Updated 4 September 2026 · Independent comparison

Opus Clip vs Runway:
which should you use?

Opus Clip and Runway, side by side. Find the one that fits what you need to do.

Find your best fit

The 30-second answer

Opus Clip is built for video. Runway is built for video.

Pricing, simplified

Start free. Upgrade when you need more.

2 of 2 have a free plan 0 of 2 prices re-read automatically · how we know No paid placement

The 30-second comparison

If you only read one section, make it this one. Rows where both sides say the same thing are left out — the point is where they differ. Where each row came from is listed underneath.

Opus Clip and Runway side by side, with the better fit for each row.
CategoryOpus ClipRunwayBetter fit
What it's built forTakes a long video and cuts vertical clips from it, picking moments and adding captions automatically.The longest-running video lab, with editing tools around the generation rather than just a prompt box.Tie
Free planYes. Free forever plan with 60 credits a month, 1080p clips with a watermark, no editing, and clips that stop being exportable after three daysYes. Free forever plan with 125 one-time credits, a selection of models to test and 5GB storageTie
Cheapest way to pay$29 a month.$15 a month.Runway
What the paid tiers cost
  • One person, from $15/month
  • Per seat, from priced on request
  • One person, from $15/month
  • Per seat, from $69/month
  • Enterprise, priced on request
Tie
What to watch out forIts idea of a good moment is not always yours, and the caption timing needs a pass.Credit-based pricing burns fast when iterating. Free tier is for evaluation, not production.Tie
Made byOpus Clip — Santa Monica, US.Runway — New York, US.Tie

Runway is ahead on 1 of the 6 rows compared — cheapest way to pay — and it is not about how well it does the job. On fitness for the work, it and Opus Clip are level. Treat this as a tiebreaker, not a recommendation.

Ahead on the small print

Runway

The longest-running video lab, with editing tools around the generation rather than just a prompt box.

✓ The longest-running video lab, with editing tools around the generation rather than just a prompt box. ✓ You want the cheaper paid plan, $15 against $29 ✓ It is built for video ✓ Free forever plan with 125 one-time credits, a selection of models to test and 5GB storage
Choose Opus Clip instead if…

Takes a long video and cuts vertical clips from it, picking moments and adding captions automatically.

Opus Clip is the better answer when the job is what it was built for rather than what the pick above does broadly.

✓ Takes a long video and cuts vertical clips from it, picking moments and adding captions automatically. ✓ It is built for video ✓ Free forever plan with 60 credits a month, 1080p clips with a watermark, no editing, and clips that stop being exportable after three days ✓ It works in a browser with nothing to set up

How we know

Every row that separated these two, and where it came from. Nothing here is a hands-on test — if a line rests on a vendor’s own pricing page, it says so and links it.

The 1 row that decided this page, with the source for each.
RowFavoursWeightWhere it came from
Cheapest way to payRunwayEverything elseFrom each vendor’s own pricing page. Dates and pages are listed below.

The prices

Opus Clip. Read by hand off opus.pro on 4 September 2026. It is not on the monthly re-check, so confirm there before paying. opus.pro/pricing

Runway. Read by hand off runway.com on 4 September 2026. It is not on the monthly re-check, so confirm there before paying. runway.com/pricing

The ratings

The category these two share. Video — both are listed there in the catalogue, and the fit recorded against each listing is a judgement made here, by hand.

The nine-category grid below. Derived from what each product is listed for, by one script, once per build — so the same pair always reads the same. It is a derivation, not a review.

What this is not

Neither product was run side by side to produce this page. Nobody was paid to appear on it and nothing here is ranked by commission.

To put the same question to both and read the answers yourself, run them side by side — that is a live test, and this is not.

Choose based on what you’re doing

All ten categories, including the ones where neither of these is the answer. These ratings are derived from what each product is listed for, not from running it — a rating here is a reading of the record, and the record is linked.

01

General-Purpose AI Assistants

Questions, brainstorming, explanations, everyday tasks, decision-making, general advice.

Opus Clip
Bad fit
Runway
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
02

Search, Research & Academics

Web research, deep research, books, academic papers, citations, news, fact-checking.

Opus Clip
Bad fit
Runway
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
03

Writing, Communication & Language

Emails, reports, essays, editing, summarizing, translation, presentations.

Opus Clip
Bad fit
Runway
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
04

Coding, Data & Technical Work

Programming, debugging, data analysis, spreadsheets, math, engineering, technical research.

