Correction, 2026-10-02: an earlier version stated some behaviour as fact without a test behind it: that Seedance uses reference images to keep elements recognisable, that a cleaner reference fixes a drifting product better than a new prompt, that Dreamina gets new Seedance features the day they ship, and that a close-up face is the most common reason a reference is rejected. These are now advice, or tied to our August 2026 tests on 2.0 and 2.5. It also did not say that the model CapCut's own steps select is Dreamina Seedance 2.0 Mini, and it left out the canvas input rules: one reference video and one audio track beside the 9 reference images, a start image or reference images but not both, an end frame only with a start image and no reference images, the higher price once a reference video is attached, and the price at longer lengths. The Dreamina and CapCut pages were re-checked on 2026-10-02.
Correction, 2026-10-01: the Seedance prompt limits (2,000 characters on 2.5, 4,000 on 2.0) had no source. They match the limits 8frame's Seedance node enforces for each version, so they stand; the page now says they are 8frame's limits and cites where they come from.
By the end of this you'll know the legitimate ways to run Seedance, which route fits which job, and what a 5-second clip costs. The short version: Seedance is ByteDance's video model. You can reach it through ByteDance's Dreamina, inside CapCut, or on the 8frame canvas, where Seedance 2.5 is the default (157 credits for 5 seconds at 720p) and Seedance 2.0 is still selectable (108).
Correction, 2026-09-29: the first version of this page said 8frame runs Seedance 2.0 at 1080p and hosts only 2.0; Seedance on 8frame runs at 480p or 720p, and 2.5 is available there now, as the default. It also gave a generation time and a traditional-shoot price range we could not source, attributed features to Seedance 2.5 without a source, and did not warn that Seedance refuses close-up face references. All fixed below.
What Seedance is
Seedance is ByteDance's AI video model family for text-to-video, image-to-video and reference-driven generation. You give it reference images of a product, a setting or a character plus a text prompt, as the look to follow while the camera moves; check every take against the references, since a match is not guaranteed. For the model itself, see What is Seedance 2.0; for the version differences, Seedance 2.5 vs Seedance 2.0.
Dreamina's launch post for Seedance 2.5, dated 2026-07-31, says "Creators can now generate clips up to 30 seconds long" and that the model can take "up to 50 multimodal references for a single clip, including images, video, audio, and text."
Official access routes
Dreamina. ByteDance's creative app and the first-party home for Seedance. Dreamina lists Seedance 2.0 and 2.5 among its models; its 2.5 launch post said the rollout would start "for subscriber accounts belonging to people over 16 years old across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America."
CapCut. CapCut's page for Dreamina Seedance 2.0 gives the path on desktop: "Media" > "AI Media" > "AI Video", and on mobile, tap "Media" on the bottom toolbar, then "AI Video". Then choose image-to-video or text-to-video. The model those steps select is Dreamina Seedance 2.0 Mini, and the result can be edited in the same CapCut project.
These routes are convenient if you already work in ByteDance's apps. The friction shows up when you want to compare Seedance against Veo, Kling or Hailuo on the same brief, or want per-clip credit pricing from one balance across models.
How to use Seedance on the 8frame canvas
-
Upload your references. A clean product shot (front label, plain background) and a setting shot. If a person appears, use a waist-up or full-length image. In our tests in August 2026, Seedance's own filter rejected reference images with a close-up face on every run, on both 2.0 and 2.5, with an E005 "flagged as sensitive" error; waist-up and full-length shots of the same person passed. Details in Seedance flagged as sensitive (E005).
-
Add a Seedance node and connect the inputs. The node opens on 2.5, 5 seconds, 720p (157 credits); 2.0 is in the same picker. On the canvas it takes up to 9 reference images, one reference video and one audio track. A start image and reference images are either/or: if both are attached, the reference images win and the start image is left out. An end frame works only with a start image and no reference images. A reference video moves the clip to a higher price tier (see the costs below).
-
Set length and resolution on the node. Seedance 2.5 runs 4 to 30 seconds, Seedance 2.0 4 to 15, both at 480p or 720p, billed per second. Audio is on by default at the same price.
-
Write a motion-forward prompt. Describe camera and physics, not just the subject: "Person picks up the bottle from the marble counter, turns it toward camera, handheld phone movement, warm morning light, authentic." On 8frame the prompt can be up to 2,000 characters on 2.5 and 4,000 on 2.0, so a long 2.0 prompt has to be cut before you switch to 2.5 (all models in AI prompt length limits by model). For structures, see Seedance 2.0 prompts for UGC ads and Seedance 2.0 prompts for product demos.
