Type
Spec
Rate
Image generation
per image
$0.030
Layer decomposition
per image
$0.030
Seedream 5.0 Flash and Qwen Image 3.0 side by side: specs, capabilities, parameters, and live pricing from the EmpirioLabs catalog.
ByteDance 
Alibaba Cloud Image GenerationSeedream 5.0 Flash from ByteDance and Qwen Image 3.0 from Alibaba Cloud are both in the Image Generation category, available through the EmpirioLabs API.
| Spec | Seedream 5.0 Flash | Qwen Image 3.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Model ID | seedream-5-0-flash | qwen-image-3-0 |
| Author | ByteDance | Alibaba Cloud |
| Released | Sep 28, 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 |
| Input | Text Image | Text Image |
| Output | Image | Image |
| Region | Malaysia | Singapore |
| Endpoints | POST /v1/images/generations | POST /v1/images/generations |
| Capabilities |
Live rates from the EmpirioLabs catalog for both models. Each rate card always matches what the API charges.
Request parameters each model lists on EmpirioLabs, with the allowed values or range where one applies. A dash marks a parameter the model does not list.
| Parameter | Seedream 5.0 Flash | Qwen Image 3.0 |
|---|---|---|
| prompt | string | string |
| image | array | array |
| images | array | array |
| aspect_ratio | auto, 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3, 21:9 Default: auto | auto, 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 3:2, 2:3, 4:3, 3:4, 5:4, 4:5 Default: auto |
| layer_decomposition | boolean Default: false | - |
| quality | 1K, 1.5K, 2K Default: 2K | - |
| size | string | string |
| use_custom_size | boolean Default: false | boolean Default: false |
| custom_width | 15 to 8600 | 256 to 2048 |
| custom_height | 15 to 8600 | 256 to 2048 |
| watermark | boolean Default: false | boolean Default: false |
| output_format | jpeg, png Default: png | - |
| background | opaque, transparent Default: opaque | - |
| response_format | url, b64_json Default: url | url, b64_json Default: url |
| model_variant | - | qwen-image-3.0-pro, qwen-image-3.0 Default: qwen-image-3.0-pro |
| resolution | - | auto, 1K, 2K Default: 2K |
Mark the region to change directly on the input image with a sketch, circle, or arrow, then describe it in the prompt. For exact placement, use coordinate tags on a 0 to 1000 normalized grid:
Place the subject from image 1 <bbox>179 283 796 986</bbox> at the position in image 2 <bbox>118 331 933 871</bbox>.Set layer_decomposition to true with exactly one input image to split it into a base image plus up to 16 transparent PNG layers. Every returned image carries its stacking order as z_index, and each layer also carries its position in the base image as bounding_box.absolute and bounding_box.normalized, plus a name and a description. Leave the prompt empty to let the model choose the elements, or name the elements or coordinate regions to separate. Resolution accepts 1K, 1.5K, or 2K, and matches the input image when unset.
Every resolution tier bills at the same per-image rate, and reference images are free. Layer decomposition bills every returned image, the base image and each layer, at that same rate.
Generated images pass an automated content-safety check. An image flagged as explicit is not returned. Because the image is generated before the check runs, a flagged generation is still billed.
Qwen Image 3.0 combines Base and Pro image generation and editing in one model. Pro is selected by default, output starts at 2K, and aspect ratio starts in Auto. Base provides a lower-cost option for fast iteration.
Generated images pass an automated content-safety check. An image flagged as explicit is not returned. Because the image is generated before the check runs, a flagged generation is still billed.
Seedream 5.0 Flash runs through POST /v1/images/generations. The request returns a job_id right away; poll GET /v1/jobs/{job_id} until the job completes and read the output URLs from the result. Or add "sync": true to skip polling: the request stays open and returns the finished OpenAI-style image response directly, so OpenAI SDKs work as-is. Both models are called through the same endpoint. Set model to seedream-5-0-flash or qwen-image-3-0. Get an API key from the EmpirioLabs dashboard.
curl https://api.empiriolabs.ai/v1/images/generations \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $EMPIRIOLABS_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"model": "seedream-5-0-flash",
"prompt": "Describe what you want Seedream 5.0 Flash to generate."
}'Prompt tests and comparison runs that cover both models.
Seedream 5.0 Flash is the newer release (Sep 28, 2026); Qwen Image 3.0 was released on Jul 21, 2026. Capabilities listed only for Seedream 5.0 Flash: layer decomposition, interactive editing, multi reference, transparent background. Capabilities listed only for Qwen Image 3.0: multi image, dense layouts, photorealism. The specs, rate cards, and parameters on this page come from the live EmpirioLabs catalog.
Seedream 5.0 Flash is the newer release (Sep 28, 2026); Qwen Image 3.0 was released on Jul 21, 2026.
The two models are priced on different units or tiers, so compare the live rate cards on this page. They always match what the API charges.
Yes. Both models use POST /v1/images/generations with the same EmpirioLabs API key, so most integrations switch by changing the model value. Check the parameters table on this page first if you rely on a model-specific parameter.
Yes. Open each model in the EmpirioLabs playground and run the same prompt on both, with the parameters the API exposes.
Check out our pricing or reach out if you want your own model deployed on our stack.
