AI video model comparison: pick the right model for your use case

Most AI video model comparisons end with one winner. This page does the opposite. You pick the need first, then see which models fit and what a 10-second clip costs. All prices come from the vendors' own pages, read on 2026-10-26. To price a whole project, use the AI video cost calculator.

This page works from the specs and prices vendors publish, not from a quality ranking. For picture quality, use a blind-vote leaderboard such as Artificial Analysis, which shows quality Elo, speed and price per minute, with an audio toggle.

Which AI video generator should I use?

Choose the model that meets your single hardest need, then compare price. The table below lists each need and what the vendors confirm.

What does a 10-second AI video cost on each model?

A 10-second clip costs between $0.20 and $15.00 on Runway's API, depending on model and resolution. Prices are per second times 10, at $0.01 per credit, read on 2026-10-26. Veo 3.1 only generates 4, 6 or 8 seconds, so its rows are normalized to 10 seconds.

Four notes on reading the table:

• Veo 3.1 clips run at most 8 seconds. An 8-second clip costs $1.60 silent and $3.20 with audio on Veo 3.1, and $0.80 silent and $1.20 with audio on Veo 3.1 Fast.

• Kling 4.0 has a 20% discount until 30 November 2026 UTC, which makes the 720p clip $1.26 after Runway rounds to whole credits. The list price applies from 1 December.

• Seedance 2.5 and Kling 4.0 also bill input video. A 1080p Seedance 2.5 clip made from a 10-second reference adds $3.40 on top of the $6.80.

• Reference images add small fees on Hailuo ($0.02 each), Grok Imagine ($0.01 each) and Gemini Omni Flash 1.1 ($0.01 each).

Direct from MiniMax, H3 at 768p is $0.08 per second ($0.80 per 10 seconds) and 2K is $0.13 ($1.30). H3 Lite at 480p is $0.025 per second ($0.25). That is cheaper than the same family on Runway, so check the maker's own price before you pick an aggregator.

Which AI video model is cheapest for drafts?

Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite at 480p is the cheapest option on Runway's API at $0.20 per 10 seconds. MiniMax H3 Lite at 480p is $0.25 direct.

Cheap tiers fit idea testing, framing and prompt checks. Save the dearer models for the take you keep.

How much does a retry cost? A worked example with Seedance 2.5

Seedance 2.5 draft mode cuts the cost of finding a good take, because every try bills at the 480p rate. The sum below assumes one good take in three.

Goal: one finished 10-second 1080p clip, no input video.

The draft route saves $7.60, or about 37%. It works because Runway bills the preview at 480p ($0.20 per second) and then bills the 1080p enhancement at $0.68 per second for the clip you keep. The preview's charge is unchanged. You must enhance within 7 days.

Which AI video model is best for vertical or Reels clips?

Most current models make 9:16. Runway's API specification lists portrait output for Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0 and 4.0, Grok Imagine, Wan 3.0, Gen-4.5, Gemini Omni Flash and Seedance 2.5. Seedance 2.5 previews render at 480x854. For a 4K vertical clip, Kling 3.0 4K lists 2160x3840.

Can I copy motion or edit an existing video?

Yes, on models that accept input video. Seedance 2.5 has three modes on Runway: reference, extend and edit. Edit needs a prompt and keeps the input video's aspect ratio.

For copying a dance or a gesture onto a still image, see Kling Motion Control. For real faces and copyrighted characters as references, follow each platform's rules and the rights that apply to your use.

Which models are gone or changing?

Some names in older comparisons have documented end dates. Google shut down the Veo 3.1 preview models in the Gemini API on 22 October 2026 and points users to Gemini Omni Flash or the GA Veo 3.1 models; see Google Veo 3 pricing for what those cost. OpenAI's Sora API was scheduled for removal on 24 September 2026; our Sora alternatives page covers replacements.

Older model generations can stay available at some providers, so check the provider before you rely on a name. The Runware comparison is dated 8 May 2026 and lists "from" prices only. The Pulze comparison covers models from Gen 4 to Kling 2.5 Turbo and has no prices.

Checklist before you pay

1. Write down the one need you cannot drop: sound, vertical, length, resolution or reference video.
2. Find the model rows above that fit, then read the maker's page for that setting.
3. Compute the 10-second price, then multiply by your expected tries.
4. Run one cheap test clip before you buy a plan.
5. Check the date on any price you copy. Check the current vendor rate before paying.

For subscription prices instead of API rates, see Kling AI pricing and Higgsfield pricing.