Comparison
The best Runway alternatives: Kling, Luma and Pika come closest
RunwayKling, Luma and Pika are the closest Runway alternatives: all three turn text and images into AI video. Google Veo comes with a Gemini plan, and InVideo, VEED, CapCut and Cutroom help when you need a finished video.
In short
- The best Runway alternatives are Kling, Luma, Pika, Google Veo, InVideo, VEED, CapCut and Cutroom. Kling, Luma and Pika come closest.
- Kling, Luma and Pika generate video from text and images, like Runway. Pika starts at $8 a month billed yearly.
- Kling Standard is $8.80 a month after a $6.99 first month, but Kling does not say how many seconds that buys.
- Google Veo comes with a Google AI plan. Pro, at $19.99 a month, includes a limited trial, and full Veo needs Ultra, from $99.99.
- Cutroom does not generate video. It edits one clip of you talking into a finished 9:16 ad.
- Runway Standard a month, billed yearly
- $12
- of video a month on Runway Standard, with its newest model
- 52 sec
- Pika Starter a month, billed yearly
- $8
Runway alternatives at a glance
Runway generates video from text prompts and photos. Here is what each alternative does, what it costs and who it suits.
Runway alternatives compared
Prices as published on each company's own site.
| Tool | Best for | Editing approach | Platform | Pricing from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kling | AI video from text or images, at a low monthly price | Type a prompt or add an image, it generates the clip | Web | Standard $8.80/month ($6.99 first month) |
| AI video from text and images | Type a prompt or add an image, it generates the clip | Web | Plus $25/month yearly ($30 monthly) | |
 Pika | Trying AI video on a small budget | Type a prompt or add an image, it generates the clip | Web | Free plan; Starter $8/month yearly ($10 monthly) |
| Google Veo | AI video from Google, inside the Gemini app | Describe the shot in Gemini, Veo generates the clip | Gemini app | Google AI Pro $19.99/month (limited trial) |
 InVideo | A whole video from one prompt | Describe the video, AI writes it and adds footage and a voice | Web, iOS, Android | Basic $9/month, yearly |
| Editing clips into a video in your browser | Video timeline with auto subtitles and AI tools | Browser, mobile app | Free plan; Creator $10/user/month, yearly | |
 CapCut | Free editing with effects and templates | Timeline with templates, effects and AI tools on Pro | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, web | Free; Pro $19.99/month, varies by region |
| Cutroom | One clip of you talking into a finished 9:16 ad | Edits your clip for you: cuts, captions, b-roll, hook | Web | First video free; Lite $19.99/month |
- Kling
- Best for
- AI video from text or images, at a low monthly price
- Approach
- Type a prompt or add an image, it generates the clip
- Platform
- Web
- Pricing from
- Standard $8.80/month ($6.99 first month)
Luma
- Best for
- AI video from text and images
- Approach
- Type a prompt or add an image, it generates the clip
- Platform
- Web
- Pricing from
- Plus $25/month yearly ($30 monthly)
- Pika
- Best for
- Trying AI video on a small budget
- Approach
- Type a prompt or add an image, it generates the clip
- Platform
- Web
- Pricing from
- Free plan; Starter $8/month yearly ($10 monthly)
Google Veo
- Best for
- AI video from Google, inside the Gemini app
- Approach
- Describe the shot in Gemini, Veo generates the clip
- Platform
- Gemini app
- Pricing from
- Google AI Pro $19.99/month (limited trial)
- InVideo
- Best for
- A whole video from one prompt
- Approach
- Describe the video, AI writes it and adds footage and a voice
- Platform
- Web, iOS, Android
- Pricing from
- Basic $9/month, yearly
VEED
- Best for
- Editing clips into a video in your browser
- Approach
- Video timeline with auto subtitles and AI tools
- Platform
- Browser, mobile app
- Pricing from
- Free plan; Creator $10/user/month, yearly
- CapCut
- Best for
- Free editing with effects and templates
- Approach
- Timeline with templates, effects and AI tools on Pro
- Platform
- iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, web
- Pricing from
- Free; Pro $19.99/month, varies by region
Cutroom
- Best for
- One clip of you talking into a finished 9:16 ad
- Approach
- Edits your clip for you: cuts, captions, b-roll, hook
- Platform
- Web
- Pricing from
- First video free; Lite $19.99/month
Prices and plans read from each vendor's own pricing page on 21 September 2026.