Opus Clip
Bad fit
Runway
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
05

Business, Finance & Professional Work

Business strategy, investing, market research, legal, sales, HR, accounting, consulting.

Opus Clip
Bad fit
Runway
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
06

Image & Design

Image generation, photo editing, logos, graphics, product design, advertising creatives.

Opus Clip
Not a good fit
Runway
Not a good fit
Best choice: Neither
07

Video

Video generation and editing, clipping, subtitles, avatars, animation and motion capture.

Opus Clip
Built for this
Runway
Built for this
Best choice: Tie
08

Audio, Voice & Music

Voice generation, transcription, music, dubbing, sound cleanup and podcast production.

Opus Clip
Bad fit
Runway
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
09

Marketing & Content Creation

Social media, SEO, advertising, copywriting, content ideas, scripts, brand development.

Opus Clip
Not a good fit
Runway
Not a good fit
Best choice: Neither
10

Productivity, Automation & Personal Life

AI agents, workflows, scheduling, meetings, organization, shopping, travel, personal finance.

Opus Clip
Bad fit
Runway
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
Pick Opus Clip if

Takes a long video and cuts vertical clips from it, picking moments and adding captions automatically.

Santa Monica, US
Takes a long video and cuts vertical clips from it, picking moments and adding captions automatically.
It is built for video
Free forever plan with 60 credits a month, 1080p clips with a watermark, no editing, and clips that stop being exportable after three days
It works in a browser with nothing to set up
Pick Runway if

The longest-running video lab, with editing tools around the generation rather than just a prompt box.

New York, US
The longest-running video lab, with editing tools around the generation rather than just a prompt box.
You want the cheaper paid plan, $15 against $29
It is built for video
Free forever plan with 125 one-time credits, a selection of models to test and 5GB storage

Pricing, simplified

The plans people actually compare, read from each vendor’s own page.

PricingSimple, up-to-date plan overview.
Opus Clipby Opus Clip
Runwayby Runway
Free version
Opus Clip
Yes — Free plan availableFree forever plan with 60 credits a month, 1080p clips with a watermark, no editing, and clips
Runway
Yes — Free plan availableFree forever plan with 125 one-time credits, a selection of models to test and 5GB storage
Individual plans
Opus Clip
Starter $15 / month
Pro $29 / month$14.50 / month (annual)
Runway
Standard $15 / month$12 / month (annual)
Pro $35 / month$28 / month (annual)
Max $95 / month$76 / month (annual)
Business plans
Opus Clip
Custom pricing
Runway
From $69 / user / monthFrom $55 / user / month (annual)Team
Enterprise
Opus ClipNot published
Runway
Custom pricing
View full details
Interactive

Tell us what you use AI for

Pick your main job and the verdict below changes to match. Every answer is on the page already, so this works as a reader, not a lookup.

The verdict for that job
Evenly matched
Close call. Both cover video at the same level; both have a free plan you can start on; Runway is cheaper to start paying for, $15 against $29.
6 rows compared

Frequently asked questions

Is Opus Clip or Runway better?

Runway is ahead on 1 of the 6 rows compared — cheapest way to pay — and it is not about how well it does the job. On fitness for the work, it and Opus Clip are level. Treat this as a tiebreaker, not a recommendation. both have a free plan you can start on; Runway is cheaper to start paying for, $15 against $29. Opus Clip: Takes a long video and cuts vertical clips from it, picking moments and adding captions automatically. Runway: The longest-running video lab, with editing tools around the generation rather than just a prompt box.

Is Opus Clip or Runway cheaper?

Runway — paid plans start at $15 a month against $29 a month.

Do Opus Clip and Runway both have free plans?

Yes. Opus Clip: Free forever plan with 60 credits a month, 1080p clips with a watermark, no editing, and clips that stop being exportable after three days. Runway: Free forever plan with 125 one-time credits, a selection of models to test and 5GB storage.

What should I watch out for?

Opus Clip: Its idea of a good moment is not always yours, and the caption timing needs a pass. Runway: Credit-based pricing burns fast when iterating. Free tier is for evaluation, not production.

Read more

Opus Clip

What it is for, who makes it, what it costs and what to use instead.

Runway

What it is for, who makes it, what it costs and what to use instead.

Best AI Video Tools

Video generation and editing, clipping, subtitles, avatars, animation and motion capture.