If you want to know how to use Seedance 2.0 without an API key or a subscription, this tutorial walks through it on this site, one mode at a time. Seedance 2.0 is ByteDance Seed's video model, released on February 12, 2026. It takes text, images, video and audio as input and generates the picture and sound together (ByteDance Seed). Below: what each mode does, which model and resolution to pick, what it costs before you press the button, and how to start free.
What you need before you start
- An account. Sign in with the button in the header. New accounts get free credits for one 5-second video.
- An idea, written as a short shot description. Our Seedance 2.0 prompt guide has a structure and 12 examples to copy.
- Optional files. A photo for image-to-video, or images, short clips and audio for Reference mode. Only upload files you own or may use, and only people who agreed to appear (no one under 16).
How to use Seedance 2.0 in five steps
This is the same in every mode. Details per mode follow.
- Open the generator.
- Pick how to make it: Text, Image or Reference.
- Write the prompt and add files if the mode uses them.
- Choose the settings: model, resolution, length and aspect ratio.
- Check the price on the button and press Generate video. The render runs on the server; when it's done, the video plays in your history, ready to download.
If a render fails, the credits go back to your balance automatically.
Text mode: video from a prompt
Text mode needs only a prompt. Describe the subject, the action, the camera, the light and the sound, in that order. For several shots in one clip, write timed beats such as "0–5 s: … 5–10 s: …" and make them add up to the length you pick.
Use Text mode for scenes you can describe but don't have pictures of: a lighthouse at dawn, a product spinning on a pedestal, a street dancer under a bridge. More examples are on the text-to-video page.
Image mode: animate a first frame
Image mode starts the video from your picture.
- Upload the first frame. The video takes the shape of this image, so crop it to the ratio you want first.
- Optionally upload a last frame for the video to end on.
- In the prompt, describe what happens between them: the motion, the camera, the sound. Don't describe what's already in the picture.
"She turns and laughs as the wind lifts her hair; the camera slowly pushes in; birdsong" works better than repeating her outfit. See image-to-video.
Reference mode: images, clips and audio as guides
Reference mode is for when you want the video to follow something specific: a character's face, a product, a dance move, a camera path, a voice or a song. The references guide the video; they aren't used as its frames.
Limits on this site:
- up to 9 images;
- up to 3 video clips, each 2–15 seconds and 15 seconds in total;
- up to 3 audio files, 15 seconds in total. Audio needs at least one image or video with it.
Each file gets a name (Image 1, Image 2, Video 1, Audio 1) and typing @ in the prompt inserts it. Then say what each one is for: "the character from Image 1 dances the moves from Video 1, Audio 1 as the music". Reference video seconds are billed like output seconds, so trim clips to the part you need. More on the reference-to-video page.
How to choose the model, resolution and length
Three Seedance models are available here:
| Model | Resolution | Length | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.0 Fast | 480P, 720P | 4–15 s | Drafts, testing prompts, quick clips |
| Seedance 2.0 | 480P, 720P, 1080P | 4–15 s | Finished clips up to 15 seconds |
| Seedance 2.5 | 480P, 720P, 1080P | 4–30 s | Longer, multi-shot stories |
A practical way to work:
- Draft cheap, finish sharp. Test a prompt with Seedance 2.0 Fast at 480P and 5 seconds. When the motion and timing are right, render the final in Seedance 2.0 or 2.5 at 1080P.
- Pick the length for the story. One action fits in 5 seconds. Three or four beats need 10–15 seconds. Use Seedance 2.5 when you need more than 15.
- Pick the aspect ratio for where it goes. 9:16 for Reels, TikTok and Shorts; 16:9 for YouTube and websites; 1:1 or 4:3 for feeds; 21:9 for a wide cinematic look. In Image mode the shape comes from your first frame.
Price, free credits and refunds
You pay per second of video, with one-time credit packs and no subscription. The rate depends on the model and resolution, and the total cost in credits is shown on the Generate button before you render, so there are no surprises. Packs and per-second rates are on the pricing page.
Ways to start free:
- Signup credits. New accounts get free credits for one 5-second video.
- Daily check-in. Each day you check in, you get one free Seedance 2.0 Fast 480P clip of up to 5 seconds in Text or Image mode, and keeping a streak adds bonus credits. Details on Seedance 2.0 free.
- Refunds on failure. If a render fails, the credits come back.
Tips for better first results
- One action per shot. Crowded prompts produce rushed, blurry motion.
- Name the camera. "Slow push-in", "handheld follow", "orbit" beat "cinematic".
- Write the sound. Sound is made with the picture. Say "no music" when you only want ambience; put spoken lines in quotes.
- Reuse what worked. Open a finished render from your history to try a variation with the same settings.
- Use clean source images. Sharp, well-lit pictures with the subject clearly visible give the model the most to work with.
Official ways to use Seedance 2.0
This site is independent and not affiliated with ByteDance. ByteDance also offers Seedance itself, and depending on what you need, that may suit you better:
- Dreamina by CapCut is ByteDance's consumer app with Seedance 2.0. It has its own membership and credits and features we don't offer here, such as video editing and extension.
- BytePlus ModelArk is ByteDance's API for developers (Seedance on BytePlus). Its video generation docs list Seedance 2.0 at up to 4K; we offer up to 1080P.
What this site adds: pay per second with no subscription or business account, the price before you render, credits back on failures, and all three models in one form.
FAQ
Is Seedance 2.0 free to use?
You can try it free: new accounts get credits for one 5-second video, and the daily check-in gives a free Seedance 2.0 Fast 480P clip of up to 5 seconds. Longer or higher-resolution videos use paid credits.
How long can a Seedance 2.0 video be?
Seedance 2.0 and 2.0 Fast make 4–15 seconds per generation. Seedance 2.5 goes up to 30 seconds.
Does Seedance 2.0 make sound?
Yes. Sound is generated together with the picture, including ambience, effects, music and dialogue you write in quotes.
Can I use photos of real people?
Only of people who agreed to appear, and no one under 16. ByteDance requires identity verification or authorization for real human portraits used as subject references, and renders that break the model's rules are refused.
What's the difference between Image and Reference mode?
In Image mode your picture is the actual first (and optionally last) frame. In Reference mode images, clips and audio only guide the character, style, motion or sound; the video is generated fresh.
Seedance is a trademark of ByteDance. This site is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ByteDance.
Read more
Seedance 2.0 Prompts: A Practical Prompt Guide
Seedance 2.0 prompts that work: a simple prompt structure, timed beats for multi-shot clips, Image 1 and Video 1 references, and 12 copy-ready examples.
Seedance vs Kling: Seedance 2.0 and 2.5 vs Kling 4.0
Seedance vs Kling, compared from official specs: clip length, references, keyframes, sound, resolution, editing and API prices, plus which model to pick.