Output quality
Realism or style accuracy, motion smoothness, consistency and artifacts, judged from official samples and public reviews.
Buyer’s guide · Updated October
Best AI Video Generators
10 tools compared on results, features and real costs
There’s no single “best” AI video generator. Each one is strongest at something different: cinematic realism, anime restyling, talking avatars, music visuals or viral effects. Here’s an independent comparison of the tools that matter in , with prices checked against official pages and a matcher that ranks them for what you make.
10tools compared
$7–$29typical entry plan
1shut down (Sora)
The list
The 10 best AI video generators
Ordered by how broadly useful they are for creators. “From” is the lowest paid plan, per month.
Interactive
AI video tool matcher
Pick what you make and what matters to you. The matcher ranks all 10 tools using the strengths table below.
I mostly make…
Budget per month
Also important
Rankings use our editorial strength ratings and published entry prices. Always test with your own footage before you subscribe.
Strengths
Which tool is strongest at what
Based on each tool’s main focus, official feature pages and public reviews. Results vary with your inputs.
StrongGoodLimited / not its focus
Pricing
Real cost per clip →Prices compared
Monthly price in USD; “yearly” is the per-month price when billed annually. Checked on official pages in October .
| Tool | Free option | Entry plan | Mid plan | Top individual plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DomoAI | 30 starter credits | Basic · $9 yearly · 600 credits | Standard · $29 yearly · 2,200 + Relax | Pro · $99 yearly · 8,000 |
| Runway | 125 one-time credits | Standard · $15 · $12 yearly | Pro · $35 · $28 yearly | Max · $95 · $76 yearly |
| Google Veo (Flow) | Limited free access | Included in Google AI plans. AI Pro (about $19.99/mo in the US) includes 1,000 Flow credits a month; AI Ultra includes 10,000 | ||
| Kling AI | 66 credits/day (watermarked) | Standard · $10 · ~$6.60 yearly | Pro · $37 · ~$24 yearly | Premier · $92 · ~$61 yearly |
| Luma | None | Plus · $30 · $25 yearly | Pro · $90 · $75 yearly | Ultra · $300 · $250 yearly |
| Pika | Free (credit packs only) | Starter · $10 · $8 yearly | Creator · $35 · $28 yearly | Fancy · from $95 · $76 yearly |
| Hailuo AI | Daily credits, 720p (watermarked) | Standard · $7.99 | Pro · $24.99 | Master · $63.99 |
| Kaiber | 5-day trial for $5 | Starter · $10 · $8 yearly | Creator · $29 · $23 yearly | Pro · $99 · $79 yearly |
| Viggle | 5 videos/day (watermarked) | Pro, Live and Max plans; check viggle.ai for current prices | ||
| Synthesia | 10 min (watermarked) | Starter · $29 | Pro · $89 | Enterprise · custom |
Credits aren’t comparable between tools, because each charges differently per second, model and resolution. Prices change often, so confirm on each official pricing page before buying.
Industry news
What happened to Sora?
OpenAI’s Sora was one of the best-known AI video generators. Sora 2 launched in September 2025 with a social app. On March 24, , OpenAI announced it would shut Sora down.
Reports pointed to high computing costs and falling engagement. If you relied on Sora, Google Veo, Runway and Kling are the closest options for realistic text-to-video.
- Dec 2024Sora launchesFor ChatGPT Plus and Pro users
- Sep 2025Sora 2 + iOS appAndroid followed about two months later
- Mar 24, Shutdown announcedVia OpenAI on X
- Apr 26, App closes
- Sep 24, API discontinued
Method
Our DomoAI review →How we compare AI video generators
Features
Text and image to video, restyling, avatars and lip sync, templates, audio, upscaling and API.
Real cost
Entry price, free options, credit rules and watermarks, from official pricing pages.
Ease of use
How quickly a beginner gets a usable clip.
Clip limits
Length per generation, resolution and commercial-use rules.
Status
Tools that have shut down or stopped development are flagged, not ranked.
Before you subscribe
Prompt writing guide →Test 2–3 tools the smart way
- 01
Shortlist with the matcher
Pick the top 2–3 for what you make most.
- 02
Use the same input
The same prompt or image in each tool, so the comparison is fair.
- 03
Use free credits
Test on free tiers or trials before paying.
- 04
Count retries
Most creators need 3–5 tries per keeper, so factor that into cost.
- 05
Check the rules
Watermarks, commercial use, clip length and refund policy.
- 06
Start monthly
Switch to yearly only after a month of real use.
What is the best AI video generator in ?
It depends on what you make. Runway, Google Veo and Kling lead for realistic scenes; DomoAI for anime and restyling; Pika for viral effects; Kaiber for music videos; Viggle for dance and meme motion; and Synthesia for corporate talking avatars.
Which AI video generator is best for anime?
DomoAI is built around anime and cartoon styles: 40+ restyle presets, 20+ anime styles, character animation and anime image models. Runway, Pika and Kaiber can produce stylized looks too, but it isn’t their main focus.
Which AI video generator is cheapest?
Kling (about $6.60/month billed yearly) and Hailuo ($7.99/month) have the lowest entry plans. Pika and Kaiber start at $8/month yearly and DomoAI at $9/month yearly. Watch for length caps and watermarks on cheaper tiers.
Is Sora still available?
No. OpenAI announced on March 24, that it would shut down Sora. The app closed on April 26, , and the API was set to be discontinued on September 24, .
Which AI video generators have a free plan?
Kling, Hailuo and Viggle offer daily free generations (watermarked); Pika has a free tier; Runway gives 125 one-time credits; DomoAI gives new accounts 30 starter credits; Synthesia has a free plan with 10 minutes. Luma has no free plan, and Kaiber offers a paid $5 trial.
Which tools offer an API for developers?
DomoAI, Runway, Luma, Kling and Google (Veo via its developer platforms) offer APIs. DomoAI’s API costs $0.02 per credit at 2–5 credits per second of video.
Can I use AI-generated videos commercially?
Usually on paid plans, but rules differ. For example, Pika’s Starter plan doesn’t include commercial use, and free tiers often add watermarks. Always check the terms of the plan you buy.
How long can AI-generated videos be?
Most tools generate about 5–15 seconds per clip. Longer videos are made by stitching clips together in an editor.
Make stylized video? Start with DomoAI.
Anime restyles, character animation and talking avatars in one studio. Test it free.