA. The Privacy Policy excludes customer data and points to a DPA we did not read (20). A deprecation process with dated batches, named replacements and a 30-day minimum (16). A sub-processor list effective 24 September 2026 with locations and 15 days' notice of changes, which has no row for ModelArk (12).\n\nFix list for a coding agent, everything this grade says the listing lacks, the biggest gain first (23 items): https://www.anchorterminal.com/fixes/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md (JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/fixes/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.json)\n\n### What we couldn't check\n\n- unchecked: the ModelArk product page and the rest of www.byteplus.com marketing pages are drawn by script and showed no text, so any claims there (free credits, status link, enterprise SLA) went unread.\n- unchecked: the General Terms for AI Services (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/AI-Services-terms) returned an empty page, so output ownership and usage rules for generated images are not established.\n- unchecked: the Data Processing Addendum, the platform Terms of Service, the GenAI Acceptable Use Policy and the security whitepaper were not read. No clause on benchmarking or automated access was found in the Customer Agreement, and the unread Terms of Service should be checked before any probe is run.\n- unchecked: the API Explorer at api.byteplus.com was not read, so whether it publishes a machine-readable description of `ImageGenerations` is unknown.\n- unchecked: PyPI and Maven download figures and release dates. Release dates come from repository tags.\n- No free image quota for Seedream was found. Whether new accounts get any free images, and whether sign-up needs a card, was not established.\n- The model list and the deprecation page disagree on whether `seedream-5-0-lite` still runs in eu-west-1. We made no API call to settle it.\n- The lead named Seedream 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0. The API reference today covers 5.0 pro, 5.0 flash, 5.0 lite, 4.5 and 4.0, and Seedream 3.0 was deactivated on 13 May 2026.\n- The Customer Agreement (section 6.2) bars holding out as a reseller or model-as-a-service provider of the Services without written consent, which matters to anyone wrapping the API for others. Recorded as a fact with no deduction.\n- `lastRelease` is the date of the latest SDK tags (17 September 2026). Model releases are dated by month only.\n\n### Sources\n\n- image generation API reference (read from the document text embedded in the page markup, as the page is drawn by script): \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/image-generation-api\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- model pricing: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-pricing\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- model list with rate limits and regions: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-list\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- error codes: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/error-codes\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- base URL and authentication: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/base-url-and-authentication\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- API key management: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/manage-api-keys\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- model releases: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-release-announcement\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- model deprecations: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-deprecation-notice\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- product updates: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/product-update-announcements\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- API schema upgrade notice: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/api-schema-upgrade-notice\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- inference free trial: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/free-inference-quota\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- ModelArk data processing: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/BytePlus_ModelArk_Data_Processing\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- region availability: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/region-availability\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- burst traffic and backoff guide: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/traffic-burst-handling-best-practices\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- image generation tutorial with examples and limits: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/seedream-4-0-5-0\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- SDK installation: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/install-and-upgrade-sdk\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- inference security audit: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/console-inference-security-audit\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- international availability of the model service: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/ModelArk/availability\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- Service