Last verified: October 20, 2026. On SeedVideo AI, a 5-second Seedance 2.5 video at 720p costs 31 credits without a plan, 28 on Lite, 22 on Pro and 19 on Premium. The same clip on Seedance 2.0 costs 20 credits, and on Seedance 2.0 Mini 13. The Free plan's 5 sign-up credits cover one 4-second 480p Seedance 2.0 Mini clip, but not a Seedance 2.5 clip, which starts at 12 credits.
| Clip (5 seconds) | No plan or credit pack | Lite (-10%) | Pro (-30%) | Premium (-40%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.5, 480p | 15 | 14 | 11 | 9 |
| Seedance 2.5, 720p | 31 | 28 | 22 | 19 |
| Seedance 2.5, 1080p | 76 | Not on Lite | 53 | 46 |
| Seedance 2.0, 720p | 20 | 18 | 14 | 12 |
| Seedance 2.0, 1080p | 50 | Not on Lite | 35 | 30 |
| Seedance 2.0 Fast, 720p | 19 | 17 | 13 | 11 |
| Seedance 2.0 Mini, 720p | 13 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
SeedVideo AI generator, October 20, 2026: (1) Seedance 2.5 selected, (2) 5 s at 720p, (3) the credit price next to the Create button, (4) the "Credits per generation" panel with the price on each plan.
TL;DR
- Credits are charged per clip: seconds of output × the model's rate for the chosen resolution, rounded to a whole number.
- Seedance 2.5 uses about 3 credits per second at 480p, 6 at 720p and 15 at 1080p before plan discounts.
- Paid plans cut every clip's price: Lite by 10%, Pro by 30%, Premium by 40%.
- Monthly credits: Lite 100, Pro 200, Premium 1,300. That is about 3, 9 and 68 five-second 720p Seedance 2.5 clips.
- Lite stops at 720p for Seedance. 1080p needs Pro or Premium.
- Subscription credits last 30 days and do not roll over. Credit packs last 180 or 365 days.
Quick Answer
A Seedance credit is a unit of generation cost. You do not buy videos; you buy credits, and each clip spends a number of them that depends on four things: the model, the duration, the resolution and a few special settings. The exact figure appears next to the Create button before you submit, and the crown badge beside it opens a panel that shows what the same clip costs on each plan.
For most people the useful reference point is the 5-second 720p clip. It costs 31 credits on Seedance 2.5 and 20 on Seedance 2.0 at the full rate. If you only want to test prompts, Seedance 2.0 Mini at 480p costs 6 credits for 5 seconds.
To see the price for your own settings, open the AI text-to-video generator, pick a model and change the duration or resolution. The number updates as you go.
What a Seedance credit pays for
Every video model on the site has a per-second rate for each resolution. The generator multiplies that rate by the clip length and rounds the result. A paid plan then takes its discount off that price.
| Model | 480p per second | 720p per second | 1080p per second | Durations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.5 | 3.05 | 6.1 | 15.1 | 4 to 30 s |
| Seedance 2.0 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 4 to 15 s |
| Seedance 2.0 Fast | 1.74 | 3.75 | 8.47 | 4 to 15 s |
| Seedance 2.0 Mini | 1.16 | 2.5 | Not offered | 4 to 15 s |
These are the full rates that apply with no subscription, which is also what credit packs spend. Two worked examples:
- Seedance 2.5, 10 seconds, 720p: 10 × 6.1 = 61 credits. On Pro: 43.
- Seedance 2.0, 15 seconds, 1080p: 15 × 10 = 150 credits. On Premium: 90.
A start image does not change the price. Image-to-video and text-to-video cost the same, so animating a photo in the AI image-to-video generator is billed exactly like a prompt-only clip.
Settings panel, October 20, 2026: (1) the duration slider runs from 4 s to 30 s for Seedance 2.5, (2) resolution options 480p, 720p and 1080p, (3) the price updates as these change.
Settings that cost more than you expect
Three inputs change how the price is calculated:
| Setting | How it is billed | Example at 720p on Seedance 2.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference video | A lower rate (4.58 per second), but on input plus output seconds | 5 s reference + 5 s output = 46 credits |
| Video editing | The output length is chosen by the model, so 30 s of output is reserved | 5 s input video = 214 credits |
| Relaxed content filter | 1.1 times the normal rate | 5 s clip = 34 credits instead of 31 |
If you only want to change a small part of an existing clip, a fresh image-to-video generation from a frame of that clip usually costs far less than video editing.
