MiniMax H3 vs Seedance 2.0: Which Should You Use?
As of October 2026, pick MiniMax H3 (Hailuo 3) when cost or resolution matters: on Kensa it costs 1.5–4 credits per second with audio, returns 480P/768P clips in about 25 seconds and goes up to 2K. Pick Seedance 2.0 for control: first and last frame, reference images and 6 aspect ratios, at 7.7 credits/s (480p) or 16.9 (720p). A 10-second clip costs 25 credits on H3 at 768P versus 77 on Seedance 2.0 at 480p.
Checked October 4, 2026. Kensa credit prices come from Kensa's billing configuration. Kensa publishes this page and sells access to both models; we don't rank visual quality, so run the same prompt on both.
MiniMax H3 (Hailuo 3), from MiniMax, and Seedance 2.0, from ByteDance, both run on Kensa on the same credit balance, and both generate audio with the video at no extra charge. They differ on price and on control. H3 bills 1.5, 2.5 or 4 credits per second at 480P, 768P or 2K; Seedance 2.0 bills 7.7 credits per second at 480p and 16.9 at 720p.
So the choice comes down to what the shot needs. We don't rank visual quality; run the same prompt on both. H3 makes 5–15-second clips from a prompt or one starting image, in 16:9, 9:16, 1:1. Seedance 2.0 makes 4–15-second clips and adds a fixed last frame, reference images for a consistent subject, and 4:3, 3:4, 21:9.
MiniMax H3 vs Seedance 2.0: specs on Kensa
MiniMax H3 wins on price and resolution; Seedance 2.0 wins on inputs, aspect ratios and 4-second clips.
| Feature | MiniMax H3 | Seedance 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution on Kensa | 480P, 768P, 2K (2K on paid plans) | 480p, 720p |
| Length | 5–15 s | 4–15 s |
| Aspect ratios | 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 | 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 3:4, 21:9 |
| Audio | Always on, included | Native, included |
| Inputs on Kensa | Text, or one image as the first frame | Text, image, first + last frame, reference images |
| Generation time on Kensa | About 25 s (480P/768P); about 3 min per 5 s at 2K | Not published |
| Price | 1.5 / 2.5 / 4 credits per second | 7.7 / 16.9 credits per second |
| 15 free sign-up credits cover | One 6 s 768P clip (15 credits) or one 10 s 480P clip (15) | One 4 s 480p clip at the 14-credit starter price until Oct 11, 2026 (UTC); regular price 31 credits |
| Where on Kensa | Text to Video, Image to Video, E-commerce Video | Seedance 2.0 Video, Reference to Video, E-commerce Video |
| Visual quality | Not ranked: run the same prompt on both | Not ranked: run the same prompt on both |
What each clip costs in credits
MiniMax H3 costs fewer credits for every clip both models can make: about 5–7× fewer, depending on length and tier.
| Clip | MiniMax H3 | Seedance 2.0 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5s @ 480p | 8 credits (480P) | 39 credits (480p) | H3 uses about 4.9× fewer credits |
| 6s · 768P vs 720p | 15 credits (768P) | 102 credits (720p) | H3 uses about 6.8× fewer credits, at a higher resolution |
| 10s @ 480p | 15 credits (480P) | 77 credits (480p) | H3 uses about 5.1× fewer credits |
| 10s · 768P vs 720p | 25 credits (768P) | 170 credits (720p) | H3 uses about 6.8× fewer credits, at a higher resolution |
| 15s · 768P vs 720p | 38 credits (768P) | 255 credits (720p) | H3 uses about 6.7× fewer credits, at a higher resolution |
| 4s @ 480p | Not available (H3 starts at 5 s) | 31 credits (480p); 14 during the starter offer until Oct 11, 2026 (UTC) | Only Seedance 2.0 makes 4-second clips |
| 10s · 2K | 40 credits (paid plans) | Not available (max 720p) | Only H3 goes to 2K |
MiniMax H3
MiniMax1.5 / 2.5 / 4 credits/s (480P / 768P / 2K), audio included
- 480P, 768P and 2K (2560×1440) in one picker
- About 25 s per 480P/768P clip on Kensa
- 5–15-second clips with audio
- Text-to-video, or one image as the first frame
Best for: Cheap drafts with sound, 2K hero shots and animating a single product photo.
Seedance 2.0
ByteDance7.7 credits/s (480p), 16.9 (720p), native audio included
- First + last frame control
- Reference images for a consistent character or product
- 4–15-second clips
- 6 aspect ratios, including 21:9
Best for: Series that need the same subject in every shot, and storyboards with fixed start and end frames.
Which to pick by shot
Choose by what the shot needs: H3 for cheap drafts, 2K and single-image animation; Seedance 2.0 for consistency and fixed frames.
Cheap prompt drafts with sound
→ MiniMax H3 (480P)
8 credits for 5 seconds with audio, back in about 25 seconds.
2K hero shot
→ MiniMax H3
2560×1440 on paid plans (4 credits/s); Seedance 2.0 stops at 720p on Kensa.
Same character or product across a series
→ Seedance 2.0
Reference images keep the subject consistent; H3 on Kensa takes one first-frame image only.
Storyboard with a fixed start and end frame
→ Seedance 2.0
First + last frame control; H3 on Kensa has no last-frame input.
Animate one product photo into a short ad
→ MiniMax H3
Use the photo as the first frame on Image to Video or E-commerce Video; switch to Seedance 2.0 when the product must match exactly across several shots.
4:3, 3:4, 21:9 output
→ Seedance 2.0
H3 offers 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 only.
Limitations to know before you pick
Both models have gaps on Kensa; H3's are mostly about inputs and aspect ratios.
- MiniMax H3 on Kensa takes one first-frame image only: no last frame, no reference images and no video input, even though MiniMax's own API supports more inputs.
- MiniMax H3 offers 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 only and starts at 5 seconds; for 4:3, 3:4, 21:9 or a 4-second clip, use Seedance 2.0.
- H3's 2K tier needs a paid plan (from $9.90 a month); free accounts top out at 768P.
- Seedance 2.0 costs far more per second and tops out at 720p on Kensa; the 15 free credits for Google sign-ups don't cover a regular-price clip.
- We haven't measured Seedance 2.0's generation time on Kensa, and we don't rank visual quality: test the same prompt on both before you commit a project.
Using both on Kensa
You don't have to choose once: both models run on the same Kensa credit balance.
Try MiniMax H3 and Seedance 2.0 on Kensa
Sign up with Google for 15 free credits: enough for one 6-second 768P MiniMax H3 clip with audio, no card needed. Paid plans from $9.90 a month add H3's 2K tier.