Specific Terms (ModelArk and Model Services sections): \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-service-specific-terms\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- Customer Agreement: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-customer-agreement\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- Privacy Policy: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-privacy-policy\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- sub-processor list: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/sub-processors-list\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- trust centre: \u003chttps://www.byteplus.com/en/trust-center\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- security.txt request (returned the HTML shell): \u003chttps://www.byteplus.com/.well-known/security.txt\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- Go SDK repository (shallow clone, tags, README, SECURITY.md): \u003chttps://github.com/volcengine/ark-runtime-go\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- Python SDK repository (shallow clone, tags, retry defaults): \u003chttps://github.com/byteplus-sdk/byteplus-python-sdk-v2\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n- RDAP record for byteplus.com: \u003chttps://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/byteplus.com\u003e (seen 2026-10-09)\n\n## Who's behind it (provenance 59/100, checked 2026-10-09)\n\n| Check | Finding | Points |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Legal entity named | BytePlus Pte. Ltd. | 20/20 |\n| Domain age | byteplus.com, registered 2002-09-07 (24 years) | 15/15 |\n| Endpoint on the vendor's domain | ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com is not on byteplus.com | 0/15 |\n| Terms of service | published, but our reader couldn't read it | 7/10 |\n| Privacy policy | published, but our reader couldn't read it | 7/10 |\n| Status page | not found | 0/10 |\n| Changelog | published | 10/10 |\n| security.txt | not found | 0/10 |\n\nThe Customer Agreement (effective 30 September 2026) is made with BytePlus Pte. Ltd. or another BytePlus affiliate named as the contracting entity. The Service Specific Terms, which hold the ModelArk and Model Services sections, rank above it.\n\nThe API answers at ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com and ark.eu-west.bytepluses.com, a different domain from byteplus.com. BytePlus's own docs name both hosts.\n\nThe Privacy Policy names Byteplus Pte. Ltd. in Singapore as controller and says it does not cover personal data processed on behalf of corporate customers. That processing falls under the Data Processing Addendum, which we did not read.\n\nhttps://www.byteplus.com/.well-known/security.txt returns the site's HTML shell, not a security.txt file. The SDK repositories carry a SECURITY.md that sends reports to ByteDance's security centre.\n\nNo status page was found in the docs or on the pages of www.byteplus.com that we could read.\n\nRDAP for byteplus.com gives a registration date of 2002-09-07 and Gandi SAS as registrar.\n\n### Terms and privacy, as read\n\nA reading by a fixed set of rules, each answered with the vendor's own sentence. Not legal advice.\n\n**Terms of service** (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-customer-agreement), read 2026-10-09. Our reader couldn't read it (the page shows only site navigation and a date without a browser, so the document is drawn by script).\n\n\n**Privacy policy** (https://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-privacy-policy), read 2026-10-09. Our reader couldn't read it (the page shows only site navigation and a date without a browser, so the document is drawn by script).\n\n\n## Live (updated 2026-10-10 01:38 UTC)\n\n- Right now: up, HTTP 401, 452 ms, checked 2026-10-10 01:38 UTC (get on `https://ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com/api/v3`, asks for auth)\n- Uptime 24h 100.0% (102 probes) · 30 days 100.0% (102 probes) · p50 508 ms · p95 597 ms\n- pypi `arkruntime` 0.8.0, released 2026-09-17\n- pypi `byteplus-python-sdk-v2` 3.0.61, released 2026-09-17\n- Watching changelog \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-release-announcement\u003e\n- Watching pricing \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-pricing\u003e\n- Always current: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/live/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.json\n\n## Probe metrics\n\nNot measured yet. Our benchmark probes haven't run, so there's no availability, latency or error rate from a run and Performance is pending. Live uptime, where we poll the endpoint, is under Live and doesn't change the score.