How many videos each plan makes
The table below divides each plan's monthly credits by the plan price of the clip, rounded down. Lite cannot render Seedance at 1080p, and Seedance 2.0 models stop at 15 seconds.
| Clip | Lite: 100 credits | Pro: 200 credits | Premium: 1,300 credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.5, 5 s, 720p | 3 (28 each) | 9 (22 each) | 68 (19 each) |
| Seedance 2.5, 5 s, 1080p | Not on Lite | 3 (53 each) | 28 (46 each) |
| Seedance 2.5, 15 s, 720p | 1 (83 each) | 3 (64 each) | 23 (55 each) |
| Seedance 2.5, 15 s, 1080p | Not on Lite | 1 (159 each) | 9 (136 each) |
| Seedance 2.5, 30 s, 720p | 0 (165 each) | 1 (128 each) | 11 (110 each) |
| Seedance 2.5, 30 s, 1080p | Not on Lite | 0 (317 each) | 4 (272 each) |
| Seedance 2.0, 5 s, 720p | 5 (18 each) | 14 (14 each) | 108 (12 each) |
| Seedance 2.0 Mini, 5 s, 720p | 8 (12 each) | 22 (9 each) | 162 (8 each) |
The pricing page quotes larger numbers, such as "About 33 videos/mo" for Pro. Those figures count the cheapest Seedance clip, 4 seconds at 480p, so they are a ceiling rather than a typical month. Your exact charge is always the number next to the Create button on your own account; it can differ from these estimates by a few credits.
Best for / Not for, by plan:
- Free (5 credits, one time). Best for: seeing the interface and one short Seedance 2.0 Mini test. Not for: Seedance 2.5, which starts at 12 credits.
- Lite ($14.90 a month, or $13 a month billed yearly; 100 credits). Best for: a few 720p clips a month and prompt practice on 2.0 Mini. Not for: 1080p, 30-second takes, or commercial work on monthly billing, which Lite monthly does not include.
- Pro ($29 a month, or $14.50 a month billed yearly; 200 credits). Best for: a steady weekly habit of 5 to 15 second clips, with 1080p available. Not for: regular 30-second 1080p output.
- Premium ($149 a month, or $99 a month billed yearly; 1,300 credits). Best for: daily production and long takes. Not for: occasional use, where a credit pack wastes less.
Pricing page, October 20, 2026: (1) billing tabs, (2) to (4) monthly credits and video estimates for Lite, Pro and Premium, (5) the per-plan credit discount and the 30-day credit validity.
Pro and Premium can also be raised to larger monthly allowances. On yearly billing, Pro with 500 credits is $49.90 a month and with 800 credits $69; Premium with 2,000 credits is $169 and with 3,000 credits $229.
Premium's unlimited window
Premium adds a 7-day window in which Seedance 2.5 and 2.0 clips up to 10 seconds, at up to 1080P, cost no credits. Free generations run on their own queue and can wait at busy times. On October 20 the pricing page listed the window as a limited-time offer ending October 25. The rules, queue and exclusions are covered in Seedance Unlimited Explained.
Video prompt: 30-second continuous aerial tracking shot. A cyclist in a mustard-yellow jacket rides a road bike along a winding coastal cliff road at sunrise, turquoise sea and white surf below, long warm shadows across the asphalt, morning haze over distant headlands, drone camera following from behind and slightly above with a wide 24mm view, natural colors.
A 30-second take like this one costs 183 credits at 720p before discounts and 453 at 1080p. That single clip is more than Lite's whole month, which is why long takes belong on Pro, Premium or a credit pack.
Credit packs, Free credits and expiry
Credit packs are one-time purchases on the One-Time tab. They do not renew and they include commercial use.
| Pack | Price | Credits | Valid for | 5 s 720p Seedance 2.5 clips at 31 credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29.90 | 200 | 180 days | 6 |
| Creator | $49.90 | 375 | 365 days | 12 |
| Studio | $79.90 | 600 | 365 days | 19 |
| Max | $199 | 1,500 | 365 days | 48 |
| Agency | $999 | 8,000 | 365 days | 258 |
Pro subscribers get 10% off packs and Premium subscribers 20%. Subscription credits, monthly or yearly, are valid for 30 days and do not roll over. If you generate a few times a quarter, a pack's longer validity usually beats a subscription whose credits expire unused.
The Free plan gives 5 credits once, at sign-up. At full rates that covers one 4-second 480p clip on Seedance 2.0 Mini. For other ways to try the models without paying, see Is Seedance 2.0 Free?.
Compare Plans table on the pricing page, October 20, 2026: (1) credits included in each plan, (2) approximate video counts for the Seedance 2.5 and 2.0 family, counted at the shortest 4-second 480p clip.
Five ways to spend fewer credits
| Method | Typical saving | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Test at 480p, render the keeper at 720p or 1080p | A 5 s Seedance 2.5 test costs 15 instead of 76 at 1080p | The test shows composition and motion, not fine detail |
| Use Draft mode on Seedance 2.5 | Rejected drafts cost the 480p price | A kept draft costs the draft plus the 1080p price |
| Pick resolution by destination | 720p costs about 40% of 1080p on Seedance 2.5 | Less detail on large screens |
| Generate only the seconds you need | Cost scales one to one with duration | Too short can cut the action |
| Test prompts on a cheaper model | 2.0 Mini 5 s 720p is 13 credits versus 31 on 2.5 | Motion and detail differ from 2.5 |
1. Test at 480p first. Composition, camera direction and whether the model understood the prompt are all visible at 480p. Settle those on cheap tests, then change only the resolution for the final.
