THE CREATOR’S FIELD GUIDE8 tools · 6 leading models · updated 2026
AI video generators and models
AI video is split between models (the engines such as Veo, Kling and Gen-4.5) and tools (the apps that wrap one or more models with credits and editing).
This page lists eight tools and the main models behind them, using each vendor’s own pricing and product pages.
Compare 8 options Visit Runway
Prices and limits checked on October 12, 2026. They change often, so confirm on each official site before you buy.
Comparison at a glance
| Tool | Pricing | Plans and free tier | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runway | Freemium | Free plan includes 125 one-time credits. Standard is $15/month ($12 billed annually) with 625 credits; Pro is $35/month; Max is $95/month. | Short ad and social clips | Visit |
| Pika | Freemium | Free plan with no watermark but no commercial license. Starter $10/month (900 credits); Creator $35/month, or $28 billed annually (3,150 credits, commercial license). | Social media clips | Visit |
| Luma | Paid | Plus $30/month ($25 billed yearly) with 10,000 credits and commercial use; Pro $90/month; Ultra $300/month. No free plan listed. | Cinematic video concepts | Visit |
| Kling AI | Freemium | Plan details are not listed on the landing page. Check the app for current credits and subscriptions. | Image-to-video animation | Visit |
| Hailuo AI | Freemium | A subscription is offered; plan amounts are not shown on the landing page. | Social video templates | Visit |
| HeyGen | Freemium | Free plan: 3 videos per month up to 1 minute. Creator $29/month ($24 annually); Pro $49/month; Business $149 plus $20 per seat. | Explainer and training videos | Visit |
| Synthesia | Freemium | Basic is free with 10 minutes of video and a watermark. Starter $29/month ($18 yearly); Pro $89/month ($64 yearly). | Corporate training | Visit |
| invideo AI | Paid | Basic $9/month ($4 per seat annually), Pro $30/month, Ultra $80/month. No free plan listed. | Faceless social videos | Visit |
AI video models at a glance
Model names and versions change quickly. This table reflects what vendors listed on October 12, 2026.
| Model | Developer | What it offers | Where to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1 | Google DeepMind | Native audio; 1080p and 4K; 8-second clips with scene extension | Gemini, Google Flow, Gemini API, Google AI Studio, Google Vids |
| Kling 4.0 | Kling AI | Audio-visual output with stable dynamic motion | Kling AI apps and web; Kling 3.0 is also offered inside Runway and Luma |
| Gen-4.5 | Runway | Runway’s video model, alongside Aleph 2.0 | Runway |
| MiniMax H3 | MiniMax | Multimodal generation and editing for video, image and audio | Hailuo AI; also listed in Luma |
| Seedance 2.5 / 2.0 | ByteDance | Video generation, with 1080p and 4K options on higher tiers | Runway, Luma, invideo AI |
| Ray 3.x | Luma | Luma’s own video models | Luma |
Each option in detail
Runway
Editor pickGenerative video and image studio with its own Gen-4.5 model plus partner models.
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Plans and free tier
- Free plan includes 125 one-time credits. Standard is $15/month ($12 billed annually) with 625 credits; Pro is $35/month; Max is $95/month.
- Best for
- Short ad and social clips
- Gen-4.5 video model and Aleph 2.0
- Access to partner models such as Kling and Seedance on paid plans
- Projects and asset storage
- Image and video generation in one workspace
- Mature creative workspace with several models in one place
- Clear plans with a free starting allowance
- Credits are consumed quickly on high-quality video
- Which models are available depends on the plan
Pika
Fast, playful text-to-video and image-to-video generation with credit packs.
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Plans and free tier
- Free plan with no watermark but no commercial license. Starter $10/month (900 credits); Creator $35/month, or $28 billed annually (3,150 credits, commercial license).
- Best for
- Social media clips
- Access to all models on every plan
- Credit packs without a subscription
- Parallel generations on higher plans
- Commercial license from the Creator plan
- Free plan has no watermark
- Credit packs let you pay without subscribing
- No commercial license on Free and Starter
- Top-up credits work only on Pika Create
Luma
Editor pickVideo and image generation with Luma’s Ray models and many third-party models.
