AI Video Cost Calculator 2026
Estimate generation credits, retry overhead and monthly plan usage before you burn through a video budget. Current rates are tied to official provider documentation and kept separate by platform.
Compare 6 usage and expiry systems →
Compare model specs →
Why retries matter: a 5-second shot that costs 60 credits is not really a 60-credit production decision if you need four attempts to approve one version. Set the number of final clips and the average attempts per approved clip to budget the whole generation loop.
- Pictory: if your workflow starts with scripts, articles, webinars, podcasts or presentations, compare a repurposing-first workflow. Check Pictory plans → Code AIVIDEOSIGNAL gives 20% off where applicable.
- Creatify: for ecommerce and product-ad workflows, compare a purpose-built ad-creative route before adding more general generation credits. Try Creatify →
- ElevenLabs: if narration or dubbing is a separate cost layer, price the voice workflow independently. Check ElevenLabs →
These are verified partner links. They are adjacent workflow options, not replacements for the four calculator platforms.
How the calculator handles each platform
| Platform | Rate used | What the dollar figure means |
|---|---|---|
| Runway | Gen-4.5 12 credits/s; Gen-4 Turbo 5 credits/s | Share of selected monthly subscription allowance consumed. |
| Kling AI | VIDEO 3.0: 6–12 credits/s depending on resolution/audio | Share of selected renewal-price monthly plan allowance consumed. |
| Hailuo AI | Hailuo 2.3: 25 credits (768p/6s), 50 credits (768p/10s or 1080p/6s) | Share of Standard plan allowance consumed. |
| Pika API | Pika 2.5: direct per-second API pricing | Estimated direct successful-run API usage cost; $10/month API Club membership is separate. |
Why “cost per approved shot” beats “cost per generation”
Published rates price a generation, but production budgets pay for iteration. If a model costs 12 credits per second, a 10-second attempt uses 120 credits. At three attempts per approved shot, one approved 10-second shot has consumed 360 credits before you count editing, upscaling or alternate versions.
The retry multiplier is therefore the most important field in this tool. Track your own approval rate over 20–50 generations and replace the default with your real average.
Do not compare vendor credits directly
A Kling credit is not a Runway credit, and neither is a dollar. Each platform sets its own monthly allowance and model burn rates. The calculator deliberately reports credits within the selected platform and converts them only into a share of that platform's plan allowance. For broader subscription context, use the AI Video Pricing Tracker.
Official rates used
- Runway credits guide — Standard 625, Pro 2,250, Max 9,500 monthly credits; Gen-4.5 12 credits/s.
- Runway Gen-4 guide — Gen-4 Turbo 5 credits/s.
- Kling VIDEO 3.0 guide — 6/8/9/12 credits per second by mode and resolution.
- Kling pricing/credits guide — monthly allowances and renewal references.
- Hailuo 2.3 official launch guide — 25/50-credit generation examples.
- Hailuo subscription terms — Standard $14.99 and 1,000 credits/month.
- Pika API pricing — Pika 2.5 direct per-second rates.
Budgeting workflow
- Choose the exact model/mode you plan to use.
- Enter final clips, not raw generations.
- Use your real average retry factor if you have one.
- Compare total consumption with your monthly allowance.
- Add editing/upscaling/voice costs separately when those use additional credits.
- Verify the provider's live billing page before purchasing or renewing.