Seedance 2.5 API
What is Seedance 2.5
For a job that needs reference-driven consistency — matching a character or product across multiple shots — Seedance 2.5 is ByteDance's flagship model in varg's catalog. It generates video from text with optional references: up to 9 images, 3 videos, and 3 audio clips. varg defaults to the 'less-restriction' variant (permissive content review, 480p/720p/1080p output, 4-30 second clips); a stricter variant is available via exact model addressing.
Seedance 2.5 via varg vs. calling PiAPI directly
varg routes Seedance 2.5 through PiAPI. Direct PiAPI access means a separate account and billing relationship. Through varg, it sits on the same gateway and credit balance as every other model in the catalog, with 30-day generation caching.
Pricing
Estimated cost via varg: $27.72 per generation, billed per second of output. This is the most expensive video model in varg's catalog at the time of writing — reserve it for jobs where the multi-reference input capability (image + video + audio references together) is the actual requirement, not a nice-to-have.
Code example
curl https://api.varg.ai/v2/tools/video \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $VARG_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"model": "piapi:seedance-2.5-less-restriction",
"prompt": "the character from the reference image walks into frame and picks up the product",
"reference_image_urls": ["https://example.com/character-ref.jpg"]
}'
See docs.varg.ai for the confirmed request/response shape and exact reference-input parameter names.
When to use Seedance 2.5 vs. other video models
Use Seedance 2.5 specifically when you need combined image + video + audio reference inputs in one generation — that's the differentiator, not raw output quality per dollar. For a cheaper ByteDance option without that reference-combination feature, varg's catalog lists Seedance 2.0 ($1.58 estimated) and Seedance 2 Fast ($1.26 estimated). If reference inputs aren't a requirement at all, Kling v3, Sora 2, or Wan 2.5 are all cheaper starting points.
Seedance 2.5 API via varg vs. direct
| Direct | Via varg | |
|---|---|---|
| Separate provider account needed | Yes (PiAPI account) | No — one VARG_API_KEY |
| Combine with other models in one pipeline | Manual glue code | Built-in (same gateway, same credit balance) |
| Automatic caching of repeated generations | No | Yes — content-addressed, 30-day TTL |
| Billing | PiAPI's own billing | Credit-based, 1 credit = 1 cent |
FAQ
How much does Seedance 2.5 cost via varg?
An estimated $27.72 per generation, billed per second — the most expensive video route in varg's catalog.
What reference inputs does Seedance 2.5 support?
Up to 9 reference images, 3 reference videos, and 3 reference audio clips, combined in one generation.
Is there a cheaper Seedance option?
Yes — Seedance 2.0 ($1.58 estimated) and Seedance 2 Fast ($1.26 estimated) are much cheaper ByteDance routes without the combined multi-reference feature.
What's the difference between the 'less-restriction' and strict Seedance 2.5 variants?
varg defaults to less-restriction (more permissive content review). The strict variant is available via exact model addressing (piapi:seedance-2.5) if your use case requires it.