Veo 3.1 vs SeeDance 2.0: API Comparison and Pricing (2026)

Veo 3.1 and SeeDance 2.0 are the two video models worth shortlisting in May 2026. Veo 3.1 is Google's October 2025 release with native synchronized audio, 4K upscaling, and the cleanest production tooling of any video API. SeeDance 2.0 is ByteDance's February 2026 release with multimodal omni-reference, native audio in the same pass, and multi-shot storytelling that holds character consistency across scenes. They overlap on the obvious things (text-to-video, native audio, image references) and split sharply on the rest.

TL;DR: Pick Veo 3.1 for short cinematic videos that need 4K, frame-mode control, and a polished variant ladder ($0.075–$0.60 per video on Unifically). Pick SeeDance 2.0 for longer narratives (up to 15 seconds), multimodal references (nine images, three videos, three audio tracks per call), and multi-shot output with character consistency. SeeDance 2.0 Fast lists at $0.11 per second on Unifically; Pro starts from $0.13 per second. Veo 3.1 is per-video flat from Lite Relaxed ($0.075) through Quality ($0.60). Live rates: pricing page.

Veo 3.1 vs SeeDance 2.0 at a glance

What Veo 3.1 is

Veo 3.1 is Google's flagship video model. Each generation returns a 4-, 6-, or 8-second MP4 at 24 FPS in 16:9 or 9:16, with synchronized 48 kHz audio (dialogue, ambience, effects) baked into the same file. The model has a deep variant ladder: five generation variants plus Extend and two Upscale endpoints, set up for an iterate-cheap, finalise-expensive workflow.

The 4K pipeline is the standout. Veo 3.1 exposes a true 4K render path through the Quality variant and a dedicated Upscale 4K endpoint that takes any finished task ID and returns an upscaled MP4 at $0.50 per call, so you can upgrade a keeper after the fact instead of re-rendering.

What SeeDance 2.0 is

SeeDance 2.0 is ByteDance's February 2026 video model. It introduces multimodal omni-reference to the SeeDance line. A single generate call accepts a prompt plus up to nine reference images, three reference videos, and three reference audio tracks, all addressable in the prompt with placeholders like @Image1, @Video1, and @Audio1. The model also generates synchronized audio in the same pass, with millisecond lip-sync across multiple languages.

The other big shift is multi-shot storytelling. SeeDance 2.0 can render multiple shots in one call while keeping the same character recognisable across them, which previously needed four separate generations and manual stitching. Combined with the 15-second max single-video duration, that makes SeeDance 2.0 a good default for short narrative arcs.

Where each model wins

Veo 3.1 wins on

• Upscale-after-the-fact. Any finished task can be upgraded to 1080p or 4K via the Upscale endpoints. SeeDance 2.0 also reaches 4K (Pro variant), but you choose the resolution up front and re-render to change it.
• Variant ladder. Lite Relaxed at $0.075 per video lets you brute-force prompt variations before committing to Quality at $0.60. SeeDance 2.0's per-second pricing makes draft iteration more expensive.
• Frame-mode control. Lite and Quality accept a start frame and an optional end frame. Useful for ad cutdowns where the open and close frames are non-negotiable.
• Polished production tooling. Dedicated Extend and Upscale 1080p / Upscale 4K endpoints. Continue any finished task with a different base model. Upscale only the videos that survive review.
• Audio quality. 48 kHz native audio with sub-120 ms lip-sync alignment.

SeeDance 2.0 wins on

• Single-video length. Up to 15 seconds in one call vs 8 seconds on Veo 3.1. For 12-second TikTok or Reels cuts you save an Extend call.
• Multimodal references. Nine reference images, three videos, three audio tracks per call, addressable via prompt placeholders. Veo 3.1 caps at three reference images on the Fast variant.
• Multi-shot output. Multiple shots in a single generate call with the same character across them. Veo 3.1 needs Extend chaining to do this.
• Aspect ratio flexibility. 1:1 and 4:3 in addition to 16:9 and 9:16. Useful for square Instagram or product shots that don't fit a widescreen frame.
• Audio + video fused at training time. ByteDance trained the model with audio jointly, not as a post-process. Useful when the prompt mentions specific sound design.

Pricing math: side-by-side

The two models price differently, so the right comparison is per-video cost at the duration you actually need. Numbers below were accurate at the time of writing; check the pricing page for live rates.

Read: Veo 3.1 wins outright on short drafts and cheap iteration. SeeDance 2.0 is competitive when you need long single-call narratives, where the multi-shot output and 15-second ceiling save you separate Extend calls and stitch passes.

Direct-from-provider rates for context: Google's Vertex AI / Gemini API charges Veo 3.1 at roughly $0.15/s (Fast) to $0.40/s (Standard), so an 8-second Quality video lands around $3.20 direct vs $0.60 on Unifically. Third-party SeeDance 2.0 providers (FAL, WaveSpeed, Replicate, PiAPI) range from $0.10 to ~$0.30 per second for SeeDance 2.0 Standard and Fast variants.

When to pick Veo 3.1

• You want flat per-video 4K delivery via Quality + Upscale 4K, upgrading only the keepers.
• You want frame-mode control with explicit start and end frames.
• You're iterating a lot. Lite Relaxed at $0.075 is hard to beat for prompt and framing iteration.
• Your project is short cinematic videos, ≤ 8 seconds per beat, with audio.
• You want a clean, well-tooled variant ladder with predictable per-video billing.

