AI Video Models Compared (2026): 20+ Models by Price & Use Case
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Q: Which AI video model should I use in 2026?
A: Match the model to the job:
- Cheapest drafts — Grok Imagine (from 2 credits), Vidu Q3 Turbo (from 2), MiniMax H3 Max Turbo (from 2, with audio)
- Low-cost clips with native audio — VEO 3.1 Lite (from 3 credits, 4–8s)
- Short clips with audio at 1080p — VEO 3.1 Fast (from 6 credits, same price at 1080p), LTX-2.3 Fast (from 5)
- 1080p shots up to 15 seconds — Kling 3.0 Standard (from 8) or Pro (from 10)
- Up to 9 reference images for consistency — Seedance 2.0 (from 10 credits)
- Longest single take (30s) — Seedance 2.5 (from 11 credits)
- Highest output resolution — MiniMax H3, with 2K and 4K tiers (from 7 and 8 credits for 5s)
- Budget image-to-video — Hailuo 2.3 (from 3), PixVerse V6 (from 4)
- Making a clip longer — video extension with VEO 3.1: +7 seconds (cost shown in the app)
Prices are Viralance credits for the cheapest configuration of each model, checked October 1, 2026. One credit costs $0.30 on the Mini pack ($9 for 30) and about $0.18 on the Business pack ($299 for 1,650). Longer durations and higher resolutions cost more.
The full comparison
| Model | From (credits) | Durations | Max resolution | Modes | Native audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grok Imagine | 2 | 5, 6, 10, 15s | 720p | Text, image | Not listed |
| Vidu Q3 Turbo | 2 | 5, 8, 10, 16s | 1080p | Text, image | Yes |
| MiniMax H3 Max Turbo | 2 | 5, 10, 15s | 1080p | Text, image | Yes |
| VEO 3.1 Lite | 3 | 4, 6, 8s | 1080p | Text, image | Yes |
| Kling 2.5 Turbo Pro | 3 | 5, 10s | Not listed | Text only | No |
| Hunyuan 1.5 | 3 | 5, 8s | 480p | Image only | No |
| Hailuo 2.3 | 3 | 6, 10s (1080p: 6s) | 1080p | Text, image | Not listed |
| MiniMax H3 | 3 | 5, 10, 15s | 4K (2K/4K upscaled from 768p) | Text, image, reference | Yes (stereo) |
| Grok Imagine 1.5 | 3 | 5, 6, 10s | 720p | Image only | Yes |
| PixVerse V6 | 4 | 5, 8s | 1080p | Text, image | Yes |
| Wan 3.0 | 4 | 5, 10, 15s | 1080p | Text, image | Yes |
| LTX-2.3 Fast | 5 | 6, 8, 10s | 1080p | Text, image | Yes |
| Seedance 2.0 Mini | 5 | 5, 10, 15s | 720p | Text, image | Yes |
| VEO 3.1 Fast | 6 | 4, 6, 8s | 1080p | Text, image, reference | Yes |
| Kling 2.6 Pro | 6 | 5, 10s | Not listed | Image only | Yes |
| Kling 3.0 Standard | 8 | 5, 10, 15s | 1080p | Text, image | Yes |
| Happy Horse 1.1 | 8 | 5, 8, 10s | 1080p | Text, image | Yes, with lip-sync |
| Kling O3 Pro | 9 | 5, 10, 15s | 1080p | Text, image | Yes |
| Kling 3.0 Pro | 10 | 5, 10, 15s | 1080p | Text, image, reference | Yes |
| Seedance 2.0 | 10 | 5, 10, 15s | 1080p | Text, image, reference | Yes |
| Seedance 2.5 | 11 | 5, 10, 15, 30s | 720p | Text, image, reference | Yes |
"Not listed" means Viralance's catalog does not specify it; check the editor. VEO 3.1 Fast image-to-video runs at 8 seconds in the editor. VEO 3 Fast, LTX-2 19B, PixVerse v5 and WAN 2.7 were retired on October 1, 2026; VEO 3.1 Fast, LTX-2.3 Fast, PixVerse V6 and Wan 3.0 replace them.
