TL;DR
Seedance gives every new user free credits to generate AI videos — no credit card required. With free credits you can create cinematic-quality text-to-video and image-to-video content. This guide covers exactly how many free videos you can make, how to maximize your credits, and when it makes sense to upgrade. Start creating for free →
Is Seedance Really Free?
Short answer: Yes. Seedance provides free credits to every new user when you sign up. There's no trial period, no credit card required, and no strings attached. You get real credits that work with every model and feature — the same quality output that paying users receive.
This is one of the key differences between Seedance and competitors like Sora (which requires a ChatGPT Plus subscription) or Runway (which limits free-tier resolution). With Seedance, your free videos are generated at the same 1080p quality as paid videos.
This cinematic-quality video frame was generated using Seedance's free credits — the same output quality as paid plans.
How to Get Free Credits on Seedance
Getting started with Seedance is straightforward:
Step 1: Visit Seedance
Go to seedance-2ai.org and click "Start Creating Free" on the homepage.
Step 2: Create Your Account
Sign up using Google or email. The process takes less than 30 seconds. No credit card information is requested during signup.
Step 3: Receive Your Free Credits
Your free credits are automatically added to your account upon registration. You can start generating videos immediately.
Additional Ways to Earn Credits
Beyond the initial signup bonus, there are several ways to earn additional free credits:
- Daily login bonuses — Check in regularly to accumulate extra credits
- Referral program — Share your referral link and earn credits when friends sign up
- Promotional events — Seasonal offers and special promotions occasionally add bonus credits
What Can You Create with Free Credits?
Here's the credit cost breakdown for each generation type:
| Generation Type | Credits Per Video | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Text-to-Video | 6 credits | Describe a scene in text, get a video |
| Image-to-Video | 8 credits | Upload a photo, get an animated video |
| Video-to-Video | 10 credits | Transform an existing video's style |
This means your free credits can generate multiple videos across different creation methods. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Free-Tier Quality Samples
The output quality on free credits is identical to paid plans. There are no watermarks, no resolution downgrades, and no feature restrictions. The only difference is the number of credits you have available.
Cinematic drama scene — generated with Seedance. Free-tier output is visually identical to paid-plan output.
Professional beauty campaign-quality output — also achievable with free credits and the right prompt.
What You Can Build for Free
With your free credits, here are realistic projects you can complete:
- 2-3 social media video clips for TikTok or Instagram Reels
- A short product showcase from product photos (using Image-to-Video)
- Test different prompt styles to learn what works before committing to paid credits
- Create a mood board of AI-generated video frames for a pitch or presentation
Even character consistency — maintaining the same person across multiple scenes — works with free credits:
Character consistency across three scenes — all generated with the same Seedance features available on free credits.
Free vs Paid Plans: Complete Comparison
Here's the full breakdown of what each plan offers:
| Feature | Free | Starter ($9.90/mo) | Pro ($19.90/mo) | Business ($49.90/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credits | Signup bonus | 300/month | 800/month | 2,500/month |
| Video Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | Up to 4K |
| All Models | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Character Consistency | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Generation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Watermark-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Batch Generation | No | No | No | Yes |
| Generation Speed | Standard | Faster | Faster | Fastest |
| Support | Community | Priority | Dedicated | |
| Commercial License | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Key Takeaways
- Free tier has zero quality restrictions. The output is identical to paid plans.
- All models are available on free tier. You can use Seedance 2.0, Pro, or Lite.
- The primary limitation is credit volume. Free gives you enough to experiment; paid gives you enough to produce consistently.
- Commercial use requires Pro or higher. If you're creating content for business purposes, you need at least the Pro plan.
When Should You Upgrade?
Upgrade from free when:
- You're creating videos regularly (more than a few per month)
- You need videos for commercial purposes (Pro plan required for commercial license)
- You want faster generation times
- You need batch generation capabilities (Business plan)
Stay on free if you're:
- Just trying out AI video generation
- Creating personal/hobby content occasionally
- Testing prompts and learning the platform
5 Ways to Maximize Your Free Credits
Every credit counts when you're on the free tier. Here are proven strategies to get the most out of your allocation.
1. Start with Seedance Lite for Drafts
Don't use Seedance 2.0 for your first attempt. Use Seedance 1.0 Lite (which costs fewer credits) to test your prompt concept. Once you're happy with the composition and content, switch to the 2.0 model for the final, high-quality generation.
This approach can save you 30-40% on credits compared to trial-and-error with the premium model.
2. Go Short First, Then Extend
Generate 4-5 second clips first to verify the result matches your vision. If it looks good, then generate the full 10-15 second version. A 4-second test costs fewer credits than a 15-second generation you'll discard.
3. Write Better Prompts (Save Retries)
The single biggest credit waste is regenerating because the first result wasn't what you wanted. Invest time in writing specific, detailed prompts. Our Seedance Prompt Guide covers this in depth with 50+ examples you can adapt.
Key prompt tips:
- Be specific about subject, action, style, lighting, and camera angle
- Include quality modifiers like "cinematic," "4K," "shallow depth of field"
- Specify what you don't want to avoid unwanted elements
4. Use Image-to-Video for More Control
Text-to-Video (6 credits) is cheaper per generation, but Image-to-Video (8 credits) often requires fewer retries because you're giving the AI a visual reference. If you have a reference image that's close to what you want, the extra 2 credits per generation are well spent.
