API cost decision in 10 seconds

GPT-5.5 Pro vs Seed-2.0-Lite

Pick Seed-2.0-Lite for lower cost; pick GPT-5.5 Pro only if the larger context window matters more.

Page updated:  Data confirmed:  Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output

Budget verdict

Pick Seed-2.0-Lite for lower cost; pick GPT-5.5 Pro only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Seed-2.0-Lite is estimated at $1.25 vs $120 for GPT-5.5 Pro, saving $118.75 (99% lower).

Cost-first pickSeed-2.0-Lite
Context-first pickGPT-5.5 Pro
Sample savings$118.7599%
10x traffic gap$1187.5

GPT-5.5 Pro has more context, but Seed-2.0-Lite saves $118.75 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $1187.5. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Seed-2.0-Lite stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickGPT-5.5 ProSeed-2.0-Lite
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputSeed-2.0-Lite$240$2.25
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputSeed-2.0-Lite$210$2.25
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputSeed-2.0-Lite$930$10.25
Cheaper input Seed-2.0-Lite $30 vs $0.25 / 1M

Seed-2.0-Lite is $29.75 cheaper per 1M input tokens (99.2% lower; 120x difference).

Cheaper output Seed-2.0-Lite $180 vs $2 / 1M

Seed-2.0-Lite is $178 cheaper per 1M output tokens (98.9% lower; 90x difference).

Larger context GPT-5.5 Pro 1.05M vs 262.14K

GPT-5.5 Pro has 787.86K more context (4.01x larger).

Sample workload Seed-2.0-Lite $120 vs $1.25

Seed-2.0-Lite is $118.75 cheaper on the standard workload (99% lower).

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
GPT-5.5 Pro Calculating… Estimated API cost
Seed-2.0-Lite Calculating… Estimated API cost
Cheaper for this workload Calculating… Difference: calculating…

This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.

Quick Decision

Verdict

Seed-2.0-Lite has the lower input price; Seed-2.0-Lite has the lower output price; GPT-5.5 Pro offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Seed-2.0-Lite is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $120 for GPT-5.5 Pro and $1.25 for Seed-2.0-Lite.

Best Fit

Choose GPT-5.5 Pro when you care most about larger context window.

Choose Seed-2.0-Lite when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.

Decision Notes
  • On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Seed-2.0-Lite is estimated at $1.25 vs $120 for GPT-5.5 Pro, saving $118.75 (99% lower).
  • Seed-2.0-Lite is $118.75 cheaper on the standard workload (99% lower).
  • Seed-2.0-Lite is $29.75 cheaper per 1M input tokens (99.2% lower; 120x difference).
  • Seed-2.0-Lite is $178 cheaper per 1M output tokens (98.9% lower; 90x difference).
  • GPT-5.5 Pro has 787.86K more context (4.01x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
FeatureGPT-5.5 Pro
(OpenAI)		Seed-2.0-Lite
(ByteDance Seed)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M		$30$0.25
Completion Price
per 1M tokens		$180$2
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output		$120$1.25
Context Window1.05M262.14K
Release Date

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionSeed-2.0-LiteOn the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Seed-2.0-Lite is estimated at $1.25 vs $120 for GPT-5.5 Pro, saving $118.75 (99% lower).
High-volume input processingSeed-2.0-LiteLower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsSeed-2.0-LiteLower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workGPT-5.5 ProA larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files.

Related Alternatives

Same-provider lower-cost swaps
  • gpt-oss-120b (free) can replace GPT-5.5 Pro when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • gpt-oss-20b (free) can replace GPT-5.5 Pro when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • gpt-oss-20b can replace GPT-5.5 Pro when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.1.
  • gpt-oss-120b can replace GPT-5.5 Pro when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.13.
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Cheaper alternatives

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Provider catalogs

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OpenAI catalog

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ByteDance Seed catalog

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GPT-5.5 Pro

GPT-5.5 Pro is OpenAI’s high-capability model optimized for deep reasoning and accuracy on complex, high-stakes workloads. It features a 1M+ token context window (922K input, 128K output) with support for...

Seed-2.0-Lite

Seed-2.0-Lite is a versatile, cost‑efficient enterprise workhorse that delivers strong multimodal and agent capabilities while offering noticeably lower latency, making it a practical default choice for most production workloads across...