Is Nano Banana 2.1 better than Seedream 5.5?

Too close to call so far: in the BudgetPixel AI Image Arena, Nano Banana 2.1 wins 50% and Seedream 5.5 50% of 14 blind head-to-head votes (ties 0%), within what chance alone would produce. The per-prompt results on this page show where each model wins.

Which is faster, Nano Banana 2.1 or Seedream 5.5?

Nano Banana 2.1 is faster: 16.6s median per 1:1 image against 28.6s for Seedream 5.5, measured on the same 6 prompts at default settings in the BudgetPixel AI Image Arena.

Which is cheaper, Nano Banana 2.1 or Seedream 5.5?

Nano Banana 2.1 is cheaper on BudgetPixel: 45 credits ($0.045) per 1:1 image against 46 credits ($0.046) for Seedream 5.5, at default settings.

How is this comparison made?

Both models render the identical prompt at default settings; voters see the two images blind and pick the better one. Model names are revealed only after the vote.

Nano Banana 2.1 vs Seedream 5.5

6 identical prompts, default settings, blind community votes. Head-to-head: 50% preferred Nano Banana 2.1, 50% preferred Seedream 5.5, 0 ties, 14 votes.

Nano Banana 2.1 and Seedream 5.5 have met in 14 blind head-to-head votes on 6 identical prompts in the BudgetPixel AI Image Arena. The votes are too close to call so far: Nano Banana 2.1 50%, Seedream 5.5 50%, 0 ties. Nano Banana 2.1 was faster, at 16.6s median per image against 28.6s for Seedream 5.5.

Nano Banana 2.1 overview Nano Banana 2.1 in the arena Try Nano Banana 2.1Seedream 5.5 overview Seedream 5.5 in the arena Try Seedream 5.5

Nano Banana 2.1

Seedream 5.5

“Fog lifts around a pedestrian suspension bridge in contemporary Nordic engineering style, its weathering-steel cables anchored to granite pylons above a cedar-plank deck; cool sunrise light, viewed obliquely from the riverbank, reveals taut lines and credible supports.”Architecture & interiors
Nano Banana 2.1 · 16.6s · 40 crTry
Seedream 5.5 · 26.7s · 41 crTry
“A phantom owl, ethereal and translucent, composed of moonlight and mist, silently gliding through a spectral, enchanted forest. Ancient trees with glowing, spectral eyes watch its passage, and a faint, otherworldly mist shrouds the path. The subject is a mythical creature in its natural, haunting habitat. The style blends surrealism and gothic fantasy.”Concept art & fantasy
Nano Banana 2.1 · 15.7s · 40 crTry
Seedream 5.5 · 23.5s · 41 crTry
“A beautiful adult woman sitting on a stool in a modern brutalist-style kitchen, wearing black frills. She has long red hair and is calmly smoking a cigarette. Art rendered in a sophisticated scribbled ink sketch with watercolor and colored pencil rendering. Chiaroscuro effect. Architectural interior sketch with remnants of guideline sketches. She is resting while drinking a glass of whiskey.”Illustration & anime
Nano Banana 2.1 · 16.6s · 40 crTry
Seedream 5.5 · 24.3s · 41 crTry
“Realistic character reference: a pretty Black woman aged 19–27 with an hourglass figure, rocking braids. She has dragon-dark-red lipstick and wears a tight dark green crop top and tight light green shorts. She has dark shades on her head and gives off a cool, curious vibe.”Portrait & fashion
Nano Banana 2.1 · 14.9s · 40 crTry
Seedream 5.5 · 30.4s · 41 crTry
“Cyberpunk wallpaper, techno wallpaper with multiple colors of neon lights. Buildings and circuits.”Concept art & fantasy
Nano Banana 2.1 · 19.1s · 40 crTry
Seedream 5.5 · 43.0s · 41 crTry
“Stylized semi-realistic digital character painting, expressive animation-inspired facial proportions, large eyes and strong brows, simplified natural anatomy with convincing three-dimensional volume. Painterly shape-based rendering, minimal linework, soft blended facial shading contrasted with broad angular brushstrokes on clothing. Warm luminous skin with peach and terracotta undertones, subtle rosy cheeks and nose, restrained highlights. Hair rendered as flowing sculpted masses with broad highlights and a few fine flyaway strands. Muted charcoal and earthy neutral palette, soft directional studio lighting, carefully rendered eyes and lips, selectively loose edges and unfinished brushwork. A goth woman stands against a gritty wall, one boot sole against the wall, one hand on her thigh, her other hand against the wall. She has long hair mingling black and pink, metal jewelry, many tattoos, black chunky sneakers, black shorts, black crop top, dramatic makeup. Looks at viewer, grins.”Portrait & fashion
Nano Banana 2.1 · 17.6s · 40 crTry
Seedream 5.5 · 33.3s · 41 crTry

From the BudgetPixel blog

FAQ

Is Nano Banana 2.1 better than Seedream 5.5?: Too close to call so far: in the BudgetPixel AI Image Arena, Nano Banana 2.1 wins 50% and Seedream 5.5 50% of 14 blind head-to-head votes (ties 0%), within what chance alone would produce. The per-prompt results on this page show where each model wins.
Which is faster, Nano Banana 2.1 or Seedream 5.5?: Nano Banana 2.1 is faster: 16.6s median per 1:1 image against 28.6s for Seedream 5.5, measured on the same 6 prompts at default settings in the BudgetPixel AI Image Arena.
Which is cheaper, Nano Banana 2.1 or Seedream 5.5?: Nano Banana 2.1 is cheaper on BudgetPixel: 45 credits ($0.045) per 1:1 image against 46 credits ($0.046) for Seedream 5.5, at default settings.
How is this comparison made?: Both models render the identical prompt at default settings; voters see the two images blind and pick the better one. Model names are revealed only after the vote.