Head to head
Esc

Models · slot A

to navigate to pick

Recraft V4 Pro Recraft AI Seedream 4.0 ByteDance

Settled by community votes across 13 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.

Recraft V4 Pro

24.3 arena score

#18 of 62 in Text-to-Image

Skill signature · Text-to-Image

Seedream 4.0

24.7 arena score

#15 of 62 in Text-to-Image

Vote tally

Where the votes landed

Recraft V4 Pro

50.0%

win rate

Ties

0.0%

Seedream 4.0

50.0%

win rate

50.0% 0.0% ties 50.0%
Shared challenges 13

Challenge by challenge

The strongest take from each model on every shared challenge, with the AI judge's read.

Geometric Composition

Text-to-Image

“A glass cube on a wooden table. Inside the cube is a small blue sphere. On top of the cube sits a red book. A green plant is behind the cube, partially visible through the glass. Soft window light from the left.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0
0% wins 0% ties 100% wins

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent photo-realistic textures on the glass and wood surface.
  • + Accurate lighting and reflections on the blue sphere.
  • + High level of detail in the book binding and paper edges.
  • The plant is to the side rather than strictly behind the cube.
  • The perspective of the cube's top edge slightly clashes with the book's orientation.

Seedream 4.0

  • + Perfect adherence to the spatial instruction of the plant being behind the cube.
  • + Clean, minimalist composition that captures the soft window light well.
  • + Correct rendering of the reflective base inside the glass cube.
  • The blue sphere appears slightly floaty and lacks a strong contact shadow.
  • The glass edges and corners are slightly inconsistent in thickness.

Verdict: Recraft V4 Pro produces a more convincingly realistic image with superior textures and lighting, though it places the plant to the side. Seedream 4.0 follows the spatial 'behind the cube' prompt more accurately but lacks the same level of material detail and grounded shadows as the first image. Recraft V4 Pro is preferred for its high visual quality and realistic physics.

Candid Street Photography

Text-to-Image

“A candid street photo of an elderly Japanese man repairing a red bicycle in light rain, reflections on wet pavement, shallow depth of field, 50mm lens, natural skin texture, imperfect framing, motion blur from passing cars, cinematic but realistic, no stylization.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0
100% wins 0% ties 0% wins

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent cinematic atmosphere with realistic lighting and rain effects
  • + Highly detailed natural skin texture and clothing materials
  • + Strong composition with effective use of shallow depth of field and bokeh
  • Misses the 'motion blur' request for passing cars
  • The bicycle anatomical details are somewhat merged with the man's hands

Seedream 4.0

  • + Captures all prompt elements including the motion blur on the car
  • + Highly realistic 'candid' framing and storytelling with the tools on the ground
  • + Clearer action of actually 'repairing' the bicycle
  • Texture is slightly softer and less detailed than Image A
  • The front wheel of the bicycle has distorted, messy spokes
  • Rain effect is less convincing compared to Image A

Verdict: Recraft V4 Pro produces a more visually stunning, high-definition cinematic shot with superior textures, but it fails to include the requested motion blur. Seedream 4.0 follows the prompt more literally, including the motion-blurred car and tools, though it suffers from significant technical artifacts in the bicycle spokes and lower overall resolution/clarity.

Fantasy Warrior

Text-to-Image

“Close portrait of a battle-worn paladin in ornate engraved plate armor, hair braided with small beads, faint scars and dirt on the skin, warm torchlight reflecting off metal, shallow depth of field, bokeh sparks, lifelike eyes, highly detailed texture on leather straps and cloth underlayer.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Exquisite and intricate engraving details on the plate armor
  • + More balanced composition with the character centered in the environment
  • + Realistic skin texture and dirt application that feels natural
  • The lighting is a bit flat compared to the requested warm torchlight reflection
  • Less 'bokeh sparks' effect in the background compared to image B

Seedream 4.0

  • + Excellent use of warm torchlight and dynamic rim lighting on the hair and face
  • + Stronger bokeh effect with clear, bright sparks flying in the background
  • + Great detail on the leather straps and buckles as requested
  • The engraving on the armor is less sharp and detailed than Model A
  • The character's expression is slightly less 'battle-worn' and looks more like a modern model

Verdict: Both models followed the prompt exceptionally well, but Seedream 4.0 captures the intended atmosphere better through its use of warm torchlight and dramatic bokeh sparks. Recraft V4 Pro offers superior technical detail in the armor engravings and skin texture, but the overall lighting feels cooler and less dynamic than the scene described.

