Home/ Alternatives/ Seedance 2 vs Hailuo AI
MiniMax's human expression specialist versus ByteDance's multimodal production engine. One captures the subtlety of human performance; the other replicates production templates at scale.
| Feature | Seedance 2.0 | Hailuo 2.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Max Duration | 15 seconds | 10 seconds |
| Resolution | 1080p native (2K) | 1080p |
| Pricing | ~$9.60/mo (~$0.60/video) | $14.99/mo (~$0.28/video API) |
| Multimodal Inputs | Up to 12 inputs (@tag) | Text + image |
| Audio | Native audio-video sync | No native audio |
| Human Expressions | Good | Best-in-class micro-expressions |
| Character Consistency | Multi-shot storytelling | Single-shot focus |
| Free Tier | Limited Dreamina credits | Yes (watermarked) |
| API Access | Available | Excellent API ($0.28/video) |
| Best For | Template production, ads, music videos | Human-centric content, talking heads, drama |
Seedance is a generalist production tool that excels at combining multiple asset types into cohesive video. Its @tag system makes it uniquely suited for commercial workflows where brand accuracy, template replication, and audio synchronization matter more than any single visual dimension.
While Seedance handles human subjects well, its strength is in the orchestration of elements — combining a product shot with a model, a background, a logo, and a music track into a single, polished commercial. This breadth of capability is what makes agencies choose it for campaign production.
MiniMax designed Hailuo with a laser focus on human realism. The micro-expression engine captures the subtle movements that make AI-generated humans feel alive: the slight tension around the eyes during a smile, the micro-movements of lips between words, the natural asymmetry of facial expressions.
For content that centers on human performance — talking head videos, dramatic scenes, tutorial presenters, conversational AI avatars — Hailuo produces results that cross the uncanny valley more convincingly than any competitor. The API pricing at $0.28 per video makes it especially attractive for developers building human-centric video products.
The limitation is scope: Hailuo's 10-second maximum duration and lack of multimodal inputs make it less suitable for complex production workflows. It does one thing extraordinarily well, while Seedance does many things very well.
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In February 2026, Hailuo 2.3 leads the field in micro-expression rendering. The subtle facial movements, natural eye behavior, and emotional transitions it produces are more convincing than any other model. This specialization comes at the cost of versatility — it is less capable than Seedance for non-human subjects and complex multi-element scenes.
Hailuo's API is cheaper at ~$0.28 per video versus Seedance's ~$0.60 per video. However, Seedance includes audio generation in that price, which would require a separate tool (and additional cost) when using Hailuo. The total cost depends on whether you need audio.
Seedance produces good human faces, but Hailuo's micro-expression engine is specifically optimized for this task. The difference is most visible in subtle emotional transitions — the way a genuine smile builds, the micro-tension of suppressed emotions, the natural rhythm of blinking and lip movements. For broad commercial use, Seedance is excellent. For close-up emotional performance, Hailuo has a meaningful edge.
Yes, Hailuo offers a free tier with watermarked output. This is useful for testing and experimentation. The paid plan at $14.99/month removes watermarks and increases generation limits. The API is billed separately at approximately $0.28 per video.
Yes, and this is a smart strategy. Use Hailuo for close-up human performance shots where facial authenticity matters most, then use Seedance for wider shots, product integrations, multi-element compositions, and audio-synced content. Combine outputs in your editing timeline for the best of both worlds.
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