5. Batch Your Creative Sessions
Instead of generating one video at a time over many sessions, plan multiple generations in advance. Write all your prompts first, review them, refine them, and then generate in a focused session. This reduces impulse generations that waste credits.
Seedance Pricing Explained
For those ready to move beyond free credits, here's a deeper look at the paid options.
Subscription Plans
| Plan | Monthly | Annually (Save 2 months) | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $9.90/mo | $99/year ($8.25/mo) | 300/month (3,600/year) |
| Pro | $19.90/mo | $199/year ($16.58/mo) | 800/month (9,600/year) |
| Business | $49.90/mo | $499/year ($41.58/mo) | 2,500/month (30,000/year) |
One-Time Credit Packs (Never Expire)
| Pack | Price | Credits | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Pack | $9.99 | 200 | $0.050 |
| Growth Pack | $24.99 | 500 | $0.050 |
| Pro Pack | $79.99 | 2,000 | $0.040 |
| Enterprise Pack | $299.00 | 10,000 | $0.030 |
Cost Per Video (Approximate)
On the Pro plan ($19.90/month, 800 credits):
- Text-to-Video: 6 credits = ~$0.15 per video (133 videos/month)
- Image-to-Video: 8 credits = ~$0.20 per video (100 videos/month)
- Video-to-Video: 10 credits = ~$0.25 per video (80 videos/month)
Compare this to professional video production costs ($500-$5,000 per video) or even stock video subscriptions ($30-$50/month for limited downloads). Seedance is orders of magnitude cheaper.
Seedance vs Competitor Pricing
| Platform | Free Tier | Cheapest Paid Plan | Credits/Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedance | Yes (signup bonus) | $9.90/mo | 300 credits (~50 videos) |
| Sora | No free tier | $20/mo (ChatGPT Plus) | ~50 videos (estimated) |
| Kling | Limited trial | $14.99/mo | ~66 videos |
| Runway | 125 credits | $15/mo | ~25 videos |
| Pika | Free trial | $10/mo | ~250 generations |
Seedance's combination of a genuine free tier, competitive paid pricing, and no watermarks makes it one of the best values in the AI video generation market.
View the full pricing details on our pricing page.
Free Alternatives to Seedance (Honest Comparison)
If you're looking for free AI video generation options beyond Seedance, here's an honest overview:
Wan (Open Source)
Wan is an open-source AI video model from Alibaba. You can run it locally for free (if you have a powerful GPU) or use it through various platforms. The quality is decent for text-to-video but lacks Seedance's multi-modal input and character consistency.
Verdict: Good if you have technical skills and GPU hardware. Not as user-friendly.
Pika
Pika offers a free trial with limited generations. The quality is reasonable for short clips, but the free tier is quite restrictive. Paid plans start at $10/month.
Verdict: Comparable free tier, but fewer features than Seedance.
Open-Source Models (CogVideo, Mochi)
Various open-source models can be run locally for free. However, they require technical setup, powerful hardware (typically an RTX 4090 or better), and the output quality is generally below Seedance 2.0.
Verdict: Free but requires significant technical investment. Quality gap is real.
Honest Assessment
No free tool currently matches Seedance 2.0's combination of quality, ease of use, and multi-modal flexibility. The free credits from Seedance give you a taste of premium-quality output, and the paid plans are competitively priced when you're ready to produce more.
FAQ
Is Seedance completely free?
Seedance offers free credits to new users, making it free to start. There is no time limit on using your free credits, and no credit card is required. For ongoing production use, paid plans start at $9.90/month.
How many free videos can I generate?
The number depends on your free credit allocation and the generation type. Text-to-Video costs 6 credits per video, Image-to-Video costs 8 credits, and Video-to-Video costs 10 credits. You can calculate your video count by dividing your free credits by the cost per generation.
Do free videos have watermarks?
No. All Seedance-generated videos are watermark-free, regardless of whether you're using free or paid credits. This applies to every plan tier.
Is Seedance 1.0 free?
Seedance 1.0 Lite and Pro models are available to all users, including free-tier users. Free credits can be used with any model version. The Lite model consumes fewer credits per generation, making it an efficient choice for free-tier users.
What happens when free credits run out?
When your free credits are depleted, you can earn additional credits through daily login bonuses, referrals, and promotional events. Alternatively, you can purchase a subscription plan or a one-time credit pack. Your account and generated videos remain accessible regardless of credit balance.
Is there a student discount?
Seedance does not currently offer a dedicated student discount. However, the free tier and the affordable Starter plan ($9.90/month) make it accessible for students and educators. One-time credit packs starting at $9.99 are another budget-friendly option.
Start Creating for Free
Seedance makes AI video creation accessible to everyone. Whether you have a creative vision, a marketing deadline, or just curiosity about what AI can do — the free tier lets you explore without any financial commitment.
Start creating AI videos for free → — no credit card, no watermarks, no catches.
New to Seedance? Learn what it is and how it works. Want to learn the platform in depth? Check our complete how-to guide. Looking to write better prompts and save credits? Read our Seedance Prompt Guide. See real output in our 10 creative use cases showcase. Comparing tools? See Seedance vs Sora or our best AI video generators 2026 ranking.
