Kling AI vs Runway
Kling AI and Runway are both AI image & video generation tools aimed at creators and agencies. Kling AI costs less, from $8.80/mo versus $15/mo for Runway. Both have a free plan.
Kuaishou's AI video generator for text-to-video and image-to-video
AI video generation and editing suite
| Pricing | Freemium · $9 | Freemium · $15 |
| Starting price | $8.80/mo | $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Creators, Agencies, Freelancers | Creators, Agencies |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web |
| Country | CN · 2024 | US · 2018 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Kling AI if
Creators and marketing teams that want high-quality AI video with strong motion and reference control at a moderate monthly cost.
- Realistic motion and physics at a competitive price
- Rapid model releases with clear jumps in clip length and control
- Low entry plan and an annual discount on most tiers
Look elsewhere if: Teams needing full timeline editing and collaboration (Runway) or quick, playful social effects with minimal setup (Pika).
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).
Kling AI vs Runway pricing
Kling AI
- Basic$066 free credits a day that expire after 24 hours
- Standard$8.80/moRenewal price; 660 credits/mo, $6.99 first month, $79.20/yr
- Pro$32.56/mo3,000 credits/mo; $293.04/yr
- Premier$80.96/mo8,000 credits/mo; $728.64/yr
- Ultra$159.99/mo26,000 credits/mo; monthly billing only
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
Kling AI · Key features
- Text-to-video and image-to-video with start and end frame control
- Kling 4.0 single-pass clips up to 30 seconds
- Up to 10 keyframes for shot-by-shot direction
- Omni Reference with up to 15 image, video and subject references
- Lip sync and character consistency across shots
- Image generation and editing alongside video
Cons
- Credits expire monthly and do not roll over
- High-quality modes and long clips burn credits quickly
- Promotional first-month prices make real cost harder to read
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
Kling AI vs Runway: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Kling AI or Runway?
Kling AI starts at $8.80/mo and Runway at $15/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Kling AI and Runway have a free plan?
Yes, both Kling AI and Runway have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.