Hailuo AI vs Runway ML
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Hailuo AI and Runway ML.
🏆
Verdict: Runway ML wins
Runway ML scores 4.2/5, edging out Hailuo AI at 4.0/5. Filmmakers, editors and creative teams putting AI-generated shots into paid deliverables who will use Runway's editing tools, not just its generator.
Hailuo AI AI-videogeneratie (MiniMax) | Runway ML The creative AI tools company | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.0 (1 review) | 4.2 (1 review) |
| Pricing Model | paid | freemium |
| Starting Price | Pricing varies | Free tier available |
| Best For | Performance marketers and creators producing short ad or social clips who want top-tier motion quality and can manage a credit budget deliberately. | Filmmakers, editors and creative teams putting AI-generated shots into paid deliverables who will use Runway's editing tools, not just its generator. |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | — | free tierapi access |
| Visit Runway ML → |
Hailuo AI
Pros
- + Motion quality is the best thing about it: gaits, hands and object interaction stayed physically plausible frame to frame in my clips
- + Per-clip economics undercut the Western alternatives: about $0.37 per six-second 768p clip on Standard at list price using the plan FAQ's own counts
- + API pricing is published and cheap: H3 at $0.08 per second at 768p and $0.13 at 2K, with free input images up to a small allowance
- + Reference-image conditioning (up to 12 images via Omni Reference) gave me consistent looks across a set of clips
- + The team ships visibly: monthly credits on Max rose from 20,000 to 27,000 and the H3 generation launched on 31 July 2026
Cons
- - Credit accounting mixes units across model generations (clip counts for Hailuo 01/02, seconds for H3), so real cost per clip is hard to compute
- - Plan FAQ says Standard processes one task at a time while the subscription terms say two simultaneous videos; my queue behaved as one
- - Promotional prices ($7.99 Standard, $24.99 Pro, $63.99 Master) are labeled temporary against much higher list prices
- - Free-tier credits expire three days after grant and free output is barred from advertising use per the terms of service
- - API terms do not state whether generated output may run in paid advertising, which is a problem for agency use
Runway ML
Pros
- + Aleph 2.0 edits footage you already have — I produced three campaign variants from one hero shot by changing background and product while the performance held
- + Deepest toolchain in the category: generation, workflows, canvas, Act-Two performance capture, ProRes/PNG export, and a documented API
- + Credit math is transparent: 12 credits/second for Gen-4.5 published, top-ups flat at $0.01 each with 1,000 minimum and no expiry
- + Honest help-center language — Runway itself calls Standard 'light, exploratory usage', which matched my measured yield of 3–4 usable shots/month
- + Strong institutional footing: founded 2018, ~$1.05B raised, $5.3B valuation (Feb 2026), Runway Studios and an AI film festival for ecosystem gravity
Cons
- - Expensive per finished second — Standard's 625 credits buy ~52s of Gen-4.5 before retries, so Pro ($28/mo annual) is the practical floor
- - Flagship generation is capped at 720p in-app while Aleph edits at 1080p; resolution runs backwards through the workflow
- - No native long-form generation (2–10s Gen-4.5 clips) — narrative sequences need external assembly
- - The Unlimited plan stopped selling on 1 June 2026 and its Unlimited/Explore Mode replacement excludes Gen-4.5 and covers a model list Runway says may change
- - Queues are noticeably slower at peak on lower tiers; priority is effectively a paid feature
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Hailuo AI or Runway ML?▼
Runway ML scores higher at 4.2/5 vs 4.0/5 for Hailuo AI, making it the better-rated option in our comparison.
What is the difference between Hailuo AI and Runway ML?▼
Hailuo AI: Hailuo AI is MiniMax's video and image generator, creating clips from text prompts or a reference photo. Runway ML: Runway is an AI company whose creative suite lets filmmakers, designers, and marketers generate and edit video and images from text or image prompts in the browser.
Is Hailuo AI or Runway ML more affordable?▼
Hailuo AI starts at €0/mo, Runway ML starts at €0/mo. Check the comparison table above for current pricing.
Stay in the loop
Get weekly updates on the best new AI tools, deals, and comparisons.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.