Modern Clean Menu

Text-to-Image

“Modern minimalist restaurant menu design, white background with colorful food photos in grid, sections for appetizers/pizza/mains, bold sans-serif fonts, vibrant accents, clean professional layout for casual dining.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent typography with perfect spelling in headers and descriptions.
  • + Professional and balanced grid layout that follows the requested menu sections perfectly.
  • + High-quality, realistic food photography that looks appetizing and professional.
  • The orange accent color is quite subtle compared to the 'vibrant' request.

Seedream 4.0

  • + Bold use of color as requested by 'vibrant accents'.
  • + Clear, high-contrast sans-serif fonts.
  • The layout is poorly balanced with significant wasted white space.
  • Incorrectly places a pizza image next to the 'Mains' category header.
  • Lacks the specific food descriptions and pricing requested for a functional menu.

Verdict: Recraft V4 Pro produced a fully functional, professional-grade menu design with flawless text rendering and a logical grid. In contrast, Seedream 4.0 provided a very basic graphic that lacked detail and incorrectly organized the food categories, resulting in a less usable design.

Magic Burger Explosion: Fiery Photorealism Challenge

Text-to-Image

“Ad for 'Magic Burger'. Dynamic, exploded burger with all components (bun, patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sauce) suspended in mid-air. Emphasize photorealistic detail and a sense of motion. Dark, fiery background with glowing embers. Integrate text: 'MAGIC BURGER' as a prominent title, 'LIMITED TIME ONLY' as a secondary message, and '€6.99' in a starburst, all rendered with a fiery, glowing effect.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Perfect text accuracy including the currency and price.
  • + Exceptional photorealism in food textures like the bun and melting sauce.
  • + Clean and professional graphic design layout suitable for a real advertisement.
  • The composition is a bit static compared to the requested 'sense of motion'.
  • The background is slightly dark and simple rather than a full fiery environment.

Seedream 4.0

  • + Great sense of motion with dynamic light trails and swirling components.
  • + Vibrant fiery background that matches the 'glowing embers' prompt well.
  • + The fiery text effect is very creatively executed.
  • Failed to include the correct price, showing 5.99 instead of 6.99.
  • The burger structure is confusing with two patties and two bottom buns.
  • Visual quality of the food is less realistic and appearing more like a digital illustration.

Verdict: Recraft V4 Pro is the superior choice for a professional advertisement, as it followed all text prompts perfectly and maintained high photorealistic quality. While Seedream 4.0 captured the sense of motion and the fiery atmosphere better, it failed on the specific price requested and produced a non-sensical burger anatomy.

Chalkboard Menu

Text-to-Image

“Handwritten-style chalkboard menu in a cozy café, all text rendered in the exact same realistic chalk handwriting style with natural variations in letter size, slight slant, and chalk texture — no printed or digital fonts anywhere on the board. Title at the top in elegant cursive chalk handwriting: ‘TODAY’S SPECIALS – APRIL 30, 2026’. Below it, three menu items also in the same handwritten chalk style: ‘Truffle Mushroom Risotto – $24’, ‘Grilled Octopus with Lemon & Herbs – $28’, ‘Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – $9’. At the very bottom, smaller text in the identical handwritten chalk style (slightly smaller but still clearly legible with the same handwriting characteristics): ‘All items made fresh daily • Ask about our gluten-free options’. Warm ambient café lighting, visible chalk dust and smudges, realistic handwriting imperfections, no clean printed text anywhere.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent text legibility and spelling accuracy
  • + Realistic chalkboard texture and smudging effects
  • The font looks too uniform/digital and lacks the requested cursive style for the title
  • The chains holding the board do not connect to a structure at the top

Seedream 4.0

  • + Perfectly adheres to the 'elegant cursive' and 'handwritten' instructions
  • + Achieves a very natural chalk texture with dust at the bottom of the frame
  • Slightly less 'crisp' text than Model A
  • The perspective makes the left side of the text a bit crowded

Verdict: Seedream 4.0 followed the stylistic prompts much better than Recraft V4 Pro, specifically capturing the 'elegant cursive' title and the natural variation of real handwriting. While Recraft V4 Pro produced very clean text, it failed the specific instruction to provide a cursive title and the letters look like a digital font rather than chalk drawing.

The Reversed Rodeo

Text-to-Image

“Horse riding astronaut in space — horse on top, not vice versa. Surreal, highly detailed, cinematic.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent cinematic lighting and texture details on the asteroids and horse hair.
  • + High visual coherence with a stunning, atmospheric composition.
  • Failed the specific spatial instruction; the astronaut is riding the horse, not the other way around.
  • The astronaut's legs appear slightly anatomical thin compared to the rest of the suit.

