Runway vs Pika
Two of the best known AI video tools side by side: free plans, what each plan buys, which models they run and the rights you get, from the official pages on 11 October 2026.
Updated
Ideas and uses
| Runway | Pika | Ziztu | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 125 one-time credits | No monthly credits (packs only); no watermark; no commercial license | 40 trial credits; 480p video with a watermark |
| First paid plan | Standard: $15 a month ($12 billed yearly), 625 credits | Starter: $10 a month ($8 billed yearly), 900 credits | Starter: $12 a month, 1,000 credits |
| Next plan | Pro: $35 a month ($28 yearly), 2,250 credits | Creator: $35 a month ($28 yearly), 3,150 credits | Creator: $29 a month, 2,500 credits |
| House model | Gen-4.5: 12 credits a second (52 s a month on Standard) | None listed; runs outside models such as Seedance 2.5 (122 credits for 5 s at 720p) and Wan 3.0 (33) | Runs outside models, such as MiniMax H3 Max Turbo (50 credits for 5 s at 768P) |
| Other models | Kling 3.0, Nano Banana Pro, Seedance 2.5 and more | Seedance 2.5, Wan 3.0, Nano Banana 2, GPT Image 2.5 | Kling 3.0 and O3, Seedance 2.5, Grok Imagine, HeyGen Video |
| Commercial use | See Runway's terms | Creator plan and up | Every paid plan |
| Beyond the clip | Editing tools, 4K upscaling, voice and sound | Effects and parallel generations | Shot planning, character sheets, timeline with music and captions |
Runway in short
Runway is a creative studio for filmmakers, with its own Gen-4.5 model, outside models and editing and upscaling tools. From the official pricing page on 11 October 2026:
- Free: $0, 125 one-time credits
- Standard: $15 a month, or $12 a month billed yearly, 625 credits a month (52 seconds of Gen-4.5), no watermarks
- Pro: $35 a month, or $28 a month billed yearly, 2,250 credits a month
- Max: $95 a month, or $76 a month billed yearly, 9,500 credits a month, unused credits roll over for a month
- Gen-4.5 uses 12 credits a second (60 credits for 5 seconds); the plans also include other models such as Kling 3.0 and Nano Banana Pro
Pika in short
Pika began with its own model and playful effects, and now runs outside models on credit packs, with no watermark on any plan. From the official pricing page on 11 October 2026:
- Free: $0, no monthly credits (credit packs only), all models, no watermark, no commercial license
- Starter: $10 a month, or $8 a month billed yearly, 900 credits a month, no commercial license
- Creator: $35 a month, or $28 a month billed yearly, 3,150 credits a month, commercial license
- Fancy: $95 to $880 a month ($76 to $704 billed yearly), 8,550 credits a month and up
- Credit packs: 60 credits per $1; a 5 second 720p Seedance 2.5 video is 122 credits, a 5 second 720p Wan 3.0 video 33 credits
Who should use which
Choose Runway for professional work that needs fine control, editing, upscaling and studio exports in one place, and for its Gen-4.5 model.
Choose Pika for a cheaper start, credit packs without a subscription, and quick experiments across several outside models. Pick the Creator plan if the work is commercial.
Choose Ziztu when the goal is a whole anime episode, short film or music video: a Director plans the shot list, character sheets keep the cast the same, and the clips are cut with music and captions on one timeline.
Sources (checked 11 October 2026)
Every price and limit on this page comes from the official pages below, read on 11 October 2026. Prices change often; check them before you buy. Ziztu's own prices come from its pricing page.
- Runway pricing (official page, read 11 October 2026)
- Pika pricing (official page, read 11 October 2026)
- Ziztu pricing
Frequently asked questions
Is Runway better than Pika?
Runway is the more complete studio, with its own Gen-4.5 model and editing tools. Pika is cheaper to start and simpler, with credit packs and outside models. For commercial use, Pika needs the Creator plan.
Which is cheaper, Runway or Pika?
Pika's first plan is $10 a month for 900 credits; Runway's is $15 a month for 625 credits. The credits buy different models at different rates, so compare the model you will actually use: 52 seconds of Gen-4.5 on Runway Standard, or 7 Seedance 2.5 clips on Pika Starter.
Do Runway and Pika have free plans?
Runway gives 125 one-time credits. Pika's free plan has no monthly credits and runs on credit packs, with no watermark and no commercial license.
Can I use Pika videos commercially?
On Pika's pricing page, the commercial license is included from the Creator plan ($35 a month) and not on Free or Starter.
Where does Ziztu fit?
Ziztu runs several outside models on one balance, like Pika, and adds what a film needs: shot planning, character sheets and a timeline. New accounts get 40 free credits for 480p results with a watermark.