Recraft V4 Recraft AI Seedream 5.0 Lite ByteDance

Settled by community votes across 11 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.

Recraft V4

26.4 arena score

#8 of 44 in Text-to-Image

Skill signature

Not enough comparable category data

The chart appears once both models have ratings across at least three shared arena categories.

Seedream 5.0 Lite

23.8 arena score

#21 of 44 in Text-to-Image

Vote tally

Where the votes landed

Recraft V4

66.7%

win rate

Ties

0.0%

Seedream 5.0 Lite

33.3%

win rate

66.7% 0.0% ties 33.3%

Shared challenges 11

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Excellent photorealism with convincing textures on the aged book and wooden table.
+ Highly accurate glass physics, including reflections and the distorted view of the plant through the glass.
+ Strong adherence to lighting instructions with natural window light coming from the left.

− The sphere appears to be floating mid-air rather than resting on the bottom of the cube.
− The blue of the sphere is very dark, bordering on black in certain light.

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Perfectly matches the spatial arrangement where the sphere is resting on the surface.
+ Clean and bright color palette that clearly distinguishes the red, blue, and green elements.
+ The plant is clearly visible through the glass as requested.

− The glass cube appears thin and more like acrylic, lacking the refractive index of solid glass seen in the other model.
− The lighting on the cube's front face feels slightly flat compared to the complex reflections in Model A.

Verdict: Recraft V4 produces a much more realistic and artistically sophisticated image with complex glass refractions and high-quality textures, though it depicts the sphere as floating. Seedream 5.0 Lite captures the literal spatial prompt perfectly and uses more vibrant colors, but lacks the photographic depth and tactile realism of Recraft V4. Recraft V4 is the preferred choice for its superior visual quality and expert handling of light and glass.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Excellent depiction of the environment and weather effects like heavy rain and wet pavement reflections.
+ Captures the requested motion blur of passing cars effectively.
+ The imperfect framing feels very cinematic and authentic to the candid street photo prompt.

− The anatomy of the subject is slightly awkward in his hunched position.
− The man appears less clearly 'Japanese' compared to Model B.

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Exceptional detail on the man's face and hands with realistic skin texture.
+ High-quality rendering of the bicycle mechanics and droplets on the jacket.
+ Strong shallow depth of field that keeps the focus on the subject.

− The rain effect is very subtle, almost disappearing in the background compared to the prompt's 'light rain'.
− Motion blur on the car is present but less dynamic than in Model A.

Verdict: Recraft V4 produces a more атмосферным and cinematic image that perfectly captures the environmental requirements of rain and motion. However, Seedream 5.0 Lite wins on technical execution of the subject, providing incredible detail in the skin, hands, and bicycle components while still meeting the core prompt requirements.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Exquisite detail on the engraved armor and worn leather textures
+ Succesfully conveys a 'battle-worn' look with realistic dirt and grimy skin
+ Stronger adherence to the bokeh sparks and torchlight atmosphere

− The facial structure and brow area appear slightly bumpy or distorted
− The braids are a bit messy compared to the prompt's likely intent for small beads

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Very clean hair braiding with clearly defined beads
+ Excellent lighting and color palette with orange-tinted lifelike eyes
+ High-quality skin texture and clean scars

− The armor looks relatively new and clean, lacking the 'battle-worn' grime of the prompt
− Total lack of bokeh sparks requested in the prompt

Verdict: Recraft V4 captures the 'battle-worn' and gritty atmosphere of the prompt much more effectively through detailed armor engraving and textured grime. While Seedream 5.0 Lite produces a cleaner, more aesthetically 'perfect' character portrait with superior lighting, it misses the specific request for bokeh sparks and the worn-down appearance of the equipment.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Excellent text legibility with almost perfect spelling in titles and descriptions.
+ Professional graphic design layout with consistent white space and clear visual hierarchy.
+ High-quality, isolated food photography that feels cohesive and modern.

− Small minor typos in the fine print descriptions.
− The layout is quite sparse, leaving a lot of empty white space towards the edges.

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Strong bold font choices that create a punchy, casual dining feel.
+ Good use of a grid system that efficiently organizes the content.
+ Clean, clear food photography for every item listed.

− Lacks descriptive text for the menu items.
− The alignment of the pricing dots and text is slightly inconsistent across the grid cells.
− The overall design feels a bit more like a generic template than a custom brand design.

Verdict: Recraft V4 is the clear winner as it produces a more sophisticated and complete menu design, including detailed descriptions with nearly perfect spelling and a high-end editorial feel. Seedream 5.0 Lite produces a solid, functional grid, but it lacks the professional nuance and creative depth found in Recraft V4's typography and item isolation.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Excellent photorealistic texture on the bun and patty
+ Dynamic explosion effect with sauce droplets and particles
+ Clean, high-quality typography for the main title

− The price tag and secondary text lack the requested fiery, glowing effect
− Background is more smoky/dusty than the requested 'fiery' theme

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Strong adherence to the 'fiery, glowing' text effect across all elements
+ Vibrant, warm lighting that matches the requested dark, fiery background
+ Perfect execution of the starburst price tag with a neon glow

− The bottom bun has an unusual hole in the center like a bagel
− Slightly less 'energetic' explosion compared to model A's debris

Verdict: While Recraft V4 offers superior photorealism in the food textures, Seedream 5.0 Lite followed the stylistic prompts for the text and background much more accurately. Seedream 5.0 Lite successfully integrated the glowing 'fiery' effect into the typography and starburst, creating a more cohesive advertisement for the requested 'Magic Burger' theme despite a slight anatomical oddity with the bottom bun.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

0% wins 0% ties 100% wins

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Perfect text accuracy and spelling for all menu items.
+ Authentic chalk texture and smudging on the board surface.
+ Excellent background depth and café atmosphere.

