Correction, 2026-10-02: the page said Seedream 5 takes up to 14 reference images. That is Seedream 5 Lite; Seedream 5 Pro, the version the Seedream tool opens on, takes 10, the same as Nano Banana. It also called locking a still before image-to-video "more reliable" than re-rolling text-to-video, which we have not measured; that is now cost advice. This version adds which version and settings each tool opens on, and median waiting times from 8frame's own runs.
Correction, 2026-09-30: the first version of this page mislabelled two tiers (the 6-credit "Nano Banana 2 Standard" is Nano Banana Classic, and "Nano Banana 2 Pro" is Nano Banana Pro), said Nano Banana 2 has no reference budget comparable to Seedream's (it takes up to 10), and cited timings and results from an earlier test we cannot reproduce. This version uses registry prices, limits and shapes.
Nano Banana 2 vs Seedream 5 comes down to resolution, references and shape. Nano Banana 2 runs 0.5K to 4K (8, 11, 17 or 22 credits), returns up to 4 images per run, takes up to 10 references and offers 10 shapes including 4:5 and 21:9. Seedream 5 tops out at 3K (Lite, a flat 6 credits) or 2K (Pro, 7 at 1K and 13 at 2K), takes up to 14 references on Lite and 10 on Pro, and offers 8 shapes, including 21:9 but without 4:5. Put both on the same prompt for 17 or 18 credits and pick.
TL;DR
- Resolution and batch: Nano Banana 2, 8 to 22 credits for 0.5K to 4K, up to 4 images per run.
- Most references: Seedream 5 Lite, up to 14. Seedream 5 Pro and Nano Banana take up to 10.
- Instagram feed 4:5: Nano Banana; Seedream 5 has no 4:5.
- Cheapest: Seedream 5 Lite at 6 credits (2K or 3K). The cheapest Nano Banana is Nano Banana Classic, also 6.
- Most expensive tier: Nano Banana 2 at 4K, 22; Nano Banana Pro at 4K, 42; Seedream 5 Pro at 2K, 13.
- Defaults: the Nano Banana tool opens on Nano Banana 2 at 1K and 9:16 (11 credits); the Seedream tool opens on Seedream 5 Pro at 1K and 9:16 (7 credits).
Price per image, side by side
Credits per image from the 8frame registry. A credit is $0.01 at pack rate; the $19 Starter plan includes 1,000.
| Model and tier | Credits | Resolution | References | Images per 1,000 credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana Classic ("Standard") | 6 | no resolution setting | up to 10 | about 166 |
| Nano Banana 2 (default) | 8 / 11 / 17 / 22 | 0.5K / 1K / 2K / 4K | up to 10 | 45 to 125 |
| Nano Banana Pro | 21 (1K, 2K), 42 (4K) | 1K / 2K / 4K | up to 10 | 23 to 47 |
| Seedream 5 Lite | 6 | 2K / 3K | up to 14 | about 166 |
| Seedream 5 Pro (default) | 7 (1K), 13 (2K) | 1K / 2K | up to 10 | 76 to 142 |
Nano Banana 2's price moves almost 3x across its resolution ladder; Seedream 5 Lite stays at 6 whatever you pick. If you're budgeting a 200-image set on Lite, you multiply once: 1,200 credits.
Nano Banana 2 also returns up to 4 images from one generation (each billed), which is handy when you're exploring rather than delivering.
Resolution ceiling
Nano Banana 2 runs four tiers, 0.5K through 4K. Seedream 5 Lite outputs 2K or 3K; Seedream 5 Pro is priced at 1K and 2K. All of them return PNG files.
For social, 1K or 2K is enough and both models cover it. For print, large format or heavy crops, compare the two routes before you assume upscaling is cheaper: Nano Banana 2 at 4K is 22 credits, while Nano Banana 2 at 2K (17) plus a BRIA upscale (6 credits, 2x or 4x) is 23. Topaz Image Upscale bills 11 credits per started 24 megapixels of output, so it costs more as the output grows.