Video tools (work on an existing clip): 4K upscaling, Lucy Restyle (10 credits per minute), Auto Subtitles (3 credits), Remove Background (4 credits), Motion Transfer with DreamActor v2 (from 4 credits for 5 seconds), Reframe, Lip Sync (1 credit per second, minimum 10) and video extension (VEO 3.1, +7 seconds).
How to choose, by use case
Cheapest way to test an idea
Grok Imagine (2 credits for 5 seconds at 480p) and Vidu Q3 Turbo (2 credits for 5 seconds at 540p, up to 16 seconds) let you try many drafts. At $0.30 per credit, a 2-credit draft costs 60 cents on the Mini pack.
Low-cost clips with sound
VEO 3.1 Lite makes 4, 6 or 8-second clips at 720p or 1080p with native audio, from 3 credits (5 credits for 8 seconds at 720p). Google positions it as its most cost-effective Veo model (Google).
A reliable default for short clips
VEO 3.1 Fast (6, 8 or 12 credits at 720p or 1080p) offers native audio, text-to-video, image-to-video and reference-to-video with up to 3 images. It is the editor's default model.
1080p shots up to 15 seconds
Kling 3.0 Standard (8, 14 or 22 credits) and Kling 3.0 Pro (10, 18 or 28 credits) both output 1080p with native audio at 5, 10 or 15 seconds; Pro adds reference-to-video. See Kling 3.0 Standard vs Pro.
Consistent characters and products
Seedance 2.0 accepts up to 9 reference images in reference-to-video on Viralance, offers 480p to 1080p, and generates native audio. 5 seconds costs 10 credits at 480p, 12 at 720p or 28 at 1080p.
One long take
Seedance 2.5 makes single takes of 5, 10, 15 or 30 seconds at 480p or 720p. A 30-second clip costs 66 credits at 480p or 142 at 720p. See Seedance 2.5 vs 2.0.
Animate a still photo
Most models above accept a start image. The cheapest image-to-video options are VEO 3.1 Lite and Hailuo 2.3 (3 credits at 720p). To drive a character photo with the motion of another video, use Motion Transfer (DreamActor v2, from 4 credits).
Why use a multi-model platform instead of one model
- Pick the model per shot — a cheap draft model for iteration, another for the final render.
- One credit balance — one-time packs from $9, no subscription, credits that do not expire.
- Cost shown before you generate — and credits are refunded under the failed-generation rules if a job fails.
When one model covers everything you make, that model's own app may be simpler or cheaper at high volume — compare before committing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest AI video model on Viralance? Grok Imagine and MiniMax H3 Max Turbo (5 seconds at 480p) and Vidu Q3 Turbo (5 seconds at 540p) start at 2 credits per clip.
Which model makes the longest clip? Seedance 2.5, with single takes up to 30 seconds. Vidu Q3 Turbo reaches 16 seconds; Grok Imagine, Kling 3.0, Kling O3 Pro, Seedance 2.0 and 2.0 Mini, Wan 3.0, MiniMax H3 and H3 Max Turbo reach 15.
Which models generate audio? In Viralance's catalog: VEO 3.1 Fast, VEO 3.1 Lite, Kling 3.0 Standard and Pro, Kling O3 Pro, Kling 2.6 Pro, Seedance 2.0, 2.0 Mini and 2.5, Vidu Q3 Turbo, Grok Imagine 1.5, LTX-2.3 Fast, Wan 3.0, Happy Horse 1.1, PixVerse V6, MiniMax H3 and H3 Max Turbo. For silent clips, you can add an AI voice-over separately.
Can I draft on one model and finish on another? Yes. Draft with a low-cost model, then re-render the prompt on the model you want for the final. The re-render is a new generation, so expect differences.
Do I own the videos? Viralance's terms say you retain ownership of the videos you generate. You remain responsible for rights in your inputs, such as photos of people, logos and music.
Keep going — related questions
- VEO 3.1 Fast vs VEO 3 Fast
- VEO 3 vs Seedance 2.0
- Sora shut down: where to move your workflow
- Every model on iPhone — the Viralance iOS app
- How to make videos with AI in 2026
Try a model free. Create a Viralance account: new accounts get 4 free credits after email verification — enough for a VEO 3.1 Lite test; Kling 3.0 Standard starts at 8 credits, so it needs a pack such as the $9 Mini (30 credits). No subscription, and credits do not expire.
