Leonardo AI vs Runway
Entry paid: Leonardo AI $12 · Runway $15. Free forever: Leonardo AI yes · Runway yes.
At a glance
| Feature | Leonardo AI | Runway |
|---|---|---|
| Entry monthly | $12 | $15 |
| Entry annual /mo | $12 | $12 |
| Entry plan | Essential | Standard |
| Credits /mo (entry) | 8500 | 625 |
| Forever free | Yes | Yes |
| Trial | Not listed | Not listed |
| $/credit | $0.00141 | $0.0192 |
| Example unit | Motion/video token cost varies — check live token table | Gen-4.5 5s clip (60 credits / 5s = 12 credits/s) |
| Category | ai-video | ai-video |
All plans
Leonardo AI
| Plan | Mo | Yr/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 |
| Essential | $12 | — |
| Premium | $30 | $24 |
| Ultimate | $60 | $48 |
Runway
| Plan | Mo | Yr/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 |
| Standard | $15 | $12 |
| Pro | $35 | $28 |
| Max | $95 | $76 |
Gotchas
Leonardo AI
- Primarily image-first; video/motion is a feature — compare carefully to pure video tools.
- Taxes may be added (page shows ex. tax).
Runway
- Credits reset monthly on Standard/Pro — unused credits expire.
- Failed generations: confirm refund policy in-product.
FAQ
Which is cheaper — Leonardo AI or Runway?
Entry annual-equivalent: Leonardo AI $12/mo vs Runway $12/mo (Not listed cells stay Not listed). Compare $/credit on each tool page — raw SaaS price is only half the story.
How do credits compare?
Leonardo AI reference: $0.00141/credit. Runway: $0.0192/credit. Models burn credits at different rates.
Where do prices come from?
Cited vendor pages only — https://leonardo.ai/pricing and https://runwayml.com/pricing, verified 2026-10-29.