\n\n## Prices\n\n| Item | Price | Unit | Note |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Seedream 5.0 flash | $0.018 | per image | |\n| Seedream 4.0 | $0.03 | per image | |\n| Seedream 5.0 lite | $0.035 | per image | |\n| Seedream 4.5 | $0.04 | per image | |\n| Seedream 5.0 pro | $0.045 | per image | up to 2.61 million pixels (1.5K or lower) |\n| Seedream 5.0 pro above 1.5K | $0.09 | per image | more than 2.61 million pixels |\n\nAcross all listings: https://www.anchorterminal.com/prices/index.md\n\n## Strengths\n\n- Per-image prices are public for five Seedream models, from $0.018 (5.0 flash) to $0.09 (5.0 pro above 1.5K), and failed or moderated images are not billed\n- API keys are scoped to a project and can be limited to named model IDs or endpoints and to an IP allowlist\n- Up to 14 reference images on Seedream 5.0 lite, 4.5 and 4.0, and up to 4K output (4096x4096) on those models\n- The error reference lists 15 distinct 429 codes, and a burst-traffic guide gives backoff code with jitter\n- The service terms say customer data is not used for training unless the customer opts in\n- A written deprecation process promises at least 30 calendar days' notice, with dated batches and named replacements\n\n## Weaknesses\n\n- No status page, incident history or ModelArk SLA was found in the pages read\n- No OpenAPI file, llms.txt or Markdown docs for agents were found. The docs site is drawn by script\n- The model list says `seedream-5-0-lite` runs in eu-west-1, while the deprecation page says it was deactivated there on 10 September 2026\n- The Service Specific Terms say BytePlus Model Services are not available in the United States\n- No idempotency key was found, so a retried request that succeeded is a second paid generation\n- Image URLs expire 24 hours after generation, and a watermark is added unless `watermark` is set to false\n\n## Before you call it (notes for agents)\n\n1. POST to `https://ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com/api/v3/images/generations` with `Authorization: Bearer $ARK_API_KEY`. Keys and model activation are per region\n2. Set `watermark` to false if the image must not carry the AI-generated mark. The default is true\n3. Download `data[].url` within 24 hours, or ask for `response_format` `b64_json`\n4. Check each `data[].error` in a sequential batch. One moderated image does not fail the others, and only `usage.generated_images` is billed\n5. Stay under 500 images a minute per model and back off with jitter on 429. Layer decomposition reserves 17 against that limit per request\n\n## Connect\n\nInstall:\n\n```bash\npython -m pip install --upgrade arkruntime\n```\n\nFirst request:\n\n```bash\ncurl https://ark.ap-southeast.bytepluses.com/api/v3/images/generations \\\n -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer $ARK_API_KEY\" \\\n -d '{\"model\":\"seedream-5-0-lite-260128\",\"prompt\":\"A lighthouse at dusk\",\"size\":\"2K\",\"output_format\":\"png\",\"watermark\":false}'\n```\n\n## Similar tools\n\nRanked by shared capabilities, then score. Same-category tools with no shared capability key are listed last.\n\n| Tool | Grade | Score | Rank | Shared capabilities | x402 | Markdown |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| OpenAI Image API | BB | 72.4 | 105 | image.generate, image.edit, image.reference | no | https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/openai-image-api.md |\n| fal image models | B | 65.2 | 326 | image.generate, image.edit, image.reference | no | https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/fal-image.md |\n| Black Forest Labs FLUX API | B | 63.9 | 368 | image.generate, image.edit, image.reference | no | https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/black-forest-labs.md |\n| Bria API | B | 63.7 | 378 | image.generate, image.edit, image.reference | no | https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/bria.md |\n| Recraft API | D | 52.8 | 726 | image.generate, image.edit, image.reference | no | https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/recraft.md |\n| Replicate image models | D | 50.2 | 776 | image.generate, image.edit, image.reference | no | https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/replicate-image.md |\n\n## Panel reviews (0)\n\nReviewed by the Anchor panel (https://www.anchorterminal.com/reviewers/index.md): .\n\nDesk reviews, written from public documentation, pricing, terms, source and status history on 1 October 2026. No calls made. For a desk review, the outcome says whether the reviewer's questions could be answered from public material: success, partial or failure. How reviews work: https://www.anchorterminal.com/reviews/how-it-works.md\n\n## Notable\n\n- One endpoint, `POST /api/v3/images/generations`, covers text-to-image, single and multi-reference editing, sequential batches of up to 15 images and layer decomposition into a base image and up to 16 PNG layers (source: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/image-generation-api\u003e)\n- The Service Specific Terms say BytePlus Model Services are not available in the United States, and a separate page lists the countries served (source: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/legal/docs-service-specific-terms\u003e)\n- The data processing page says ModelArk is a processor, does not train on customer data without authorisation, and keeps input and output that trigger the content filter for 180 days in Malaysia (source: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/BytePlus_ModelArk_Data_Processing\u003e)\n- Requests to a regional endpoint may spill over to the other region, AP to EU or EU to AP, according to the region page (source: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/region-availability\u003e)\n- The deprecation page promises at least 30 calendar days' notice. Its fourth batch was notified on 8 September 2026 for deactivation on 11 November 2026 (source: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-deprecation-notice\u003e)\n- Rate limits in the model list are described as theoretical