Seedance 2.5 vs MiniMax H3: what we measured
Measured October 22, 2026 · Every figure below comes from our own paid renders
We generate every video on Sendare with one of two models: Seedance 2.5 by ByteDance, or MiniMax H3 (Hailuo). Both are reached through the same API gateway. This page lists what each one actually did on our own paid renders, including wall-clock time, price and where each one fails. The numbers are measurements, not vendor claims, and we re-test when a model changes.
Side by side
| Metric | Seedance 2.5 | MiniMax H3-Max |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | ByteDance | MiniMax |
| Used for | Default for shot-for-shot recasts and for anything with several people in frame | Default where the clip is one person, close to camera, and the shot list is written out |
| 12-second render | $3.07 | $2.02 |
| 9-second render | ~$2.30 | $1.51 |
| Wall clock | 263–429 s | 47–96 s |
| Resolution | 720p (1280x720 or 720x1280) | 768P (e.g. 768x1344 vertical) |
| Holds up on | Small hand detail, props and clothing across cuts. Holds a tight broadcast framing when the reference alternates close and wide. | Speed and price. Reproduces a signature gesture reliably when the prompt lists each shot with its timestamp. |
| Weak at | Slowest and most expensive of the two. A 12-second recast takes 4 to 7 minutes. | Loses fine hand detail and small props. Without a timestamped shot list it reverts the character to the original actor in the second half. On a football clip with alternating close and wide framing it drifts to a wide stadium shot where the subject is a few pixels tall, so that template stays on Seedance. |
Prices are what our provider charged per finished clip on the dates above, not list prices. Times are submit-to-download.
What we learned the hard way
- A recast without a timestamped shot list looks broken to a buyer on either model: the model decides for itself what happens after the first beat. Listing each shot with its time range, and naming the signature moment explicitly, is what makes the performance hold to the end.
- Every delivered MP4 on Sendare includes the trend's soundtrack synced, and the order page also provides a one-tap Silent MP4 download (container-only audio track removal with zero re-encoding) for buyers who prefer to attach the licensed sound inside TikTok.
- MiniMax H3 needs the output aspect ratio passed explicitly. Without it, a vertical reference clip comes back letterboxed in landscape.
- A photo-only request with no reference clip produces a new scene, not a recreation. On a party-dance template it generated someone walking forward and never performed the signature gesture. The reference video is what carries the choreography, not the prompt.
- Model choice is per template, not global. A faster model is only cheaper if the result is still good enough to sell.
Questions
Which AI video model is best for putting a face into a viral trend clip?
For our templates it is per template, not global. Seedance 2.5 holds small detail and multi-person framing better; MiniMax H3 is roughly twice as fast and about a third cheaper but needs a shot-by-shot prompt with timestamps and loses fine hand detail. On our own renders Seedance took 263-429 seconds at $3.07 for 12 seconds, and H3 took 47-96 seconds at $2.02.
Why does a recast video sometimes turn back into the original actor?
Because the prompt described the scene instead of listing the shots. Both models tend to follow the reference clip literally past the first beat. Listing every shot with its timestamp and stating that the same person appears in all of them, including from behind and in wide shots, is what keeps the identity stable.
Is a prompt alone enough to recreate a dance move?
No. In our test a photo-only request on a dance template produced a person walking forward and never performed the signature gesture. The reference video carries the choreography; the prompt only decides who performs it and how the shots are framed.
How much does an AI trend video cost to make?
Our own measured provider cost is $1.51 to $3.07 per video depending on length and model, and we sell one video for $9.90. A failed or refused render costs the buyer nothing: its credits return automatically.
Try it on your own photo
One photo in, a 12-second 720p MP4 out with the soundtrack included. $9.90 once, no subscription, and a failed render gives its credits back.
Pick a templateSendare AI Studio is an independent tool and is not affiliated with ByteDance, MiniMax, any film studio, football club, artist or record label.