Happy Valley

CutBay vs Runway

CutBay and Runway are both AI image & video generation tools. CutBay is aimed at creators and small businesses, while Runway is aimed at creators and agencies. Runway costs less, from $15/mo versus $29/mo for CutBay. Both have a free plan.

CutBay

Chat-based AI video agent that turns prompts and files into videos

Runway

AI video generation and editing suite

PricingFreemium · $29Freemium · $15
Starting price$29/mo$15/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Built forCreators, Small businesses, FreelancersCreators, Agencies
Platformswebweb
CountryHKUS · 2018
Rating——

Choose CutBay if

Marketers, educators and small businesses that want to turn existing slides, documents and links into short videos through chat.

  • Accepts many inputs, from prompts to slides and product pages
  • Free plan to test before paying
  • Credit tiers let you match volume closely

Look elsewhere if: Editors who need 4K output, timeline control or API automation (VEED, Invideo AI).

Choose Runway if

Creative professionals and agencies producing AI-assisted video.

  • Professional-grade generation quality
  • Broad editing toolset
  • Consistency controls for storytelling

Look elsewhere if: Simple talking-head videos (HeyGen, Synthesia).

CutBay vs Runway pricing

CutBay

  • Free$010 credits (about 1 video), 720p, watermark
  • Pro$29/mo500 credits (~25 videos), 1080p; $21/mo billed annually
  • Pro (larger tiers)$39 to $49/mo700 or 1,000 credits (~35 to 50 videos), 1080p, no watermark
  • Ultra$69/mo1,400 credits (~70 videos); up to $89 for 2,400 credits

Runway

  • Free$0125 one-time credits, 5 GB storage
  • Standard$15/user/mo$12 billed annually; 625 credits/mo, no watermark
  • Pro$35/user/mo$28 billed annually; 2,250 credits/mo, voice clone
  • Max$95/user/mo$76 billed annually; 9,500 credits/mo

CutBay · Key features

  • Chat-based agent that plans, produces and refines videos
  • Script, visuals, captions, voiceover, music and animation in one pass
  • PowerPoint, PDF, document, blog and product URL to video
  • Talking-head cleanup that removes filler words, silences and retakes
  • Automatic B-roll, motion graphics and animated charts
  • Stock media search or AI-generated images

Cons

  • Plans list 1080p as the top download quality
  • Free plan covers about one watermarked 720p video
  • No published integrations or API

Runway · Key features

  • Text and image to video with Gen-4
  • Character and scene consistency with References
  • Act-One performance capture
  • Video editing with prompts (Aleph)
  • Green screen, inpainting, motion tracking
  • Upscaling and audio tools

Cons

  • Credits deplete quickly
  • Generation length limits
  • Learning curve for best results

CutBay vs Runway: FAQ

Which is cheaper, CutBay or Runway?

Runway starts at $15/mo and CutBay at $29/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.

Do CutBay and Runway have a free plan?

Yes, both CutBay and Runway have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.

Which is better for small businesses, CutBay or Runway?

CutBay lists small businesses as a core audience, while Runway is aimed more at creators and agencies.

Not sure yet?