Which Runway alternatives generate video and which edit it?
Runway makes new footage. Kling, Luma, Pika and Google Veo do the same, while the other tools turn footage into a finished video.
What each tool does, and what you start with
| Tool | What it does | What you start with |
|---|---|---|
| Runway | Generates video | A text prompt or a photo |
| Kling, Luma, Pika, Google Veo | Generate video | A text prompt or an image |
| InVideo | Makes a whole video | A prompt or a script |
| VEED, CapCut | Edit video | Your own footage or clips |
| Cutroom | Edits a clip of you into an ad | One clip of you talking |
Tool: Runway
- What it does
- Generates video
- What you start with
- A text prompt or a photo
Tool: Kling, Luma, Pika, Google Veo
- What it does
- Generate video
- What you start with
- A text prompt or an image
Tool: InVideo
- What it does
- Makes a whole video
- What you start with
- A prompt or a script
Tool: VEED, CapCut
- What it does
- Edit video
- What you start with
- Your own footage or clips
Tool: Cutroom
- What it does
- Edits a clip of you into an ad
- What you start with
- One clip of you talking
This is the whole editor
Highlight a phrase and a clip lands on those exact words. No timeline, no keyframes, no layers.
Kling
Kling is one of the closest Runway alternatives. It makes video from a text prompt or an image, and it also makes images and sound.
- Best for: creators who want AI video shots at a low monthly price.
- Price: Standard is $8.80 a month after a $6.99 first month, and Pro is $32.56 a month. Yearly billing is shown at 34% off.
- Kling also has an AI video editor, avatar tools and effects.
- Tradeoff: the $6.99 price is for the first month only, and Kling does not say how many seconds of video a plan makes, so you cannot compare it with Runway's 52 seconds.
Luma
Luma is one of the closest Runway alternatives. It makes video from text or images, and it can make a clip longer or change its shape.
- Best for: creators and marketers who want AI-generated shots and short clips.
- Price: Plus is $30 a month, or $25 billed yearly. It makes about 2 minutes of 1080p video a month with Luma's own model. Pro is $90 a month, or $75 billed yearly, for four times as much.
- Free plan: none listed on its pricing page.
- Luma can change a video's shape, for example from wide to vertical, make a clip longer, and add a voice-over with matching lips. All paid plans allow business use.
- Tradeoff: you pay at least $25 a month, billed yearly, before you can try it, while Runway has a free plan.
Pika
Pika is another close Runway alternative. It makes video, images and sound from a prompt, and it can make a clip longer or change its colours.
- Best for: creators who want to try AI video without spending much.
- Price: Starter is $10 a month, or $8 billed yearly. Creator is $35 a month, or $28 billed yearly.
- Starter makes 7 to 27 five-second clips a month at 720p, depending on which AI model you pick. Creator makes 25 to 95.
- Free plan: yes, but it comes with no monthly credits, so you buy credit packs to generate.
- Pika adds no watermark on any plan.
- Tradeoff: Starter has no commercial licence, so for ads you need Creator or higher.
Google Veo
Google Veo is Google's AI video model. You use it inside the Gemini app, and it comes with a Google AI plan.
- Best for: people who already pay for Gemini and want to try AI video.
- Price: Google AI Pro is $19.99 a month and includes a limited Veo trial.
- Free plan: the free Gemini plan lists image generation, but no video.