-
Generate, review, iterate. Check the product against your reference in every take. If it drifted, try a cleaner reference (front label, plain background) and a tighter prompt, and compare the results. If a generation fails, its credits come back automatically. There is no video upscaling on 8frame, so pick the resolution you intend to deliver.
Cost on 8frame
| Seedance on 8frame | 5 s at 480p | 5 s at 720p | Lengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.5 (default) | 70 | 157 | 4 to 30 s |
| Seedance 2.0 | 48 | 108 | 4 to 15 s |
Both are billed per second, audio included, so length scales the price: Seedance 2.5 at 720p is 313 credits for 10 seconds, 469 for 15 and 937 for 30 (139, 209 and 417 at 480p); Seedance 2.0 at 720p is 216 for 10 seconds and 324 for 15 (96 and 144 at 480p). With a reference video attached, 5 seconds at 720p costs 654 on 2.5 and 132 on 2.0.
Both on a plan from $19/month for 1,000 credits; a credit is $0.01 at pack rate. No regional account setup, no separate app subscription. For the full 2.5 price table, see Seedance 2.5 pricing explained.
A worked example: five 5-second product variants. Draft all five on Seedance 2.0 at 480p (240 credits), then regenerate the best two on 2.5 at 720p (314 credits). 554 credits, about $5.54 at pack rate, inside one Starter month.
Official vs canvas: which to pick
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| You want the 2.5 features Dreamina's launch post describes, such as up to 50 multimodal references per clip | Dreamina |
| You edit in CapCut and want the clip in the same project (CapCut's steps use Seedance 2.0 Mini) | CapCut |
| You want to compare Seedance vs Veo or Kling on one brief | 8frame canvas |
| You want one credit balance covering Seedance and its rivals | 8frame canvas |
| Your references include people | Any route, but frame them waist-up or full-length |
FAQ
Is Seedance free to use?
CapCut's page invites you to "Try Dreamina Seedance 2.0 Mini for free"; check Dreamina for current limits. On 8frame, Seedance 2.5 is 157 credits for 5 seconds at 720p and Seedance 2.0 is 108. The canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.
What is the difference between Seedance 2.0 and 2.5?
On 8frame, 2.5 runs up to 30 seconds (2.0 up to 15) and costs more per second; both run at 480p or 720p with audio on by default. Dreamina's launch post highlights 30-second clips and up to 50 multimodal references for 2.5. More in Seedance 2.5 vs Seedance 2.0.
Why does Seedance reject my reference image?
If the error is E005 ("flagged as sensitive"), the trigger we confirmed is a close-up face in a reference image: in our August 2026 tests it was rejected on both 2.0 and 2.5, while waist-up and full-length shots of the same person passed. Reframe the reference to waist-up or full-length. Retrying the same image does not help.
Can I use Seedance for commercial ads?
On 8frame, commercial use is cleared on paid plans. On other routes, check that platform's terms.
Sources
- Dreamina, Seedance 2.5 launch (2026-07-31): 30-second clips, up to 50 multimodal references, rollout wording: dreamina.capcut.com/resource/seedance-2-5-launch, checked 2026-10-02
- CapCut, Dreamina Seedance 2.0: menu path on desktop and mobile, the steps select the Dreamina Seedance 2.0 Mini model, "Try Dreamina Seedance 2.0 Mini for free": capcut.com/tools/dreamina-seedance-2-0, checked 2026-10-02
- 8frame prices (per second, by length and with a reference video), lengths, resolutions, node defaults and canvas inputs (up to 9 reference images, one reference video, one audio track; start image or reference images; end frame only with a start image and no reference images): the 8frame tool registry, read 2026-10-02
- Seedance prompt limits on 8frame (2,000 characters on 2.5, 4,000 on 2.0, enforced per version by the Seedance node): 8frame front tool schemas, read 2026-10-01
- Close-up face references rejected, waist-up and full-length passed: 8frame tests on Seedance 2.0 and 2.5, August 2026
Want to run Seedance next to Veo and Kling on the same prompt? Check the cheapest AI video generator math before you plan a campaign.
Try it without signing up: the 8frame canvas opens on a real board. The canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.