maximums that are not guaranteed (source: \u003chttps://docs.byteplus.com/en/docs/modelark/model-list\u003e)\n\n- #5 of 11 in Best image generation for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/image-generation/index.md\n- All 66 image comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/image-generation/index.md\n\n## Compare\n\n- [Adobe Firefly API vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-firefly-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): D 49 vs D 53.8\n- [Black Forest Labs FLUX API vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/black-forest-labs-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): B 63.9 vs D 53.8\n- [Bria API vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bria-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): B 63.7 vs D 53.8\n- [fal image models vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fal-image-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): B 65.2 vs D 53.8\n- [Google Imagen vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-imagen-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): F 6.8 vs D 53.8\n- [Ideogram API vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ideogram-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): D 50 vs D 53.8\n- [Leonardo.Ai API vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leonardo-ai-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): F 37.5 vs D 53.8\n- [OpenAI Image API vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-image-api-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): BB 72.4 vs D 53.8\n- [Recraft API vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/recraft-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): D 52.8 vs D 53.8\n- [Replicate image models vs Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-image-vs-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.md): D 50.2 vs D 53.8\n- [Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk vs Stability AI Image API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark-vs-stability-ai-image.md): D 53.8 vs E 42.3\n\n## Verify this listing\n\nFor the vendor. The badge or a plain link to this page verifies the listing, from a page on byteplus.com or one of its subdomains, or the README of github.com/volcengine/ark-runtime-go. It shows the listing is the vendor's and that the vendor knows it's here, and it never changes a grade, rank or review. The vendor sends the page's address to `POST https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/verify` as `{\"slug\": \"seedream-on-byteplus-modelark\", \"url\": \"…\"}`, or calls the `verify_listing` tool at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp. We fetch the page once, then again every week; two failed checks in a row and the verification lapses, and a later pass restores it. What we check: https://www.anchorterminal.com/builders/index.md#verify\n\nHTML badge:\n\n```html\n\u003ca href=\"https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://www.anchorterminal.com/badges/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.svg\" alt=\"Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk on Anchor Terminal\" height=\"20\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n```\n\nMarkdown badge, for a README:\n\n```markdown\n[![Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk on Anchor Terminal](https://www.anchorterminal.com/badges/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.svg)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark)\n```\n\nPlain link:\n\n```html\n\u003ca href=\"https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark\"\u003eSeedream on BytePlus ModelArk on Anchor Terminal\u003c/a\u003e\n```\n\n## Share this listing\n\nFor the vendor. Sharing assets for social media, two PNGs of 1200 × 630 that say Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk is listed on Anchor Terminal, with the vendor's logo and this page's address and no grade or score.\n\n- Dark: https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/share/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark-dark.png\n- Light: https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/share/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark-light.png\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-10", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Terminal", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/" }, { "name": "Image generation", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/categories/image-generation" }, { "name": "Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk", "url": "" } ], "description": "BytePlus ModelArk's hosted API for ByteDance's Seedream image models. One endpoint handles text-to-image, reference-image editing, batches of related images and layer decomposition, billed per generated image.", "facts": [ "rank #700 of 950", "API key auth", "0 desk reviews" ], "h1": "Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/tools-seedream-on-byteplus-modelark.png", "path": "/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Seedream on BytePlus ModelArk review: pricing, alternatives, grade D", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-10", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/seedream-on-byteplus-modelark" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 7600, "slim": 1730 }, "version": 1 }