Cheap Seedream 5.5 API: Providers, Prices and 1,000-Image Costs
Compare Seedream 5.5 API prices on Kie.ai, WaveSpeedAI and Volcengine. Check APIMaster availability, image budgets, reference-input fees and layer billing.
Published
Kie.ai is cheaper: $0.018 per 1K / 1.5K image, versus WaveSpeedAI's $0.019 — about 5.3% less. For 1,000 images, that is $18 versus $19, saving $1.
Seedream 5.5 is not yet available on APIMaster. Check current prices and availability on the model card. Discounted routes are rolling out.
Checked 2026-11-13. USD quotes are per output image unless specified. Volcengine uses CNY and pixel bands; no currency conversion is assumed. APIMaster counts enabled, non-exclusive public routes. Current pricing and supported settings are governed by the live marketplace card.
| Model ID | Original / reference price | APIMaster current price | Active public routes | Discount | Model card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedream 5.5 | Official Volcengine 5.5: CNY 0.13 / 0.23 per output, by pixel band | No public route | 0 | Not available | Check 5.5 |
doubao-seedream-5-0-pro-260628 |
Marketplace reference: $0.045 / $0.09 standard / high-resolution output | $0.045 / $0.09 | 1 | No discount against this reference | Seedream 5.0 Pro |
GPT Trial(GPT-6 Astra, GPT-6 Sol, GPT-5.6, GPT-5.5, gpt-5.6-luna, gpt-5.6-sol, gpt-5.6-terra, gpt-6.1-sol, gpt-6-astra, gpt-6-sol, and gpt-6-luna available)
Sign up and claim a $20 GPT trial
Seedream 5.5 API price comparison
Kie.ai is cheaper: $0.018 per 1K / 1.5K image, versus WaveSpeedAI's $0.019 — about 5.3% less. For 1,000 images, that is $18 versus $19, saving $1.
| Platform | Price / image | How much cheaper? |
|---|---|---|
| APIMaster | — | Discounted routes are rolling out. |
| Kie.ai | 1K / 1.5K: $0.018; 2K: $0.0315 | WaveSpeedAI: About 5.3% cheaper |
| WaveSpeedAI | $0.019 | Comparison price |
| Volcengine | CNY 0.13 / 0.23 | — |
What do 100 or 1,000 Seedream 5.5 images cost?
Output-only budgets exclude reference inputs, extra edits, taxes and other billable items. WaveSpeedAI's default quote is not a guarantee for every resolution.
| Offer / output tier | One output | 100 outputs | 1,000 outputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kie.ai · 1K / 1.5K | $0.018 | $1.80 | $18.00 |
| Kie.ai · 2K | $0.0315 | $3.15 | $31.50 |
| WaveSpeedAI · default promotion | $0.019 | $1.90 | $19.00 |
| Volcengine · P ≤ 2.61M | CNY 0.13 | CNY 13 | CNY 130 |
| Volcengine · 2.61M < P ≤ 4.63M | CNY 0.23 | CNY 23 | CNY 230 |
Editing and layers: costs a cheap headline can miss
The official announcement highlights multi-turn editing across 100 rounds, native RGBA transparency and improved realism and text. These are vendor claims. Confirm that your provider exposes the required operation and alpha-preserving format; JPEG cannot retain transparency.
Editing inputs and layers cost extra. WaveSpeedAI adds $0.008 per editing input; Volcengine adds CNY 0.05. Check these charges if you need editing or layers.
Seedream 5.5 availability and an APIMaster API key
Check current prices and availability on the model card. Seedream 5.5.
Seedream 5.0 Pro is available today at $0.045 / $0.09 per standard / high-resolution output. Layer outputs are $0.0225 / $0.045; inputs after the first add $0.003. These are previous-model prices, not a 5.5 discount. See the existing Seedream guide.
Register → create an API key → use https://apimaster.ai/v1 with the currently documented doubao-seedream-5-0-pro-260628. Wait for the 5.5 card's confirmed contract to use 5.5. The automatic GPT trial has a separate live catalog and does not promise free Seedream credits.
FAQ
Which Seedream 5.5 offer is cheaper here?
Kie.ai starts at $0.018, below WaveSpeedAI's checked default $0.019. This is a comparison of these published offers, not every provider.
Can I call 5.5 through APIMaster today?
Seedream 5.5 is not yet available on APIMaster. Check current prices and availability on the model card. Discounted routes are rolling out.
What do 1,000 images cost?
Kie.ai output-only: $18 at 1K / 1.5K, $31.50 at 2K. WaveSpeedAI default promotion: $19. Inputs and layers are separate.
Does 5.5 support transparent output?
ByteDance describes native RGBA with full and partial transparency. Verify provider support and an alpha-preserving output format.
Is this Seedream 5.5 Pro?
No. The November 9 announcement says a Pro version will follow. Neither ordinary 5.5 nor previous 5.0 Pro should be relabeled.
Can I reuse my 5.0 Pro request unchanged?
Do not assume so. Model IDs, operations, input fees and layer billing depend on the provider. Follow the confirmed model-specific contract.
Sources and method
ByteDance · Seedream 5.5 · Volcengine · Kie.ai · WaveSpeedAI · WaveSpeedAI edit · WaveSpeedAI layers
Prices checked 2026-11-13. Public promotions included where observed; conditional bonuses separate. No paid generations, provider-quality benchmark or FX conversion. For other models, see the image API price comparison.