- Tradeoff: full Veo needs Google AI Ultra, from $99.99 a month, and Google does not say how many videos a plan makes.
InVideo
InVideo makes a whole video from one prompt. It writes the script, adds stock and AI-made footage and reads it with an AI voice.
- Best for: explainer videos and YouTube channels where nobody appears on camera.
- Price: Basic is $9 a month billed yearly, and Pro is $25, or $30 monthly. InVideo does not say how many videos its credits make.
- Free plan: none listed on its pricing page.
- InVideo can also make new footage with AI. You fix the draft on a timeline, and there are apps for iPhone and Android.
- Tradeoff: InVideo builds the whole video for you, so you control each shot less than in Runway.
VEED
VEED is a browser video editor with text-to-video and other AI tools built in.
- Best for: putting clips together with subtitles, music and your brand in one place.
- Price: Creator is $10 per user a month, Pro is $21 and Studio is $35, all billed yearly.
- Free plan: yes, with a watermark that goes away on Creator.
- Every paid plan includes unlimited auto subtitles. VEED also has AI avatars, AI voices and screen recording.
- Tradeoff: you pay per user, and its AI tools use up credits.
CapCut
CapCut is a free video editor for your phone, computer and browser, with AI tools on Pro.
- Best for: editing generated or filmed clips into a video with effects and templates.
- Price: Pro is $19.99 a month or $179.99 a year, though the price varies by region.
- Free plan: yes, the standard editor with 8K export.
- Pro adds music generation, auto captions, background removal and motion tracking.
- Tradeoff: its AI video generation needs Pro, at $19.99 a month, against $15 a month for Runway Standard.
Runway alternatives pricing
Runway's free plan makes about 10 seconds of video with its newest model. Standard is $12 a month billed yearly, or $15 monthly.
- Runway Standard makes 52 seconds of video a month with its newest model, or 104 seconds with a faster, older one.
- Runway Pro is $28 a month billed yearly for 187 seconds with the newest model, and Max is $76 for 791 seconds.
- Kling and Google do not say how many seconds of video their plans make.
Free option and cheapest paid plan
From each company's pricing page, checked 21 September 2026.
| Tool | Free option | Cheapest paid plan | Video on that plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runway | About 10 seconds, once | Standard: $12 a month yearly, $15 monthly | 52 seconds a month, newest model |
| Kling | Not shown on its plans page | Standard: $8.80 a month ($6.99 first month) | Not stated |
| Luma | None listed | Plus: $25 a month yearly, $30 monthly | About 2 minutes at 1080p |
| Pika | Free plan with no monthly credits | Starter: $8 a month yearly, $10 monthly | 7 to 27 five-second clips, by model |
| Google Veo | None; free Gemini has no video | Google AI Pro: $19.99 a month, limited trial | Not stated |
| InVideo | None listed | Basic: $9 a month yearly | Not stated |
| VEED | Free plan with a watermark | Creator: $10 per user a month yearly | You edit your own clips |
| CapCut | Free editor, 8K export | Pro: $19.99 a month or $179.99 a year | You edit your own clips |
| Cutroom | First video free, no card, within 7 days | Lite: $19.99 a month | About 10 finished 30-second ads |
Tool: Runway
- Free option
- About 10 seconds, once
- Cheapest paid plan
- Standard: $12 a month yearly, $15 monthly
- Video on that plan
- 52 seconds a month, newest model
Tool: Kling
- Free option
- Not shown on its plans page
- Cheapest paid plan
- Standard: $8.80 a month ($6.99 first month)
- Video on that plan
- Not stated
Tool: Luma
- Free option
- None listed
- Cheapest paid plan
- Plus: $25 a month yearly, $30 monthly
- Video on that plan
- About 2 minutes at 1080p
Tool: Pika
- Free option
- Free plan with no monthly credits
- Cheapest paid plan
- Starter: $8 a month yearly, $10 monthly
- Video on that plan
- 7 to 27 five-second clips, by model
Tool: Google Veo
- Free option
- None; free Gemini has no video
- Cheapest paid plan
- Google AI Pro: $19.99 a month, limited trial
- Video on that plan
- Not stated
Tool: InVideo
- Free option
- None listed
- Cheapest paid plan
- Basic: $9 a month yearly
- Video on that plan
- Not stated
Tool: VEED
- Free option
- Free plan with a watermark
- Cheapest paid plan
- Creator: $10 per user a month yearly
- Video on that plan
- You edit your own clips
Tool: CapCut
- Free option
- Free editor, 8K export
- Cheapest paid plan
- Pro: $19.99 a month or $179.99 a year
- Video on that plan
- You edit your own clips
Tool: Cutroom
- Free option
- First video free, no card, within 7 days
- Cheapest paid plan
- Lite: $19.99 a month
- Video on that plan
- About 10 finished 30-second ads
When is Runway still the better choice?
