AI video generator pricing: plans and usable clip costs (2026)

AI video pricing has two separate layers: the platform subscription and the cost of the model or feature you use. Compare the total cost of a usable clip, including retries, at your required resolution and duration. The table below uses month-to-month USD prices unless explicitly marked otherwise. Prices were checked against the linked provider pages on September 9, 2026.

Platform subscriptions at a glance

Pika and Invideo’s entry prices shown here are annual commitments. Do not compare them with another vendor’s cancellable monthly price without accounting for the full payment.

For detailed plan and credit breakdowns, review Pika pricing, Runway pricing, Runway Gen-4.5 pricing, Seedance 2.0 pricing, HeyGen pricing, VEED pricing, and the Sora migration guide. Each page separates subscription invoices, credits, API billing and accepted-output costs.

The cheapest plan may not fit the job

A scripted presenter, a generated cinematic shot, and an edited product demonstration are different deliverables. Choose the workflow first. Avatar platforms can be appropriate for training; a scene generator is relevant when you need footage from a prompt or image.

For Magic Hour, start with text-to-video for a new scene or image-to-video to animate a reference. Check the actual model, settings, quote, and commercial terms before generating.

Calculate cost per usable clip

Use this formula: total relevant charges divided by the number of accepted outputs. Include rejected generations, required feature charges, and extra purchases. If allocating a subscription cost, state how much of the allowance you used.

Example: a $30 monthly subscription produces ten accepted clips during a month with no additional purchases. Allocating the whole invoice gives $3 per accepted clip. If you accept only five, it becomes $6. This hypothetical example explains the accounting; it does not predict a tool’s acceptance rate.

API rates need a separate comparison

Consumer subscriptions do not automatically include API credit. Direct APIs may bill per second, generation, token, or another unit. Use our AI video pricing index for defined API examples and compare exact settings rather than generic credit counts.

Is Sora still a purchase option?

OpenAI closed Sora’s app and web experience on April 26, 2026, and schedules API shutdown for September 24, 2026. It should not be recommended as a new long-term subscription or integration. See OpenAI’s shutdown guidance.

What should you buy first?

Choose the lowest plan that satisfies one representative project, complete the export, and inspect the result. Write down the required model, input, duration, resolution, watermark conditions, commercial terms, and number of accepted clips. Compare the full monthly invoice and required extras with an annual commitment separately.

Use the video-cost worksheet to record rejected attempts and unused capacity. For a product workflow, start with one copyable shot prompt. Buy more capacity when the completed workflow and your measured usage justify it.