Seedream 4.0

  • + Clean render of the astronaut suit with a nice reflective visor.
  • + Dynamic horse pose that conveys a sense of action.
  • Failed the specific spatial instruction; the astronaut is riding the horse.
  • The horse's front legs exhibit anatomical distortion and lack defined hooves/joints.

Verdict: Both models failed the specific prompt constraint to have the horse on top of the astronaut, instead defaulting to the common trope of an astronaut riding a horse. Recraft V4 Pro is the superior image due to its exceptional cinematic quality, atmospheric depth, and coherent detailing, whereas Seedream 4.0 has significant anatomical issues with the horse's legs.

The Capybara Taxi Driver

Text-to-Image

“Photorealistic scene inside a yellow New York taxi at night. A capybara is driving, wearing a yellow taxi driver cap and a dark jacket. It has a calm, professional expression and both front paws on the steering wheel. In the back seat sits a human businesswoman in a coat, looking at her phone with a completely normal, bored expression (as if this is just another normal ride). Through the windows you can see the streets of Manhattan at night with blurred lights. Realistic taxi interior, photorealistic, detailed fur and fabric, 35mm lens, night lighting with reflections, shallow depth of field.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent photorealism with convincing textures on the wet taxi and fur.
  • + Cinematic atmosphere with detailed rainfall and complex city lighting.
  • + Accurate 'NYC' text on the cap as implied by the setting.
  • The passenger is partially obscured by the window frame.
  • One paw is somewhat awkwardly positioned behind the steering wheel.

Seedream 4.0

  • + Clear composition showing both the driver and the bored passenger perfectly.
  • + Captures the 'front paws on the steering wheel' instruction very naturally.
  • + The passenger's expression and coat exactly match the requested prompt.
  • Slightly lower fidelity in textures compared to the other model.
  • The text on the hat is nonsensical ('TAT').

Verdict: Recraft V4 Pro produces a more visually stunning, cinematic image with superior lighting and realistic environmental effects like rain. However, Seedream 4.0 follows the compositional instructions better, providing a clearer view of the bored passenger and a more functional placement of the capybara's paws on the wheel. Recraft V4 Pro is preferred for its higher technical quality and better text rendering.

The Halloween Invitation

Text-to-Image

“Vintage gothic Halloween party invitation. Dark parchment poster, spooky border with webs and thorns, central glowing jack-o-lantern, bats, twisted trees, moody night sky. Add elegant gothic title text saying "Halloween Party Invitation", a small scroll banner saying "You are invited to a night of frights", and event details at the bottom: Date: 30.10.2026 Time: 7pm Location: The Arches, NYC Spooky but polished, cinematic lighting, square format.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent text legibility and high-quality gothic font choice.
  • + Clean, photographic visual quality with realistic lighting and textures.
  • + Accurately places all requested text elements exactly as specified.
  • Lacks the 'dark parchment' texture requested, opting for a clean digital background.
  • The border is very subtle and minimalist compared to the 'spooky border with webs and thorns' description.

Seedream 4.0

  • + Creative use of the parchment and thorn border as requested in the prompt.
  • + Strong atmospheric mood with the moonlit sky and twisted trees.
  • + Text font is stylistically consistent with the vintage theme.
  • Small banner text is slightly distorted and harder to read.
  • Composition feels a bit cluttered with the heavy border overlapping background elements.
  • Visual quality is slightly more illustrated/digital compared to the realism of Model A.

Verdict: Recraft V4 Pro succeeds primarily due to its superior text rendering and high-resolution clarity, making it more functional as an invitation. Seedream 4.0 followed the stylistic prompts more closely, specifically the parchment effect and thorn border, but failed to deliver the same level of polish and readability as Recraft V4 Pro.

Isometric Miniature Diorama Scenes

Text-to-Image

“Create a clear, 45° top-down isometric miniature 3D cartoon scene of Japan's signature dish: sushi, with soft refined textures, realistic PBR materials, gentle lighting, on a small raised diorama base with minimal garnish and plate. Solid light blue background. At top-center: 'JAPAN' in large bold text, 'SUSHI' below it, small flag icon. Perfectly centered, ultra-clean, high-clarity, square format.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent text rendering and alignment
  • + High fidelity PBR materials, especially on the salmon and roe
  • + Unique interpretation of the diorama base using a rice-like texture
  • The rice texture on the base looks slightly like salt or ice up close
  • Maki rolls have slightly inconsistent grain scales

Seedream 4.0

  • + Strong composition with a traditional sushi board aesthetic
  • + Very clean, vibrant 'cartoon' 3D style that matches the prompt
  • + Accurate 45-degree isometric projection
  • Text is slightly offset to the left rather than perfectly centered
  • Salmon textures are a bit more simplified/flat compared to Model A

Verdict: Both models followed the prompt exceptionally well. Recraft V4 Pro produced more realistic PBR materials and better text layout, while Seedream 4.0 captured a more cohesive '3D cartoon' aesthetic with a better diorama plate. Recraft V4 Pro wins slightly due to the superior quality of the typography and the intricate rendering of the food items.

