Pika vs Runway
Pika and Runway are both AI image & video generation tools. Pika is aimed at creators, while Runway is aimed at creators and agencies. Pika costs less, from $10/mo versus $15/mo for Runway. Both have a free plan.
| Pricing | Freemium · $10 | Freemium · $15 |
| Starting price | $10/mo | $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Creators | Creators, Agencies |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web |
| Country | US · 2023 | US · 2018 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Pika if
Social creators wanting fun AI video effects.
- Great for viral social effects
- Easy to use
- Affordable plans
Look elsewhere if: Professional film and ad production (Runway).
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).
Pika vs Runway pricing
Pika
- Free$0No monthly credits (packs only), no watermark
- Starter$10/mo$8/mo billed annually; 900 credits/mo
- Creator$35/mo$28/mo billed annually; 3,150 credits, commercial use
- Fancy$95/mo$76/mo annually; 8,550+ credits, up to $880/mo
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
Pika · Key features
- Text and image to video
- Pikaffects viral effects
- Pikadditions and Pikaswaps for editing footage
- Lip sync
- Keyframe transitions
- Mobile app
Cons
- Short clip lengths
- Less cinematic than Runway
- No monthly credits on free
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
Pika vs Runway: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Pika or Runway?
Pika starts at $10/mo and Runway at $15/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Pika and Runway have a free plan?
Yes, both Pika and Runway have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.