Runway
The longest-running video lab, with editing tools around the generation rather than just a prompt box.
What Runway is best for
The categories Runway is listed in, and how strong a fit it is in each.
Video
Video generation and editing, clipping, subtitles, avatars, animation and motion capture.
Built for this
Runway’s biggest strengths
VideoThe longest-running video lab, with editing tools around the generation rather than just a prompt box.
Where it may not be the best fit
VideoCredit-based pricing burns fast when iterating. Free tier is for evaluation, not production.
Runway pricing
Runway has a free plan. Free forever plan with 125 one-time credits, a selection of models to test and 5GB storage
FreeFree forever plan with 125 one-time credits, a selection of models to test and 5GB storage
$0Standard625 credits a month, all video and image models, 5 parallel generations, 3 projects, no watermarks, 4K upscaling, 20GB storage
$15/mo · $12/mo yearlyPro2,250 credits a month, 15 parallel generations, 5 projects, a Brand Kit, a custom voice clone, unlimited 4K video upscaling, 100GB storage
$35/mo · $28/mo yearlyMax9,500 credits a month that roll over a month, 20 parallel generations, 10 projects, early access to new models, studio-grade output
$95/mo · $76/mo yearlyTeam165,600 credits a year shared across the team, 100 shared projects, 24 parallel generations
$69/mo · $55/mo yearlyEnterpriseUnlimited members and projects, custom credits, security and admin controls. An API tier is priced separately
CustomChecked by hand on 4 September 2026. Prices change often, so confirm on the provider’s own page before spending.
Who makes Runway
Longest-running video lab; has pivoted toward studio and enterprise workflows rather than consumer.
CompanyRunway
Founded2018
Based inNew York, US
SectorVideo
ModelGen series
StatusPrivate
Primary usersStudios, Advertising
Free planYes
Valuation$3B (2025-04)
InvestorsGeneral Atlantic, Nvidia, Google, Salesforce Ventures
ComputeNvidia, AWS
Public listingNone announced
Best alternatives to Runway
Tools that do comparable work, best fit first, drawn from the catalogue rather than hand-picked. Every one is listed whether or not there is money in it for us.
Descript
Free
Edits video and audio by editing the transcript, which is the fastest workflow available for podcasts and talking-head content.
View Descript →HeyGen
Free
Avatars and video translation with lip-sync, aimed at repurposing one video across many languages.
View HeyGen →Opus Clip
Free
Takes a long video and cuts vertical clips from it, picking moments and adding captions automatically.
View Opus Clip →Riverside
Free
Records remote interviews at full quality on each end rather than over the call, then edits by transcript.
View Riverside →Synthesia
Free
Avatar-presented video from a script, in dozens of languages. Built for training and internal comms at scale.
View Synthesia →Luma AI
Free
Fast generation with good camera-motion control, plus 3D capture from ordinary footage.
View Luma AI →Runway by job
Where Runway sits in the wider category pages.
Best AI Video Tools
Built for this — Video generation and editing, clipping, subtitles, avatars, animation and motion capture.
Questions about Runway
Is Runway free?
Yes — Free forever plan with 125 one-time credits, a selection of models to test and 5GB storage. The cheapest paid tier is Standard, at $15/mo month to month or $12/mo billed yearly.
What is Runway best at?
The longest-running video lab, with editing tools around the generation rather than just a prompt box. It is listed under Video, and this is what it is built for.
What should I watch out for with Runway?
Credit-based pricing burns fast when iterating. Free tier is for evaluation, not production.
What are the alternatives to Runway?
6 tools do comparable work: Descript, HeyGen, Opus Clip, Riverside, Synthesia, Luma AI. 6 of them have a free plan.
How current is this Runway pricing?
Checked by hand on 4 September 2026. Prices change often — confirm on the provider's own page before spending.