2. Draft mode on Seedance 2.5. In the Seedance 2.5 workspace, the resolution menu also offers Draft: a 480p draft first, then an "Upgrade to 1080p" button if you like it. The draft is billed at the 480p price and the upgrade at the 1080p price for the same settings. You must upgrade before the draft expires, and the upgrade needs a plan that allows 1080p.
3. Choose resolution by where the video will play. Vertical clips watched on phones rarely need 1080p. A 5-second Seedance 2.5 clip costs 31 credits at 720p and 76 at 1080p.
4. Do not buy seconds you will cut. Pricing is linear, so a 10-second clip costs twice a 5-second one. If the edit will use 6 seconds, generate 6.
5. Reduce reruns. A failed generation returns its credits, but a successful clip you do not like is still charged. Most reruns come from vague prompts. Name the subject, one action, the camera move and the light in every prompt; the AI video tool price comparison shows how fast reruns add up across tools.
Video prompt: 5-second product commercial. An unbranded square amber glass perfume bottle with a brushed brass cap stands on wet black slate at blue hour, rain droplets on the glass catching cyan and magenta neon reflections, mirror reflection on the stone, low camera angle with an 85mm lens and shallow depth of field, slow orbit to the right, soft rim light from behind.
Here are two prompts written the way that keeps reruns down. Test each one at 480p, then render the version you keep at 720p or 1080p.
5-second product commercial. An unbranded square amber glass perfume bottle with a brushed brass cap stands on wet black slate at blue hour. Rain droplets on the glass catch cyan and magenta neon reflections from an unseen street. Low camera angle, 85mm lens, shallow depth of field, slow orbit to the right. Soft rim light from behind. No text, no logos.
30-second continuous aerial tracking shot with no cuts. A cyclist in a mustard-yellow jacket rides a road bike along a winding coastal cliff road at sunrise. 0 to 10 seconds: the drone follows from behind and slightly above. 10 to 22 seconds: the road curves left and the turquoise sea opens up below. 22 to 30 seconds: the camera rises slowly to reveal distant headlands in morning haze. Keep the jacket color and riding direction consistent.
A simple monthly budget
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Count finals | How many finished clips a month, and at what length and resolution? |
| 2. Price one final | Set those options in the generator and read the credit price |
| 3. Add tests | Add two or three 480p tests per final |
| 4. Compare | If the total is under 100, Lite fits; under 200, Pro; above that, Premium or a pack |
| 5. Check the calculator | The plan finder on the pricing page does the same sum for several models at once |
Example: eight 10-second 720p Seedance 2.5 finals a month, each with two 480p tests. On Pro that is 8 × 43 + 16 × 22 = 696 credits, so Pro's 200 credits are not enough; Premium's 1,300 cover it. The Seedance 2.5 model page lists the lengths and resolutions you can plan around.
FAQ
Do Seedance credits expire?
Yes. Subscription credits are valid for 30 days on every plan, monthly or yearly, and unused credits do not roll over. Credit packs last 180 days (Starter) or 365 days (Creator, Studio, Max and Agency). If you cancel, credits you already have keep their expiry dates.
Do yearly plans give all the credits at once?
No. Yearly billing charges once for 12 months at a lower monthly price ($13 for Lite, $14.50 for Pro, $99 for Premium) and grants the same monthly allowance each month. Each month's credits are valid for 30 days. Yearly plans include commercial use, including Lite.
Can I get a refund for unused credits?
Refunds are available within 3 days of purchase if none of that purchase's credits were used, minus payment processing fees of up to 4% plus $1.50. If any video was generated in Premium's unlimited mode, the order is not eligible, even though no credits were deducted.
Does unlimited mode use credits?
Not for the clips it covers. During Premium's 7-day window, Seedance 2.5 and 2.0 clips up to 10 seconds and up to 1080P cost no credits. Longer clips, reference-video tasks, video editing, extending a clip and other models still use credits at Premium's discounted price.
Are credits deducted if a generation fails?
No. When a generation fails, its credits are returned to your balance. A clip that completes is charged even if you decide not to use it, so test at 480p before committing to 1080p.
What happens to my credits when I upgrade?
Credits you already hold keep their own expiry dates, and the new plan's monthly credits and lower per-clip price apply from the new purchase. Checkout shows the amount due before you pay. Pro and Premium also unlock 1080p on Seedance, which Lite does not.
Price your next clip before you buy
Credits make sense once you price one real clip. Open the Seedance 2.5 generator, set the duration and resolution you actually need, and read the number next to Create, then open the crown badge to see the same clip on each plan. More plan comparisons and cost tables are collected in the pricing and benchmarks category, and the help article on how credits are charged keeps the short version of these rules.