− The title is in print-style caps rather than the requested elegant cursive.

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Natural-looking handwriting with realistic variations in character slant.
+ Good color contrast and board texture.

− Several spelling errors including 'Heriss', 'Beliter', and 'optoons'.
− Failed to use elegant cursive for the title as requested.
− The layout is slightly unbalanced with large gaps at the top.

Verdict: Recraft V4 is the clear winner because it correctly spells all items mentioned in the prompt and maintains a highly realistic café aesthetic. Seedream 5.0 Lite struggles significantly with text rendering, introducing multiple typos and hallucinations (like 'optoons') despite having a natural handwriting flow.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Excellent narrative composition with a clear side-view showing the separation between the driver and passenger.
+ Captures the 'bored' expression of the passenger perfectly, emphasizing the absurdity through her indifference.
+ High level of photorealistic detail in the raining environment and taxi labels.

− The capybara's head is slightly disproportionate to its body and the driver seat.
− The capybara's paws are rendered a bit like human hands in gloves rather than natural paws.

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Outstanding rendering of capybara fur and facial features, looking very natural.
+ Solid integration of the capybara's paws onto the steering wheel as requested.
+ Very sharp, clear resolution with vibrant night lighting.

− The passenger is sitting in the front passenger seat rather than the back seat as specified.
− The perspective is slightly cramped, making it harder to see the full interior scene.

Verdict: Recraft V4 followed the complex spatial instructions much better by placing the passenger in the back seat and capturing the requested 'bored' atmosphere. While Seedream 5.0 Lite has superior texture and lighting quality, it failed the core compositional requirement of having the passenger in the back.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Excellent typography with clean, professional spacing
+ High-detail realistic PBR textures on the fish and ice base
+ Authentic looking food photography style

− Missed the 'cartoon' aspect of the prompt, opting for realism
− The crystalline base looks more like salt or ice than a diorama platform

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Perfectly adhered to the 3D cartoon/stylized aesthetic
+ Clean and simple diorama base design
+ Accurate 45-degree isometric perspective

− Typography is slightly heavy and the flag icon is placed to the side rather than centered above
− The sushi textures are a bit flat and plastic-like

Verdict: Recraft V4 produced a beautiful, professional-grade image with superior typography, but it leaned significantly toward realism and missed the 'cartoon' keyword. Seedream 5.0 Lite followed the stylistic instructions more accurately by providing an isometric cartoon diorama, though its font choice and texture quality were less refined than Recraft V4.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

100% wins 0% ties 0% wins

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Excellent fur texture and realism that aligns with the 'hyper-photorealistic' prompt.
+ Dynamic composition with animals looking like they are in motion.
+ Beautifully executed 'god rays' and atmospheric lighting with dew details.

− The kitten is slightly obscured in the center and lacks the same level of clarity as the puppy.
− The bunny's anatomy when standing is a bit stiff.

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Clean, vibrant colors and very expressive, cute facial features.
+ Clear separation and visibility of all four requested animals.
+ Good inclusion of dew sparkles in the foreground grass.

− The image looks more like a 3D digital illustration than a 'hyper-photorealistic' scene.
− The proportions of the animals are more 'disney-fied' and stylized than realistic.
− The lighting and background feel more artificial/synthetic.

Verdict: Recraft V4 followed the 'hyper-photorealistic' instruction much more effectively, delivering incredible fur detail and naturalistic lighting. Seedream 5.0 Lite produced a very charming and cute image, but it leans heavily into a stylized 3D render aesthetic that misses the prompt's request for realism.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Sophisticated vintage typography with custom ligatures
+ Clean vector aesthetic suitable for a modern brand identity
+ Correct use of the Italian grave accent in 'Caffè'

− Missed the request for a banner element
− Background texture is almost invisible

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Successfully included the 'Est. 1720' banner requested
+ Warm background texture aligns well with the 'vintage' prompt
+ Balanced composition between iconography and text

− Incorrect accent mark used over 'Caffè' (used a circumflex instead of a grave accent)
− Typography is somewhat generic compared to Image A

Verdict: Recraft V4 produces a much more professional and stylish logo with superior typography and vector shading on the cloche, though it missed the specific banner instruction. Seedream 5.0 Lite followed all prompt elements including the banner and background texture, but is let down by a spelling error in the Italian name and more basic graphic design. Recraft V4 is the winner for its high-quality aesthetic and correct text rendering.

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

Seedream 5.0 Lite

AI Judge Analysis

Recraft V4

+ Excellent typography and layout follow a professional infographic flow.
+ Strong color palette adherence with clean, vector-style illustrations.
+ Includes creative extra details like the crew's names and footprints on the moon.

− Lacks the requested numbering for the steps.
− Text on the Earth Orbit/Lunar Orbit labels is slightly small compared to the header.

Seedream 5.0 Lite

+ Strict adherence to the 6-step numbered structure.
+ High contrast text makes icons and labels very legible.
+ Successfully includes the specific 'muted red' in the descent arrow and map pin.

− The 'Translumar' text contains a misspelling (should be Translunar).
− The grid layout feels less dynamic and more repetitive than Model A.
− Lunar module icons are a bit cluttered with small lines compared to the 'flat-vector' request.

Verdict: Recraft V4 produces a much more professional and aesthetically pleasing infographic that looks like a real poster, whereas Seedream 5.0 Lite produces a basic grid layout with a significant spelling error ('Translumar'). Recraft V4 also demonstrates better artistic flair with the trajectory arc and iconography, despite missing the step numbers.