Seedance AI is ByteDance's AI video generation platform, powering the Seedance series of text-to-video and image-to-video models. The latest release, Seedance 2.0, launched on February 7, 2026 and quickly became one of the top-ranked video generation models. This guide covers everything you need to know about Seedance AI: what it does, how to use it, what it costs, and how it compares to alternatives.
TL;DR
Seedance AI generates 4-8 second video clips from text prompts or reference images in up to 4K resolution. The free tier gives you 5 generations per day at 720p on the Dreamina platform. Paid plans start at ~$10/month for 4K output. Seedance 2.0's standout feature is Director Mode, which accepts up to 12 reference files (images, videos, audio) tagged with @ references to control characters, style, and motion.
Explore Seedance: Try the Seedance 2.0 generator, read the step-by-step tutorial, check pricing and plans, or browse 50+ templates in the prompt guide.
What is Seedance AI?
Seedance AI is a family of AI video generation models developed by ByteDance (the company behind TikTok and CapCut). The models run on ByteDance's Dreamina creative platform and are designed for both casual creators and professional video producers.
Key facts:
- Developer: ByteDance
- Platform: Dreamina (dreamina.capcut.com)
- Latest model: Seedance 2.0 (released February 7, 2026)
- Capabilities: Text-to-video, image-to-video, video extension
- Max resolution: 4K (2160p) on paid plans, 720p free
- Max duration: 8 seconds per clip (extendable)
- Free tier: 5 generations per day, no credit card required
Seedance 2.0 Features
Seedance 2.0 introduced several features that set it apart from competitors:
Director Mode
The headline feature. Director Mode accepts up to 12 input files — images, video clips, and audio tracks — referenced with @ tags in your prompt. Example:
@Image1 is the main character. She walks through @Image2 setting.
Camera follows from behind, matching the rhythm of @Audio1.
Use the lighting style from @Video1.The AI interprets each file's role: identity from images, motion style from videos, timing from audio. In testing, prompts with 6 or fewer references hit a 70-80% first-attempt success rate.
Face-Lock Consistency
Upload a character reference image and Seedance locks facial features across all generated frames. This solves the biggest problem in AI video: characters changing appearance between shots. Face-lock works even when the character turns, moves, or appears under different lighting.
4K Output
Seedance 2.0 generates native 4K video on paid plans. Most competitors cap at 1080p or charge extra for 4K. The quality difference is noticeable on large screens and in professional editing workflows.
Lip-Sync Audio
Seedance generates lip-synced dialogue from text or audio input. Characters mouth words matching the provided audio track, enabling talking-head videos, product demos, and narrative content.
How to Use Seedance AI
Getting started takes under a minute:
- Open Dreamina at dreamina.capcut.com — no signup required for browsing
- Write a prompt describing your scene, or upload reference images for Director Mode
- Set parameters — resolution (720p free, 1080p/4K paid), duration (4s or 8s), aspect ratio
- Generate — clips render in 30-90 seconds depending on settings
- Download or edit — export the video or open it in CapCut for transitions, captions, and effects
For best results, use the SCELA prompt framework: Subject, Camera, Environment, Lighting, Action. Structured prompts produce up to 40% better output than unstructured descriptions. See our prompt guide with 50+ templates.
For developers: Seedance offers a REST API for programmatic video generation. See the API integration guide for endpoints, authentication, async polling, and code examples.
Seedance AI Pricing
| Plan | Price | Daily Generations | Resolution | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 5 | 720p | No watermark, basic modes |
| Pro | ~$10/mo | 100 | 4K | Director Mode, face-lock, priority queue |
| Business | Custom | Unlimited | 4K | Dedicated support, SLA, custom API limits |
Seedance's free tier is among the most generous: 5 clips per day at 720p with no watermark, no credit card, and no time limit. For a detailed breakdown including per-generation API costs, see Seedance Pricing.
Related: Using Seedance on a budget? Read How to Use Seedance for Free.
Seedance vs Other AI Video Generators
How does Seedance stack up against competitors?
| Feature | Seedance 2.0 | Sora 2 | Kling 3.0 | Runway Gen-4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Duration | 8s | 20s | 2+ min | 10s |
| Max Resolution | 4K | 1080p | 4K | 4K |
| Free Tier | 5/day | Limited | 6/day | Limited |
| Entry Price | ~$10/mo | ~$20/mo | ~$8/mo | ~$15/mo |
| Director Mode | Yes (12 files) | No | No | No |
| Face-Lock | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Lip Sync | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| API Cost/Gen | ~$0.05 | ~$0.10 | ~$0.05 | ~$0.08 |
Seedance wins on: multi-modal input (Director Mode), 4K free-tier quality, and per-generation cost.
Competitors win on: duration (Kling, Sora), creative controls (Runway), physics simulation (Sora).
For in-depth head-to-head comparisons:
- Seedance vs Sora 2026 — pricing, quality, and ecosystem
- Seedance vs Kling — short-form vs long-form
- Seedance vs Runway 2026 — creative controls comparison
- Sora 2 vs Kling 3.0 — realism vs duration
Seedance AI Version History
| Version | Release | Key Change |
|---|---|---|
| Seedance 1.0 | 2025 | First release, text-to-video, 720p |
| Seedance 1.0 Pro | Late 2025 | 1080p output, improved consistency |
| Seedance 2.0 | Feb 7, 2026 | Director Mode, 4K, face-lock, lip sync |
Upgrading from 1.0? See the 1.0 Pro to 2.0 Migration Guide for feature comparison and migration steps.
Seedance AI Use Cases
Content creators: Generate B-roll, intros, and transitions for YouTube videos and TikTok content. Use Director Mode to maintain character consistency across a series.
Marketers: Create product demo videos, ad creatives, and social media clips at scale. The API supports batch generation for A/B testing multiple ad variants.
Developers: Integrate video generation into SaaS products, chatbots, or automation pipelines. The REST API supports text-to-video and image-to-video with async polling.
Educators: Produce explainer videos and animated content. Lip-sync audio makes talking-head educational content accessible without recording equipment.
FAQ
Is Seedance AI free?
Yes. The free tier on Dreamina gives you 5 video generations per day at 720p resolution. No credit card or account required to start. There is no watermark on free-tier output.
Who made Seedance AI?
ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, CapCut, and Lemon8. Seedance runs on ByteDance's Dreamina creative platform.
What is Seedance Director Mode?
Director Mode is Seedance 2.0's multi-modal input system. You upload up to 12 files (images, videos, audio) and reference them with @ tags in your prompt. The AI uses each file for a specific purpose: identity from images, motion style from videos, timing from audio.
How long are Seedance AI videos?
Each generation produces up to 8 seconds of video. You can extend clips using the video extension feature to create longer sequences. For clips longer than 2 minutes, consider Kling 3.0 which supports multi-shot sequences.
Can I use Seedance AI videos for commercial purposes?
Yes, with a paid plan. Seedance Pro (~$10/month) includes commercial licensing. Free-tier content is for personal use only. Check ByteDance's terms for specific commercial rights.
Does Seedance have an API?
Yes. Seedance offers a REST API for text-to-video and image-to-video generation. API pricing starts at ~$0.05 per generation. See the API guide for integration details.
Start Using Seedance AI
- Try it now: Seedance 2.0 Online Generator — no signup required
- Learn the basics: Seedance 2.0 Tutorial — step-by-step guide
- Write better prompts: Seedance Prompt Guide — 50+ templates
- Compare options: Best AI Video Tools 2026 — all models ranked
- Explore the pipeline: AI Video Pipeline Guide — end-to-end workflow