Runway is still the better pick when you need a shot that nobody could film.
- Runway turns a still photo into moving footage, and makes video from a text prompt.
- Runway also makes images and AI voice-overs, all paid for from one credit balance.
- Runway says how many seconds of video each plan makes, which Kling and Google do not.
- Runway has a free plan to try it, and Luma lists none.
Where Cutroom fits
Cutroom does not generate video. It edits one clip of you talking into a finished vertical ad, with captions and b-roll on your words.
- You upload one clip of yourself talking, up to 3 minutes long.
- Cutroom cuts it, adds captions timed to your voice and adds a hook.
- B-roll comes from a search of millions of free stock clips, placed on the words you pick.
- You get a finished 9:16 MP4. Lite, at $19.99 a month, covers about 10 finished 30-second ads.
- Your first video is free, with no card, and you have 7 days to make it. It carries a Cutroom mark; Lite at $19.99 a month removes it.
Which Runway alternative should you choose?
It depends on whether you need new shots or a finished video.
Which Runway alternative to choose
Choose Kling if you want AI video from text or images for under $10 a month.
Choose Luma if you want AI video from text or images and can pay from $25 a month.
Choose Pika if you want to try AI video cheaply, and can move to Creator for commercial use.
Choose Google Veo if you already pay for Gemini and want to try AI video there.
Choose InVideo if you want a whole video made from one prompt, with no filming.
Choose VEED if you want to put clips together in your browser with subtitles and your brand.
Choose CapCut if you want a free editor with effects and templates on every device.
Choose Cutroom if you need an ad with you in it rather than generated shots. Your first video is free.
Questions people ask
- What is the best Runway alternative?
- Kling, Luma and Pika are the closest Runway alternatives, because all three generate video from text and images. Pika is the cheapest to start, at $8 a month billed yearly. Google Veo comes with a Google AI plan, from $19.99 a month.
- Is there a free Runway alternative?
- Not among the closest ones. Pika's free plan includes no credits, Luma has no free plan, Kling shows paid plans only, and free Gemini has no Veo. Runway's own free plan makes about 10 seconds of video. CapCut and VEED have free editors.
- How much does Runway cost?
- Runway has a free plan that makes about 10 seconds of video. Standard is $12 a month billed yearly, or $15 monthly, for 52 seconds a month. Pro is $28 and Max is $76 a month, both billed yearly.
- Which Runway alternative can I use for ads?
- For generated ads, Pika Creator and Luma's paid plans both allow commercial use. For an ad with you in it, Cutroom edits one clip of you talking into a finished 9:16 ad.
- Is Sora a Runway alternative?
- Not any more. OpenAI shut down the Sora app and website on April 26, 2026, and the Sora API closes on September 24, 2026.
- Does Cutroom generate video?
- No. Cutroom edits video you filmed. The only AI-made video is its avatar, which comes with Basic at $39.99 a month.
Need an ad with you in it rather than generated shots? Film one clip and get the finished ad back. Your first video is free.