References: 14, 10 and 10
Seedream 5 Lite takes up to 14 reference images per generation, the most of the image models on 8frame. Seedream 5 Pro, which the Seedream tool opens on, takes up to 10, and so does Nano Banana. If you need more than 10, switch the Seedream tool to 5 Lite. Ten is enough for a character or product from several angles; the extra four help when you're describing a subject across many angles, outfits and lighting setups at once, or combining a character with several props and a location.
With one reference you mostly steer a look; with several, you describe a subject and ask the model to keep it while everything else changes. The mechanism is in multi-reference conditioning.
If the still is headed for video, settle the look on stills first: a re-roll costs 6 to 22 credits as an image and 86 as a 5-second Kling v3 Standard clip with sound, the Kling tool's default.
Shapes
| Shapes | |
|---|---|
| Nano Banana | 1:1, 21:9, 4:3, 3:2, 2:3, 5:4, 4:5, 3:4, 16:9, 9:16 |
| Seedream 5 (Lite and Pro) | 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3, 21:9 |
For the Instagram feed's 4:5 portrait, or 5:4, use Nano Banana. Both make 21:9. Seedream 4 is narrower still (1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4).
Waiting time
Median time from request to finished image on 8frame (completed runs over the 120 days to 2026-09-30): Nano Banana 2, 26 seconds; Seedream 5 Lite, 60 seconds; Seedream 5 Pro, 119 seconds. If you're iterating fast, that gap adds up over a session.
Routing
- 4K delivery without an upscale pass: Nano Banana 2 or Nano Banana Pro.
- Instagram feed portrait (4:5): Nano Banana.
- A character, mascot or product with more than 10 references: Seedream 5 Lite (up to 14).
- Big batches on a fixed budget: Seedream 5 Lite at a flat 6.
- Exploration: Nano Banana 2 at 0.5K or 1K, 4 candidates per run (32 or 44 credits).
- Product shots: try both; see best AI for product photography.
- Brand visual systems: Seedream 5 prompts for brand visuals.
What to check when you compare: light behaviour on glass, metal and glaze, whether a known object (a specific dish, a landmark, a material) looks like the real thing, and how much the outputs vary run to run on the same prompt. Variation helps when you pick the best of a batch and hurts when every image must clear a floor.
Just run both
This is a 17-credit question: Nano Banana 2 at 1K (11) and Seedream 5 Lite (6) on the same prompt, side by side on one canvas. The Seedream tool opens on 5 Pro, so either switch it to 5 Lite or keep 5 Pro at 1K and pay 18. For where both sit against the rest of the roster, see best AI image generator 2026.
FAQ
Is Nano Banana 2 or Seedream 5 cheaper?
Seedream 5 Lite at 6 credits and Seedream 5 Pro at 1K (7) both cost less than the cheapest Nano Banana 2 tier (8 at 0.5K). Nano Banana Classic also costs 6. At the top, Nano Banana 2 at 4K is 22 and Seedream 5 Pro at 2K is 13.
Which one is better for consistent characters?
Both take multiple references: Seedream 5 Lite up to 14, Seedream 5 Pro and Nano Banana up to 10. If your character needs more than 10 reference views, use Seedream 5 Lite; otherwise either works, so test on your character.
What resolution can each model output?
Nano Banana 2: 0.5K, 1K, 2K and 4K, up to 4 images per run. Seedream 5 Lite: 2K or 3K; Seedream 5 Pro: 1K or 2K. For native 4K, Nano Banana. All return PNG.
Which is faster?
On 8frame's own runs, Nano Banana 2 has the shortest median wait of the three (26 seconds), then Seedream 5 Lite (60) and Seedream 5 Pro (119).
Sources
- 8frame Nano Banana and Seedream prices, resolutions, reference limits, defaults and shapes: the 8frame tool registry, request validation and aspect-ratio configuration, checked 2026-10-02
- Kling v3 Standard default clip price and BRIA / Topaz upscale prices: 8frame tool registry credit functions, checked 2026-10-02
- Median generation times and output file format: 8frame production data (completed tasks, 120 days to 2026-09-30, template examples excluded), read-only query of 2026-09-30
Both models run from the same board.
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.