- Pricing
- Paid
- Plans and free tier
- Plus $30/month ($25 billed yearly) with 10,000 credits and commercial use; Pro $90/month; Ultra $300/month. No free plan listed.
- Best for
- Cinematic video concepts
- Luma Ray models
- Third-party video, image and audio models
- Guest collaborators on Plus
- Team and Enterprise plans on request
- One subscription gives access to Luma and third-party models
- Commercial use included from Plus
- No free plan listed on the pricing page
- Credits and model access vary by plan
Kling AI
Video and image generation studio with Kling models, canvas workflow and apps.
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Plans and free tier
- Plan details are not listed on the landing page. Check the app for current credits and subscriptions.
- Best for
- Image-to-video animation
- Kling 4.0 video model and Kling Image 3.0
- Image-to-video and motion control
- Node-based canvas with an agent
- Apps for iOS, Android, macOS and Windows
- Wide set of creative tools including a canvas workflow
- Desktop and mobile apps
- Pricing is not shown on the public landing page
- Feature set changes quickly
Hailuo AI
MiniMax’s video and image generator with template effects and an agent.
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Plans and free tier
- A subscription is offered; plan amounts are not shown on the landing page.
- Best for
- Social video templates
- MiniMax H3 model for video, image and audio
- Image-to-video and text-to-video
- Template effects such as Ads and Style Switch
- Hailuo Agent and reference inputs
- Many ready-made template effects
- Reference inputs for more control
- Plan details are not shown on the landing page
- Template results can look similar
HeyGen
Editor pickAI avatar videos with voice cloning and video translation.
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Plans and free tier
- Free plan: 3 videos per month up to 1 minute. Creator $29/month ($24 annually); Pro $49/month; Business $149 plus $20 per seat.
- Best for
- Explainer and training videos
- 500+ stock avatars on Free, 700+ on paid plans
- Voice cloning and Avatar IV
- Translation into 175+ languages and dialects on paid plans
- Up to 4K export on Pro
- Free plan lets you test avatars and translation
- Strong translation and localisation tools
- Free videos are limited to 1 minute and 3 per month
- Credit-based, so heavy use needs higher tiers
Synthesia
AI presenter videos for training and business communication.
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Plans and free tier
- Basic is free with 10 minutes of video and a watermark. Starter $29/month ($18 yearly); Pro $89/month ($64 yearly).
- Best for
- Corporate training
- Stock AI avatars (9 on Basic, 125+ on Starter)
- Personal avatars on paid plans
- Video and dubbing minutes by plan
- Templates and interactive roleplays
- Free plan with a 10-minute allowance
- Clear minute allowances per plan
- Free videos carry a watermark
- Free plan has only a small avatar selection
invideo AI
Prompt-to-video editor with a timeline and access to several generation models.
- Pricing
- Paid
- Plans and free tier
- Basic $9/month ($4 per seat annually), Pro $30/month, Ultra $80/month. No free plan listed.
- Best for
- Faceless social videos
- Timeline editor on every plan
- Access to Seedance models on higher tiers
- Credits per seat each month
- Guest seats on Pro and Ultra
- Editor and generation in one tool
- Seat-based plans for teams
- No free plan listed
- Unused credits do not roll over
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an AI video tool and an AI video model?
A model (such as Veo 3.1 or Kling 4.0) is the engine that generates video. A tool (such as Runway or Luma) is the product around it: the interface, credits, editing and storage. Many tools now offer several models.
Which AI video generator has a free plan?
Based on their pricing pages, Runway gives 125 one-time credits, Pika has a free plan with no commercial license, HeyGen has 3 free videos per month up to 1 minute, and Synthesia has a free plan with a watermark. Luma and invideo AI do not list a free plan.
Can I use AI-generated videos commercially?
It depends on the plan and the terms. Pika, for example, lists a commercial license from its Creator plan, and Luma lists commercial use from Plus. Read each tool’s terms before using output in client or paid work.
Which tools are best for talking-head or presenter videos?
HeyGen and Synthesia are built around AI avatars and voice, which suits training and marketing videos. Runway, Pika, Luma and Kling focus on cinematic or creative clips.
How do credits work?
Most tools charge credits per generation, with higher quality and longer clips costing more. Plans include a monthly allowance, and unused credits often do not roll over. Check each plan before you commit.