Guide · Resolution

1080p vs 4K AI video: which should you render?

1080p or 4K for AI video? What each resolution costs in credits on Seedance 2.0 (25 vs 70 credits for 5 s), which plans include them and when 4K is worth it.

  • 720p: 15 credits
  • 1080p: 25 credits
  • 4K: 70 credits

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Short answer

Render drafts at 720p and finals at 1080p; choose 4K only when the clip will be shown on a big screen, cropped or re-framed in an edit. On Seedance 2.0 a 5-second clip costs 15 credits at 720p, 25 at 1080p and 70 at 4K. The Creator plan renders up to 720p; Pro, Max and Business also render 1080p and 4K.

Updated:

How to choose

  1. 1

    Draft cheaply

    Try the idea at 720p, or with Seedance 2.0 Fast (12 credits for 5 s at 720p). Most prompt problems show up at any resolution.

  2. 2

    Final at 1080p for social

    Reels, Shorts and TikTok play at phone size; 1080p looks sharp there and costs less than 4K.

  3. 3

    4K for big screens and edits

    Choose 4K for TVs, cinema screens, or when you plan to crop, stabilise or re-frame the clip in an editor.

Seedance 2.0 credits for a 5-second clip

Same numbers the studio charges. Longer clips cost more; the studio shows the exact cost before you generate.

ResolutionCredits (5 s)
480p12
720p15
1080p25
4K70

Which plans include 1080p and 4K

Creator renders video up to 720p. Pro, Max and Business can also render 1080p and 4K. Compare credits and prices on the pricing page.

Templates for this guide

Each template has its own page with a preview, the credit cost and a link to the studio.

Frequently asked questions

Is 4K worth it for TikTok?

Rarely. Phones show short videos at a size where 1080p already looks sharp, and platforms compress uploads. Spend the difference on more takes.

Does resolution change how the video looks, or only its size?

Higher resolutions keep finer detail such as hair, text and textures. Composition and motion come from the prompt, so draft at a lower resolution and render the prompt you like again at a higher one. Each render is a new take, so expect small differences.

Try it in the studio

New accounts get 10 starter credits for images. Video starts on the Creator plan, and the cost is shown before every generation.

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