Correction, 2026-10-01: this page said Seedance does not generate audio. It does: sound is on by default at the same price, on 2.5 and 2.0. It also presented Seedance's edge on physics, labels and motion continuity, and Kling's on camera direction, as facts; we have not measured either, so they are now things to test. And it did not say that Kling v3, its cheaper comparison, needs a start image on 8frame.
Seedance 2.5 costs 157 credits for 5 seconds at 720p, with sound, 83 percent more than Kling v3 Standard. What it offers on 8frame: one take of up to 30 seconds, a start image or up to 9 reference images (not both), a reference video or audio track as input, and text-only starts. Whether it also renders weight, pours and labels better on your shot is something we have not measured, so test it where that matters before you pay the premium on every clip.
For a slow push on a static subject, start on something cheaper.
TL;DR
- 157 credits for 5 seconds at 720p, 31.4 per second, about $1.57
- 70 credits at 480p for drafting in the same model family
- Sound included, on by default at the same price
- Seedance 2.0 is 108 at 720p, up to 15 seconds
- The trap: video-in at 720p is 654 credits. Four times the text-to-video price
- Slow on our jobs: about 287 seconds for a 5-second 720p clip at the median, about 127 at 480p
Pricing, including the expensive mode
Canon 8frame prices, a credit is $0.01 at pack rate:
| Mode | Spec | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.5 | 5s at 480p | 70 |
| Seedance 2.5 | 5s at 720p | 157 |
| Seedance 2.5 video-in | 5s at 720p | 654 |
| Seedance 2.0 | 5s at 720p | 108 |
| Seedance 2.0 video-in | 5s | 132 |
Check the mode before you submit. Video-in on 2.5 is 654 credits, which is two thirds of a Starter plan for one 5-second clip, and it is easy to trigger by accident if you drop a video into the input. Seedance 2.0's video-in at 132 is the sane route if you need that path.
What the premium buys
Length. Up to 30 seconds in one take; Kling v3 stops at 15.
References. A start image, or up to 9 reference images instead (not both); a reference video at the video-in rate; a reference audio track.
Sound in the same pass, on by default at no extra charge.
What we have not measured is output quality: whether pours, cloth, falling objects or labels come out better on Seedance than on a cheaper model. For product video a label that drifts into approximate letterforms is worse than no clip, so if that is the point of the shot, a 480p Seedance test at 70 credits is the cheap way to check on your own prompt.
What it costs you in time
Measured on our own production jobs over 120 days, Seedance 2.5 alone (earlier versions of this page mixed in Seedance 2.0):
| Setting | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 480p, 5 s | 127 s | 189 s |
| 720p, 5 s | 287 s | 388 s |
| 720p, 7 to 11 s | 296 s | 661 s |
Against Gemini Omni Flash at about 35 seconds for a short clip and Kling v3 Standard at about 60 for 5 seconds, that matters when you are iterating. At 720p, one longer clip in ten took over 11 minutes, so fewer attempts fit in a working session, and iteration count drives quality more than model capability does. Resolution is the lever: 480p more than halves both the wait and the price.
Which is the argument for the workflow below rather than for avoiding the model.
The workflow
- Block on Wan 3.0 at 480p, 24 credits. Find the composition.
- Or draft in family at 480p, 70 credits, if you want to see how Seedance specifically interprets the shot.
- Commit once at 720p, 157 credits, when the composition and motion are settled.
- Never iterate at 157. Three attempts is 471 credits, nearly half a Starter month.
Three Wan drafts plus one Seedance final is 229 credits, about $2.29, against 471 for three attempts straight on Seedance.
When a cheaper model is correct
Static or near-static subjects. Start on a cheaper model; if it works, you do not need the premium.
Atmospheric plates and b-roll. Wan 3.0 at 480p, 24 credits.
A frame you already have, silent. Kling v3 Standard animates a start image at 57 credits for 5 silent seconds, about a third of the price.
Cheaper sound. Seedance includes sound, but Veo 3.1 Lite is 54 credits for 8 seconds with audio, about a third of Seedance 2.5's 5-second price.
Anything with hands, text, crowds or two people interacting. Check these closely on any model before you pay for length; if they fail, change the shot rather than the tier.
Where it is worth testing
A product falling into frame and settling. A pour. Fabric in motion with a visible weave. A label that has to stay legible as the camera orbits. Slow motion. Run these on Seedance at 480p (70 credits) next to a cheaper model before you decide the premium is worth it, and commit at 720p once.
FAQ
How much does Seedance 2.5 cost? 157 credits for 5 seconds at 720p, 70 at 480p. Video-in at 720p is 654.
Why is video-in so expensive? Processing input footage is a heavier operation than generating from text. Check the mode before submitting.
Is Seedance better than Kling? We have not measured it. Seedance 2.5 costs 83 percent more than Kling v3 Standard; it adds takes up to 30 seconds, reference images and text-only starts, while Kling v3 needs a start image on 8frame. Test both on your shot.
Does Seedance 2.5 generate sound? Yes, on by default at the same price. Attaching a reference audio track switches its own sound off.
Why is it slow? About 5 minutes at the median for a 5-second 720p clip on our jobs, about 2 at 480p. Draft at 480p or on a faster model and commit at 720p once.
Sources
- Generation times: 8frame production database, completed generations in the 120 days to 2026-09-30, template examples excluded, read 2026-09-30
- Prices, lengths, inputs and sound behaviour: 8frame tool registry and tool configuration, read 2026-10-01
- Kling v3 start-image requirement: 8frame video generation code, read 2026-10-01
Pay for physics, draft somewhere cheaper, check the mode. The 8frame canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.