First, in February 2023, we got Runway. Then came Pika, followed by Sora, Luma Labs’ Ray2, King and other pretenders to the throne of the world’s favourite AI video generator. It’s becoming a rich, diverse area of AI development. Some have more features than others, such as lip-synching, but they all have one goal; generate high-resolution clips with clear visuals, minimal artefacts and reasonably realistic motion.
What’s on offer?
| Platform | Credits with plan | Cost of cheapest paid plan | Credits with cheap basic plan | Commercial use on basic plan? |
| Luma Labs Ray2 | Limited | $9.99 | 3200/month | No |
| Pika Labs | 150/month | $10 | 700/month | No |
| Runway | 125 total | $15 | 625/month | Yes |
| Haiper | 10/day | $10 | Unlimited | No |
| Kling | Login bonus | $10 | 660 | Yes |
| Sora | N/A | $20/month | 50/month | Yes |
| Hailuo MiniMax | Purchasable | $14.99 | 4,000/month | Yes |
The single biggest different between image generation and video generation is the need to specify motion in a prompt, and the best way to do this is to use cinematic language; describe the placement and motion of the camera, outline lighting and explain scene changes if needed. Define the environment and atmosphere, maintain temporal consistency and iterate your prompts until you get the result you want.
Visit this page on Tom’s Guide to find out in more depth what contributors Amanda Caswell and Ryan Morrison think are the best video generators and why. They cover:
- Veo 3 – “best for overall video with audio”
- Kling – “impressive video motion and quality”)
- Hailuo MiniMax – “reliable and precise output”
- Sora – “a storyboarding powerhouse”
- Luma Labs Dream Machine – “a co-creator for your vision”
- Pika Labs – “keeping characters cohesive”
- Runway – “versatility meets innovation”
- Haiper – “playground for creative exploration”
Main image ℅ Runway