Seedance is pay-per-use with no subscription. API pricing runs from about $0.04 to $0.056 per second, which works out to roughly $0.05 for a 5-second 720p clip. That makes it one of the cheapest capable video models available — and a fraction of what Sora 2 charges at the same resolution.
The short answer
There's no monthly Seedance plan and no consumer subscription. You buy credits or pay per call on whichever platform hosts the model, and you're billed by the second (or per generated clip). New accounts usually get free starter credits, so testing is free.
Because Seedance is distributed through many endpoints, the exact price depends on the provider. ByteDance's own BytePlus and Volcengine platforms are the reference; resellers compete around them.
Per-second & per-clip
Most providers price Seedance by the second, scaling with duration and resolution. Here's the range we've seen quoted in 2026.
| Basis | Price | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Per second (720p) | ~$0.04–0.056 | 5-sec clip ≈ $0.05 |
| 5-second 720p clip | ~$0.05 | Text- or image-to-video |
| 10-second clip | ~$0.10–0.14 | Scales with duration |
| New-account credits | Free | Trial before you pay |
Where to buy it
Seedance is available first-party through BytePlus (international) and Volcengine (China), and through aggregators that wrap the API. Third-party endpoints sometimes undercut the official rate but vary in stability and documentation.
| Provider | Per second | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BytePlus (official) | ~$0.04+ | First-party, most stable |
| fal.ai | ~$0.05 | Popular developer endpoint |
| PiAPI | ~$0.05 | Aggregator access |
| EvoLink | ~$0.056 | Reseller endpoint |
Prices move often, so confirm the live rate and any minimum top-up on the provider's page before committing volume.
Vs Sora 2 & Veo
The value story is clearest against the premium options. Sora 2 Standard is $0.10 per second and its Pro tier reaches $0.50 per second at higher resolution. Veo runs $0.03 to $0.60 per second on the API, or $7.99–$249.99/month through Google's Flow-credit subscriptions.
| Model | API per second | Subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.0 | ~$0.04–0.056 | None |
| Sora 2 Standard | $0.10 | ChatGPT Plus/Pro |
| Sora 2 Pro | $0.30–0.50 | ChatGPT Pro $100/mo |
| Veo 3.1 | $0.03–0.60 | $7.99–$249.99/mo |
Is it worth it?
If you generate video at volume and cost-per-clip is the number that matters, Seedance is one of the best deals on the market — you can iterate dozens of clips for the price of a single Sora 2 Pro render. For social content, product videos, and app features, that math is hard to argue with.
It's not the pick if you need cinema-grade 4K with native dialogue; there, Veo 3.1 justifies its premium. See the full breakdown in our Seedance 2.0 review and the head-to-head in Seedance vs Veo, or browse the best AI video generators roundup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Seedance cost?
Seedance 2.0 API pricing runs from roughly $0.04 to $0.056 per second, which works out to about $0.05 for a 5-second 720p clip through third-party providers. There's no subscription — you pay per generation.
Is Seedance cheaper than Sora 2?
Dramatically. Sora 2 Standard costs $0.10 per second and its Pro tier reaches $0.50 per second, while Seedance runs about $0.04 to $0.056 per second — often cited as roughly 100x cheaper at equivalent low resolution.
Does Seedance have a subscription?
No. Seedance is pay-per-use through APIs, with new accounts typically receiving free starter credits. You pay only for the video you generate.
What's the cheapest way to use Seedance?
Third-party endpoints like fal.ai and PiAPI quote around $0.05 per 5-second clip. Weigh the small savings against the stability and documentation of ByteDance's first-party BytePlus endpoint if you're moving real volume.
How does resolution affect price?
Price scales with both duration and resolution, so higher-resolution and longer clips cost proportionally more per generation. The headline rates apply to 720p output.
Is there a free Seedance tier?
There's no ongoing free plan, but most providers grant free starter credits to new accounts, which is enough to evaluate quality and cost before you pay.