API Stock vs fal.ai
fal.ai alternative
Compare fal.ai and API Stock for hosted image and video models: configuration-specific prices, workload costs and a complete migration from the fal client to our task API.
How API Stock compares with fal.ai
When to choose API Stock
Choose API Stock when you consume hosted models and want the same task format for images, video and music, with chat on the same prepaid balance.
When to keep fal.ai
Keep fal.ai for its SDK features, training tools or models outside our catalog. Model coverage alone does not make its endpoints, moderation rules or advanced parameters interchangeable.
fal.ai API documentationScroll horizontally to read all table columns.
| Integration detail | fal.ai | API Stock |
|---|---|---|
| Request | fal.subscribe(model, { input }) | POST /api/v1/generation/create |
| Authentication | FAL_KEY / Authorization: Key | Authorization: Bearer |
| Model identifier | fal-ai/bytedance/seedream/v4.5/text-to-image | seedream-4-5 |
This compares the example model below, not every endpoint the provider offers. Shared model names do not guarantee identical parameters, moderation or output.
Price comparison: fal.ai and API Stock
Selected shared models with matching billing units. Our prices come from the current catalog; competitor prices are dated observations linked to their sources.
| Model | API Stock | fal.ai | Our price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nano Bananaper image · text to image | API Stock$0.012 | fal.ai$0.039 | 69.2% lower |
| Nano Banana 21k · per image · text to image | API Stock$0.018 | fal.ai$0.08 | 77.5% lower |
| Nano Banana 22k · per image · text to image | API Stock$0.02 | fal.ai$0.12 | 83.3% lower |
| Nano Banana 2512px · per image · text to image | API Stock$0.022 | fal.ai$0.06 | 63.3% lower |
| Nano Banana 24k · per image · text to image | API Stock$0.026 | fal.ai$0.16 | 83.8% lower |
| Nano Banana Pro1k · per image · text to image | API Stock$0.029 | fal.ai$0.15 | 80.7% lower |
| Nano Banana Pro2k · per image · text to image | API Stock$0.029 | fal.ai$0.15 | 80.7% lower |
| Nano Banana Pro4k · per image · text to image | API Stock$0.043 | fal.ai$0.3 | 85.7% lower |
| Seedream 4.5per image · text to image | API Stock$0.036 | fal.ai$0.04 | 10% lower |
| Seedream 5.0 Liteper image · text to image | API Stock$0.03325 | fal.ai$0.035 | 5% lower |
| Seedream 5.0 Pro1K · per image · text to image | API Stock$0.04 | fal.ai$0.0675 | 40.7% lower |
| Seedream 5.0 Pro2K · 1:1 · per image · text to image | API Stock$0.079 | fal.ai$0.135 | 41.5% lower |
| Wan 2.7 Imageper image · text to image | API Stock$0.0285 | fal.ai$0.03 | 5% lower |
| Veo 3.1 Fast1080p · per whole clip8s · Audio onText → video | API Stock$0.189 | fal.ai$1.2 | 84.3% lower |
| Veo 3.1 Fast720p · per whole clip8s · Audio onText → video | API Stock$0.189 | fal.ai$1.2 | 84.3% lower |
| Veo 3.1 Fast4k · per whole clip8s · Audio onText → video | API Stock$0.429 | fal.ai$2.8 | 84.7% lower |
| Veo 3.1 Quality1080p · per whole clip8s · Audio onText → video | API Stock$1.425 | fal.ai$3.2 | 55.5% lower |
| Veo 3.1 Quality720p · per whole clip8s · Audio onText → video | API Stock$1.2 | fal.ai$3.2 | 62.5% lower |
| Veo 3.1 Quality4k · per whole clip8s · Audio onText → video | API Stock$1.8 | fal.ai$4.8 | 62.5% lower |
| Wan 2.7 Video720p · per output secondImage → video | API Stock$0.086 | fal.ai$0.1 | 14% lower |
| Wan 2.7 Video1080p · per output secondImage → video | API Stock$0.129 | fal.ai$0.15 | 14% lower |
Each row names its workflow and billing unit. Images are single outputs without references. Video is priced per second or per whole clip as labelled; match resolution, duration and audio before comparing.
