Quick answer: Seedance 2.0 is not entirely free, but you can try it without paying. The official Dreamina offers free trial credits to new users, giving you enough to generate several videos and evaluate the model before spending anything. Beyond the free tier, ongoing use requires either a membership subscription or purchasing credit packages.
Here is how the pricing works across every access option available in 2026.
Where to Access Seedance 2.0
Seedance 2.0 is available through two official platforms, each operated by ByteDance but targeting different audiences.
Dreamina
Dreamina at dreamina.capcut.com is ByteDance's international creative AI platform. It offers the full Seedance 2.0 feature set — text-to-video, image-to-video, the @ reference system, multi-shot storytelling, and audio generation — with an English-language interface and international payment options. Dreamina uses a membership + credits model. New users receive free trial credits upon registration, and daily login bonuses can provide additional credits over time. Membership plans unlock higher generation limits and priority queue access.
For a walkthrough of the platform, see our getting started tutorial.
The Credit System Explained
Dreamina uses a credit-based system where each video generation costs a certain number of credits. The cost varies based on several factors:
What Affects Credit Cost
- Resolution: 2K (2048x1080) costs more credits than 1080p. Expect roughly 1.5x to 2x the cost for 2K output.
- Duration: Longer clips cost more. A 15-second video costs significantly more credits than a 5-second clip.
- Complexity: Using multiple reference files, audio generation, and multi-shot mode increases credit consumption.
- Audio generation: Enabling native audio with lip-sync adds to the credit cost compared to video-only output.
Typical Credit Costs
As a general guideline, a complex 15-second 2K video with audio generation and multiple reference files costs approximately 200 credits. Simpler generations cost less:
| Generation Type | Approximate Credits |
|---|---|
| Simple 5s text-to-video (1080p) | 30-50 credits |
| Standard 10s with image reference | 80-120 credits |
| Complex 15s multi-shot with audio (2K) | ~200 credits |
| Video continuation (5s extension) | 30-50 credits |
These are approximate figures and may vary by platform and over time as ByteDance adjusts pricing. Always check the current credit cost displayed on the platform before generating.
Free Access Options
If you want to use Seedance 2.0 without paying, here are the available paths.
New User Credits
Dreamina provides free credits upon account creation. The exact amount can change with promotions, but it is typically enough to generate 5 to 15 short videos — sufficient to evaluate the model and learn the interface.
Daily Login Bonuses
Dreamina offers daily login bonuses that award a small number of credits each day you sign in. This drip of free credits allows casual users to generate a few videos per week without any subscription. The amount is modest but can accumulate over time for patient users.
Platform Promotions
The platform periodically runs promotional events that award bonus credits. These may coincide with feature launches, holidays, or marketing campaigns. Following the platform on social media is the best way to catch these opportunities.
Free Tier Limitations
Free credits are real credits with no feature restrictions — you get the same Seedance 2.0 model and full feature set. The limitation is purely on volume. Once your free credits are exhausted, you need to subscribe or purchase more.
Paid Plans and Credit Packages
For regular use, you will need a paid plan. Dreamina offers membership tiers and standalone credit packages.
Membership Plans
Membership plans typically include:
- A monthly credit allocation that renews each billing cycle
- Priority queue access for faster generation during peak times
- Discounted credit rates compared to standalone purchases
- Access to premium features and higher resolution options
Specific pricing varies by region. Check Dreamina directly for current membership tiers — pricing is updated regularly as ByteDance scales the service.
Credit Packages
If you do not want a recurring subscription, Dreamina sells standalone credit packages at various price points. These credits do not expire (or have a generous expiration window) and can be used at your own pace. Per-credit costs are typically higher than membership rates, but the flexibility suits users with irregular or project-based needs.
Cost Comparison with Competitors
Understanding Seedance 2.0's pricing in context helps you evaluate the value proposition.
Sora 2 (OpenAI)
Sora 2 is available through ChatGPT Plus at $20 per month, which includes a monthly allocation of video generations alongside access to GPT-4o and other OpenAI tools. For heavy video generation, ChatGPT Pro at $200/month provides higher limits. The bundled pricing means you are also paying for text and image AI capabilities. If you only need video, the effective per-video cost may be higher than Seedance 2.0. For a detailed feature comparison, see our Seedance vs Sora breakdown.
