AI token cost to generate video
Enter how many videos you need and how long they are; the tool calculates the AI video generation cost per second or by plan, comparing Runway, Veo, Kling and Pika. The figures are budgeting estimates, not an actual invoice.
AI token cost to generate video
AI video is usually priced by the second (clips × duration) or through a subscription with a quota. This tool converts your total seconds into a cost for each provider and recommends the best option.
Checklist before you start
Drawn from what we hit in practice — the traps that cost real money or force a rewrite.
- Confirm the tool still runs Before locking a video workflow, open the official pricing or docs page for Runway, Veo, Kling and Pika to confirm each one is still operating: Sora shut down its app and web on 26/04/2026, the API only survives until 24/09/2026, and there is no official successor. Vendor intro pages and old blog posts still promote tools that no longer exist, so trust pricing and technical docs only.
- Don't trust the free tier Runway grants 125 credits ONCE at signup, not every month; Pika gives 80 credits monthly but caps output at 480p, adds a watermark and bans commercial use; Veo has no free tier at all and requires a paid Google AI plan. Building a production schedule on these allowances breaks in the first month.
- Compare by videos × length Credits don't convert across vendors — Pika's 80 credits and Runway's 125 credits are different units, so putting them side by side means nothing. Convert every quote into the unit this calculator uses, number of videos × length, before comparing vendors.
- Choose API or subscription Per-second API pricing is usually cheaper at low volume, but it requires a developer to open a dev account, get an API key and write code — non-technical staff simply cannot use it. Without a developer on the team, take the subscription and plan for the moment a project blows past the quota and forces a tier upgrade.
- Settle commercial rights first Pika's free plan bans commercial use and stamps a watermark, so anything produced on it cannot be handed to a client. Read the commercial terms for Runway, Veo and Kling directly on each vendor's terms page before signing a client contract — free access is not the same as the right to sell the output.
- Re-check every number AI states plan names, prices and quotas with total confidence and still gets them wrong, and the video landscape moves fast — Sora shut down its app and website on 26 April 2026, with API access ending 24 September 2026. Before sending a quote or delivering, verify each figure against the official pricing page as it stands that day.
Frequently asked questions
How is AI video cost calculated?
By total seconds (number of videos × duration each) multiplied by the per-second price, or by a subscription with a quota.
How do Runway, Veo and Kling differ on price?
Each has a different price and quality level; the tool compares the cost of the same workload so you can choose. Note: OpenAI shut Sora down — the app and website went offline on 26 April 2026.
Are the figures accurate?
They are reference estimates for budgeting; provider pricing changes often.
What costs sit outside video generation?
Editing, voice-over, music and post-production are usually extra. This tool estimates only the AI generation step.
Why do real budgets tend to run higher?
AI video rarely lands on the first attempt, and a single shot may be re-rendered several times. Build an allowance for retries into the estimate.
Can AI video be used in commercial advertising?
It depends on the provider’s terms and the plan you are on. Some ad platforms also have their own disclosure rules for AI-generated material.
All figures are reference estimates. Built by the TOT team.