What a workload costs
Nano Banana
1,000 images, the configuration above
- API Stock
- $12
- fal.ai
- $39
Nano Banana 2 · 1k
1,000 images, the configuration above
- API Stock
- $18
- fal.ai
- $80
Illustrative totals from the rows above, without volume discounts, subscriptions or additional paid options. These examples do not predict latency or identical outputs.
Migrating from fal.ai
Replace fal.subscribe or fal.queue.submit with POST /api/v1/generation/create. Move input to documented top-level parameters, replace the model path with a catalog id and use taskId for status polling or a webhook.
1
Create an account, top up your prepaid balance and issue an API key.
2
POST to /api/v1/generation/create with the public model id and its documented parameters. Each task generates one output.
3
Read taskId from the response. Poll GET /api/v1/task/status/TASK_ID, or set webhook in the creation request.
fal.ai
import { fal } from "@fal-ai/client";fal.config({ credentials: process.env.FAL_KEY });const result = await fal.subscribe("fal-ai/bytedance/seedream/v4.5/text-to-image",{ input: { prompt: "A ceramic mug on a wooden table, soft morning light", image_size: "square_hd", num_images: 1, max_images: 1 } },);const fileUrl = result.data.images[0].url;
API Stock
curl --fail-with-body 'https://api.api-stock.com/api/v1/generation/create' \-H "Authorization: Bearer $API_KEY" \-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \-d '{"model": "seedream-4-5","prompt": "A ceramic mug on a wooden table, soft morning light","resolution": "2K","size": "1:1"}'
Complete example: create a task and download its result
Run on your server with Node 22+ or Bun and API_KEY set. This example creates one paid task, then polls without creating it again. Finished URLs are temporary: save the file to your own storage.
import { writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";const baseURL = "https://api.api-stock.com/api/v1";const apiKey = process.env.API_KEY;if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set API_KEY on the server");async function request(path, options = {}) {const response = await fetch(baseURL + path, {...options,headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${apiKey}`,"Content-Type": "application/json",},signal: AbortSignal.timeout(30_000),});if (!response.ok) throw new Error(await response.text());return response.json();}const { taskId } = await request("/generation/create", {method: "POST",body: JSON.stringify({"model": "seedream-4-5","prompt": "A ceramic mug on a wooden table, soft morning light","resolution": "2K","size": "1:1"}),});if (!taskId) throw new Error("Missing taskId");const deadline = Date.now() + 10 * 60_000;let fileUrl;while (Date.now() < deadline) {const { data } = await request(`/task/status/${encodeURIComponent(taskId)}`);if (data.status === "finished") {fileUrl = data.files?.[0]?.fileUrl;if (!fileUrl) throw new Error("Task finished without a file");break;}if (data.status === "failed" || data.status === "expired") {throw new Error(data.errorMessage || data.status);}await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000));}if (!fileUrl) throw new Error(`Still processing: save taskId ${taskId} and resume polling`);const file = await fetch(fileUrl, { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(60_000) });if (!file.ok) throw new Error(`Download failed: ${file.status}`);const mime = file.headers.get("content-type")?.split(";")[0];const extension = { "image/png": "png", "image/jpeg": "jpg", "image/webp": "webp" }[mime] || "bin";await writeFile(`generated-image.${extension}`, new Uint8Array(await file.arrayBuffer()));
Keep API keys on your server. When migrating, test one request and compare its parameters, status handling and output before moving production traffic.
Frequently asked questions
How do I migrate from fal.ai?
Replace fal.subscribe or fal.queue.submit with POST /api/v1/generation/create. Move input to documented top-level parameters, replace the model path with a catalog id and use taskId for status polling or a webhook.
Is API Stock always cheaper than fal.ai?
No. Compare the exact model, configuration and billing unit in the table. Prices can move in either direction; check both catalogs before sending production traffic.
Can I move every fal.ai workflow?
Keep fal.ai for its SDK features, training tools or models outside our catalog. Model coverage alone does not make its endpoints, moderation rules or advanced parameters interchangeable.
What happens to failed or unfinished requests?
Media tasks retry according to the configured routes; a reserve is used when one is available. A terminal generation failure is refunded. Keep polling a processing task instead of creating a duplicate. An expired file URL is not a failed generation.
How do I top up the balance?
Available payment methods, currencies and minimum top-up amounts are shown in your account before payment. There is no subscription: model usage is charged to your prepaid balance.
Try your first request on API Stock
Choose a model, check its parameters and price, then create an API key in your account. Start with one request before moving your traffic.