Seedance
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves

What is Seedance?

Seedance is an AI video generation model developed by ByteDance (China). It generates video from text, images, video, and audio inputs. The latest generation, Seedance 2.5 (released worldwide on July 31, 2026), can generate up to 30 seconds of continuous video without stitching and supports up to 50 reference assets (30 images, 10 video clips, 10 audio files) for highly consistent output. General users access it through ByteDance's generative AI platform Dreamina (international version), while developers use the BytePlus ModelArk API.

Seedance combines quality that ranks near the top of independent blind-preference tests with lower per-second pricing than competitors, and Seedance 2.0 has been built into the CapCut video editor since March 2026. In China it is offered through the Jimeng app and Volcano Engine; this page focuses on the international version available from Japan.

How to use

1. Create a Dreamina account

   Go to the international version of Dreamina (dreamina.capcut.com) and sign up. It uses the same ByteDance account infrastructure as CapCut, and free daily credits are granted.

2. Choose a model in the AI video generator

   Open "AI video generator" and select Dreamina Seedance 2.5 / 2.0 / 2.0 Mini, etc. You can switch to lower-tier models to save credits.

3. Enter a prompt and reference assets

   Describe the video you want in text. Seedance 2.5 accepts up to 50 reference assets (30 images, 10 videos, 10 audio files), preserving character and camera consistency.

4. Generate and fix with Intelligent Edit Mode

   An edit mode lets you revise only the parts you point out, without regenerating the whole clip. For longer output, use Long Video Mode (up to 3 minutes).

5. Export and use

   Download the finished video. Developers can call the same models from their own services with a BytePlus ModelArk API key.

Key features

• Native continuous generation up to 30 seconds (Seedance 2.5) — no need to stitch short clips; a single generation can output a complete story with camera cuts. Long Video Mode supports up to 3 minutes.
• Up to 50 multimodal references — reference images, video, and audio simultaneously to keep people, costumes, voices, and camera motion consistent across new scenes (Seedance 2.0 supports up to 12).
• Intelligent Edit Mode — revise specific parts of a generated video by instruction, reducing rework.
• Audio generation — generate video with dialogue, sound effects, and narration (Seedance 1.5 Pro and later).
• High-resolution output — Seedance 2.0 supports native 4K output (June 2026 update); 2.5 is documented up to 1080p.
• API access — pay-as-you-go via BytePlus ModelArk (international) and Volcano Engine (China).

Pricing

All prices are in US dollars; there is no JPY pricing. Based on official listings as of August 19, 2026.

Dreamina (web, individual) — credit-based subscriptions. Plan names and prices are shown only on the purchase screen after login. Officially announced launch pricing: Seedance 2.5 from $0.097 per second and Seedance 2.0 from $0.066 per second on the annual Advanced plan (as of the July 31, 2026 launch).

API (BytePlus ModelArk, pay-as-you-go) — official pricing examples (16:9, 5 seconds, no video input):

Free plan and trial

Dreamina's official FAQ states that free daily credits are provided for image and video generation, so you can try it without payment details. However, details of which models, resolutions, and generation counts the free tier covers — and watermark / commercial-use conditions — are not published on public pages; check the purchase screen and terms after login. The launch promotion (4 free Seedance 2.5 generations for 3 days) has ended.

Japanese language support

• UI — The international Dreamina UI is primarily in English; no Japanese UI was confirmed.
• Input (prompts) — No official statement on Japanese prompt support was found. Official examples are mostly English prompts, so English instructions are the safer choice for precise control.
• Support — No Japanese-language support desk is published.

Reputation and track record

• At release (February 2026), Seedance 2.0 was reported to rank at the top of independent blind-preference tests for AI video generation, drawing attention for its combination of quality and low price.
• The worldwide release of Seedance 2.5 (July 31, 2026) was announced by ByteDance through an official PR Newswire press release, naming filmmakers, marketing teams, and ecommerce creators as target users.
• No Japanese enterprise case studies have been published.

How it differs from other tools

Among AI video generators, Seedance differentiates itself through the number of reference assets (up to 50), long native generation, and low API pricing.

Main comparison targets are the Chinese peers Kling and Hailuo, Google's Veo, and OpenAI's Sora. If you want longer, story-driven videos in a single generation, or to lock characters with reference assets, Seedance is a strong choice.

FAQ

Q. Is Seedance free to use?

Dreamina provides free daily credits, so you can try it after signing up. Details such as generation counts and watermarks on the free tier are not published; check the in-app display after login.

Q. Can I use it commercially?

Dreamina's Terms of Service (updated January 22, 2026) state that, as long as you comply with the terms, ownership of generated output belongs to the user. However, the terms also grant ByteDance a broad license to outputs and uploaded assets, and describe the service as intended for personal use. Always review the latest terms before business use.

Q. Can I pay in Japanese yen?

No JPY pricing or billing was confirmed. All published prices are in US dollars, converted at your credit card's exchange rate.

Q. How are uploaded assets handled?

The official FAQ states that uploads and generated content are processed securely and automatically removed after a defined period. That said, the terms include license grants to ByteDance, so check your internal policies before uploading confidential material.

Q. What is the difference between Seedream and Seedance?

Both are ByteDance models: Seedream generates images, Seedance generates video. On Dreamina you can use both with the same account.

Q. Where can I use the API?

Internationally, issue an API key on BytePlus ModelArk (byteplus.com). In China, it is offered via Volcano Engine. Pricing is pay-as-you-go (token-based).

Provider

ByteDance, the developer, is a privately held company founded in Beijing, China, operating TikTok and CapCut. Seedance is developed by its AI research organization Seed, and the contracting entities for the international Dreamina, CapCut, and BytePlus services are Singapore corporations (Bytedance Pte. Ltd. / BytePlus Pte. Ltd.). Related products include the Seedream image generation model, the Seed LLM series, and the CapCut video editor.

---

The information on this page is based on content published on the official website as of August 2026. Features and pricing may change; please check the official website for the latest information.