Runway Gen-3
Runway uses a credit-based system similar to Seedance, with plans starting around $12/month for the Standard tier. Higher tiers with more credits and features run $28/month (Pro) and $76/month (Unlimited). Per-second costs are generally higher than Seedance 2.0, and the maximum output resolution is lower.
Kling 3.0
Kuaishou's Kling uses a similar credit model through its platform, with pricing comparable to Seedance 2.0. New users also receive free trial credits. The per-video cost is roughly equivalent, making the choice between them more about features than price.
Overall, Seedance 2.0's pricing is competitive within the market. The free trial credits and credit-based model make it one of the more accessible options for creators who want to pay only for what they use.
API Pricing
For developers and businesses who want to integrate Seedance 2.0 into their own applications, API access is available through multiple channels.
Volcano Engine API
ByteDance's Volcano Engine offers enterprise API access to Seedance 2.0. The API launched around February 24, 2025, providing programmatic access to the model with pay-per-use pricing. Rates are structured per generation and vary by resolution, duration, and feature usage. Volcano Engine pricing is competitive with other enterprise video AI APIs and includes volume discounts for high-usage customers.
Third-Party API Providers
Several third-party platforms provide API access to Seedance models:
- FAL.ai offers Seedance model access through their inference API, with per-generation pricing that varies by model variant and output parameters
- Other inference platforms may add Seedance 2.0 support as the model's availability expands
For current API pricing details and integration guides, see our API documentation.
Tips to Save Credits
Whether you are on free credits or a paid plan, these strategies help you get more value from every credit spent.
1. Draft at Lower Settings, Finalize at Full Quality
Generate initial concepts at 1080p and shorter durations (5 seconds). Once you are happy with the composition and style, regenerate the final version at 2K with full duration. This approach can cut your experimentation costs by 50% or more.
2. Optimize Your Prompts Before Generating
Poorly written prompts waste credits on unsatisfying output. Study the prompt guide and invest time in crafting specific, well-structured prompts before hitting generate. A clear prompt with specific camera, lighting, and motion instructions is far more likely to produce a usable result on the first try.
3. Use Shorter Durations When Possible
A 5-second clip costs roughly one-third of a 15-second clip. For social media content, many platforms favor short, punchy clips anyway. Generate at the shortest duration that serves your content goal.
4. Leverage Video Continuation Strategically
Instead of generating one long clip, generate a shorter base clip and use video continuation to extend only the best results. This avoids spending full credits on a 15-second generation that does not meet your expectations.
5. Batch Similar Generations
When creating multiple clips with the same character or style, prepare all your reference files and prompts in advance. The @ reference system means each generation can build on the same references, reducing the need for re-generations to achieve consistency.
6. Take Advantage of Free Credits
Do not overlook daily login bonuses on Dreamina. Over a month, these small daily awards can add up to several full generations worth of credits at zero cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Seedance 2.0 completely for free?
You can generate several videos using free trial credits without paying. However, sustained ongoing use will require purchasing credits or a membership. There is no unlimited free tier.
Do free credits expire?
Policies vary. Check the terms on Dreamina for current expiration rules. Promotional credits may have shorter expiration windows than purchased credits.
Is Seedance 2.0 cheaper than Sora 2?
It depends on your usage volume. For occasional use, Seedance 2.0's free credits and pay-as-you-go model can be cheaper. For regular use, a Seedance membership may cost less than ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) while offering more video-specific features. The comparison shifts at high volumes — check both platforms for the latest pricing.
Can I get a refund on purchased credits?
Refund policies are set by Dreamina. Generally, unused credits may be refundable within a window, but consumed credits are not. Review the platform's terms of service before purchasing.
Will Seedance 2.0 become more expensive over time?
AI model pricing has generally trended downward as infrastructure scales and competition increases. ByteDance has incentive to keep Seedance 2.0 competitively priced against Sora 2, Runway, and Kling. However, premium features may carry premium pricing.
How do I check my remaining credits?
Dreamina displays your credit balance on the dashboard. You can also see the estimated credit cost of a generation before confirming it.
Get Started
The most cost-effective way to evaluate Seedance 2.0 is straightforward: create a free account on Dreamina, use your trial credits to generate a few videos, and decide from there whether a paid plan makes sense for your workflow.
For a complete walkthrough of generating your first video, follow our step-by-step tutorial. If you have more questions about the model's capabilities, check our FAQ for detailed answers.