When to pick SeeDance 2.0

• You need single-video output longer than 8 seconds without an Extend chain.
• Your prompt is reference-heavy: multiple images, source videos, or specific audio you want the model to match.
• You're producing multi-shot narratives with a recurring character.
• You need 1:1 or 4:3 framing as a first-class option.
• You're building a content series and want character consistency held across shots in a single call.

Code: calling each model on Unifically

Both models use the same async pattern: POST a generation, poll the task endpoint, fetch the MP4.

Veo 3.1 (Fast variant, with reference image)

const API = 'https://api.unifically.com';
const headers = {
  Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.UNIFICALLY_API_KEY}`,
  'Content-Type': 'application/json',
};

const start = await fetch(`${API}/v1/tasks`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers,
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: 'google/veo-3.1-fast',
    input: {
      prompt: 'Aerial shot of a coastal cliff at golden hour, gulls circling overhead, waves crashing below',
      aspect_ratio: '16:9',
      duration: 8,
      reference_image_urls: ['https://example.com/style-reference.jpg'],
    },
  }),
}).then((r) => r.json());

while (true) {
  await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 3000));
  const task = await fetch(`${API}/v1/tasks/${start.data.task_id}`, { headers }).then((r) => r.json());
  if (task.data.status === 'completed') {
    console.log(task.data.output.video_url);
    break;
  }
  if (task.data.status === 'failed') throw new Error(task.data.error?.message);
}

SeeDance 2.0 Pro (omni-reference, multi-shot, 15s)

const start = await fetch(`${API}/v1/tasks`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers,
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: 'bytedance/seedance-2.0-pro',
    input: {
      prompt:
        'Shot 1: a chef in @Image1 plates the dish in @Image2. Shot 2: she walks to the dining room. Shot 3: she serves the guest. Soundtrack matches the mood of @Audio1.',
      aspect_ratio: '16:9',
      duration: 15,
      images: ['https://example.com/chef.jpg', 'https://example.com/dish.jpg'],
      audio: ['https://example.com/jazz-mood.mp3'],
    },
  }),
}).then((r) => r.json());

Polling is identical. The same /v1/tasks/{task_id} endpoint serves every Unifically model.

Things to watch for

• Comparing per-video Veo 3.1 to per-second SeeDance 2.0 without normalising duration. Always run the math against your target video length before deciding.
• Asking SeeDance 2.0 Fast for 4K. 1080p and 4K are Pro-only resolutions on Unifically; Fast caps at 720p. Draft on Fast, then re-render the keeper on Pro at 4K.
• Stuffing the SeeDance 2.0 omni-reference with all 15 slots. References compete for influence. Three to five well-chosen images plus one source video beats fifteen mixed references.
• Treating Veo 3.1 Extend like a multi-shot generator. Extend continues a video. It does not generate a new shot with a different character pose. For multi-shot output with character continuity, SeeDance 2.0 is the better choice.
• Defaulting to Quality / Pro on every iteration. Veo 3.1 Lite Relaxed and SeeDance 2.0 Fast are there to draft cheaply. Promote to the higher variant only after the result survives review.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between Veo 3.1 and SeeDance 2.0?

Veo 3.1 wins on frame-mode control, upscale-after-the-fact tooling, and a deep variant ladder with cheap drafting. SeeDance 2.0 wins on single-video length (15 seconds), multimodal omni-reference (nine images, three videos, three audio tracks per call), and multi-shot output with character consistency.

Which is cheaper, Veo 3.1 or SeeDance 2.0?

For short drafts (≤ 6 seconds), Veo 3.1 Lite Relaxed at $0.075 per video is dramatically cheaper. For 8-second videos, Veo 3.1 Quality also wins on price. Above 8 seconds in a single call, SeeDance 2.0's per-second rate ($0.11/s on Fast, from $0.13/s on Pro) is the only single-call option; Veo 3.1 needs Extend chaining.

Does SeeDance 2.0 support 4K?

Yes, on the Pro variant through Unifically: pick 480p, 720p, 1080p, or 4K per generation. Fast caps at 720p. Veo 3.1's 4K path is different: render on Quality, then upgrade any finished task with the Upscale 4K endpoint.

Can SeeDance 2.0 generate audio like Veo 3.1?

Yes. SeeDance 2.0 generates synchronized audio in the same pass as the video, with millisecond lip-sync across multiple languages. Veo 3.1 includes native 48 kHz audio with sub-120 ms lip-sync. Both treat audio as a first-class output, not a post-process.

Which model should I pick for a 15-second product ad with three shots?

SeeDance 2.0 Pro. It generates the full 15 seconds in a single call as a multi-shot narrative, with character consistency held across shots. Veo 3.1 can do it via 8s Quality + 7s Extend, but you pay for two generations and lose the single-call multi-shot continuity SeeDance 2.0 provides.

Related reading

• Veo 3.1 deep dive: full pricing, variants, and code samples.
• Veo 3.1 model page: live playground and parameter reference.
• SeeDance 2.0 model page: live Pro and Fast playgrounds.
• Kling 2.6 and MiniMax Hailuo: other video APIs to consider.
• Nano Banana 2: pair with either video model for image-to-video pipelines.