Credits → dollars. What a clip actually costs.
Reddit keeps asking what a 5–30s AI clip costs. Subscription stickers hide the burn rate. We cite vendor pricing pages and compute $/credit when allotments are published.
What will credits cost me?
Sortable comparison
Entry plan (prefer annual). $/credit from each tool’s reference plan when published.
| Tool | Entry /mo | Annual /mo | Free? | $/credit | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pika | $10 | $8 | Yes | $0.00889 | Visit |
 VEED | $8 | $8 | Yes | $0.00317 | Visit |
 Hailuo / MiniMax | $9.99 | $9.99 | Yes | Not listed | Visit |
 InVideo AI | $20 | $10 | No | $0.025 | Visit |
 Runway | $15 | $12 | Yes | $0.0192 | Visit |
 Leonardo AI | $12 | $12 | Yes | $0.00141 | Visit |
 Freepik / Magnific | $16 | $12 | Yes | $0.0006 | Visit |
 OpusClip | $15 | $14 | Yes | $0.09333 | Visit |
 Synthesia | $29 | $18 | Yes | $0.0144 | Visit |
 HeyGen | $29 | $24 | Yes | $0.04833 | Visit |
 Luma Dream Machine | $30 | $25 | Yes | $0.0025 | Visit |
 Kling AI | — | — | Yes | Not listed | Visit |
Alternatives & compares
Swaps and head-to-heads.
Runway alternatives
Gen-4 / Gen-4.5 video + image models with a clear credits menu
Luma Dream Machine alternatives
Ray models + agent workspace; high credit allotments
HeyGen alternatives
Avatar + script-to-video with a unified credit pool
Pika alternatives
Consumer AI video with Starter/Creator/Fancy credit packs
Runway vs Luma Dream Machine
Plans and $/credit side by side.
Runway vs Pika
Plans and $/credit side by side.
HeyGen vs Synthesia
Plans and $/credit side by side.
Luma Dream Machine vs Pika
Plans and $/credit side by side.
InVideo AI vs Runway
Plans and $/credit side by side.
HeyGen vs InVideo AI
Plans and $/credit side by side.
Best-of shortlists
By budget, credit value, avatars, and social — not “best for everyone.”
Cheapest AI video plans
Lowest published entry subscriptions with usable credits.
Best credit value
Lower $/credit on verified reference plans.
Best for avatars & training video
Script-to-avatar tools for L&D and marketing.
Best for social short-form
Fast consumer video for TikTok/Reels-style clips.
Free AI video tiers
Tools with a published free allowance.
FAQ
What are AI video generators?
Tools that turn text, images, or scripts into video — generative models (Runway, Luma, Pika, Kling) and avatar/editor suites (HeyGen, Synthesia, InVideo, VEED, OpusClip). Most bill a subscription plus a credit or token burn rate.
How do I compare credit prices fairly?
Divide the plan’s monthly price by included credits for $/credit, then multiply by that model’s credits per clip. A cheap plan with expensive models can cost more per usable second than a pricier plan with efficient models.
How does the calculator work?
Pick a tool and plan for software cost. Enter how many credits you expect to burn per month. We multiply by that plan’s published $/credit when available. Model-specific burn rates still vary — check each tool page.
Why are some cells “Not listed”?
Vendors sometimes hide credit tables behind login or regional pages. We refuse to invent rates from blogs — Not listed means verify on the live vendor page.