HEAD TO HEAD
Gen-4.5 vs Seedance 2.0: which is worth your budget?
Gen-4.5 — Runway
Seedance 2.0 — ByteDance
| Gen-4.5 | Seedance 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ / second (base) | $0.25 | $0.14 |
| 10-second clip | $2.50 | $1.40 |
| 1 minute of output | $15.00 | $8.40 |
| Native audio | — | — |
| Max clip length | 10s | 10s |
Rates shown at each model's base tier, verified July 2026 from official vendor pricing pages and documentation. Vendors change prices without notice — see methodology.
The verdict
Benchmark #1 versus value #1. Gen-4.5's edge is real — and so is the 2–4× price gap. Seedance wins every volume job; Gen-4.5 wins when a shot must be directed rather than rolled: camera moves, video-to-video revisions, client feedback loops. The honest test: if you'd accept any good-looking result, Seedance. If you need a *specific* result, Runway's control justifies the rate.
Whichever you pick, apply a retake multiplier before budgeting: the model that gets your specific shot right in fewer attempts is often the cheaper one in practice, regardless of sticker price. Full tier breakdowns: Gen-4.5 pricing and Seedance 2.0 pricing.
Run your own numbers. The cost calculator applies your clip length, resolution and a realistic retake buffer across every model at once.