Adorable Baby Animals in Sunny Meadow

Text-to-Image

“Hyper-photorealistic scene of fluffy baby animals—a golden retriever puppy, tabby kitten, baby bunny, and red fox kit—with big expressive eyes and ultra-detailed soft fur, playfully chasing butterflies and tumbling together in a lush wildflower meadow, warm golden sunrise light with god rays and dew sparkles, joyful wholesome vibe, 8K masterpiece.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent anatomical realism and fur texture
  • + Sophisticated lighting with distinct god rays and dew drops on the flora
  • + Highly detailed background that feels grounded and real
  • The composition feels slightly crowded with animals and butterflies overlapping in a less playful way

Seedream 4.0

  • + Perfectly captures the 'joyful' and 'tumbling' aspect of the prompt
  • + Beautifully rendered sparkle and bokeh effects
  • + Better color vibrance that matches the 'wholesome' vibe
  • The fox kit has slightly anatomically strange paws and positioning
  • Butterflies appear slightly floating rather than part of the depth of field

Verdict: Both models performed exceptionally well, showing all requested animals and atmospheric elements. Recraft V4 Pro is more technically impressive regarding photo-realism and fur texture, while Seedream 4.0 better captured the whimsical, playful spirit and 'tumbling' action requested in the prompt.

Vintage Cafe Logo

Text-to-Image

“Vintage minimalist restaurant logo for "Caffè Florian", retro cloche dome with steam and "Est. 1720" banner, classic typography, warm brown and cream tones, subtle texture on light background, vector emblem style.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent typography with a custom, high-end vector feel
  • + Elegant use of whitespace and minimalist composition
  • + Perfectly rendered 'Est. 1720' banner with thin-line detail
  • The cloche is depicted as top-half only, appearing slightly floating or incomplete

Seedream 4.0

  • + Strong retro aesthetic with classic shield/banner layout
  • + Good use of subtle paper texture in the background
  • + Clearer depiction of steam coming from the cloche
  • The font for 'Caffè Florian' is a bit generic compared to the art house style requested
  • Color palette is slightly more saturated than the requested 'warm brown and cream'

Verdict: Recraft V4 Pro produces a high-end, professionally balanced vector logo that feels more like a modern identity for a historic establishment. Seedream 4.0 follows the vintage banner request more literally but has a slightly less sophisticated typographic treatment. Recraft V4 Pro is the winner due to its superior artistic flair and clean vector aesthetics.

Apollo 11: Journey to Tranquility

Text-to-Image

“Create a clean, modern vector infographic poster about the Apollo 11 mission. NASA-inspired palette (navy, white, muted red, light gray). Flat-vector style, crisp lines, consistent iconography, subtle gradients only. Steps (stop at landing): 1. Launch (Saturn Vicon) 2. Earth Orbit (Earth + orbit ring icon) 3. Translunar (trajectory arc icon) 4. Lunar Orbit (Moon + orbit ring icon) 5. Descent (lunar module descending icon) 6. Landing (lunar module on the surface icon) Small supporting elements (minimal text): • Crew strip: three silhouette icons with only last names: Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins. • Landing site marker: Moon pin labeled "Tranquility" only. Layout constraints: generous margins, large readable labels, clean background with subtle stars. Vector-only, print-poster look, high resolution.”

Recraft V4 Pro
Seedream 4.0

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4 Pro

  • + Excellent text rendering with no spelling errors.
  • + Consistent flat-vector style with a professional aesthetic.
  • + High adherence to the requested NASA-inspired color palette and iconography.
  • The layout for 'Launch' feels slightly disconnected from the flow of the other steps.
  • The icons for descent and landing are nearly identical.

Seedream 4.0

  • + Strong visual flow through the use of a continuous trajectory arc.
  • + Good depth in the lunar module illustration.
  • Several spelling errors including 'Translunar Orbit' and 'Surfcce'.
  • Iconography becomes inconsistent between the top map and bottom landing section.
  • The text 'Landing 6' is poorly integrated into the composition.

Verdict: Recraft V4 Pro produced a far superior result with perfect spelling, clean typography, and a cohesive vector infographic style. Seedream 4.0 struggled with spelling and layout, resulting in a cluttered composition that felt less like a professional infographic and more like a collection of separate assets.

Next steps

Explore each model