Text to Video AI: Turn a Prompt into a Video (2026 Guide)
Choose your settings and review the credit cost before generating.
Create your first videoText-to-video AI builds a clip from words alone: you write a prompt describing the scene, subject and camera, and the model generates the footage. This guide explains how it works, how to write prompts that produce usable clips, and what it costs on Viralance (checked September 26, 2026).
What is text-to-video AI?
Unlike image-to-video, which animates a picture you already have, text-to-video creates the footage from scratch from your description. It is the quickest way to get original footage without a camera, but you have less control over exactly what appears in frame.
How to make a text-to-video clip (step by step)
- Open the video editor and stay on Text-to-Video.
- Write your prompt — subject, scene, one action, camera movement and mood.
- Pick a model — see the table below.
- Choose the aspect ratio — 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts; 16:9 for YouTube. Not every model offers every ratio.
- Check the credit cost on the button, then generate. Generation time varies by model and queue; you can follow progress in your video library.
How to write a text-to-video prompt
A strong prompt has four parts:
- Subject — "a red sports car", "a barista", "a golden retriever puppy"
- Scene — "on a coastal highway at sunset", "in a sunlit café"
- Camera — "slow tracking shot", "orbit", "low-angle push-in"
- Mood / style / sound — "cinematic, warm light, shallow depth of field, engine hum"
Example: "A red sports car driving along a coastal highway at sunset, slow tracking shot from the side, cinematic warm light, shallow depth of field, engine hum."
Keep it to one clear action. Several events in one short clip often produce muddled motion.
Text-to-video models on Viralance
| Model | Durations | Resolutions | Example cost | Native audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grok Imagine | 5, 6, 10, 15s | 480p, 720p | 2 credits (5s, 480p) | Not listed |
| Vidu Q3 Turbo | 5, 8, 10, 16s | 540p, 720p, 1080p | 2 credits (5s, 540p) | Yes |
| VEO 3.1 Lite | 4, 6, 8s | 720p, 1080p | 3 credits (4s, 720p) | Yes |
| Hailuo 2.3 | 6, 10s (1080p: 6s) | 720p, 1080p | 4 credits (6s, 720p) | Not listed |
| VEO 3.1 Fast | 4, 6, 8s | 720p, 1080p | 6 credits (4s, 720p) | Yes |
| Kling 3.0 Standard | 5, 10, 15s | 1080p | 8 credits (5s) | Yes |
| Kling 3.0 Pro | 5, 10, 15s | 1080p | 10 credits (5s) | Yes |
| Seedance 2.0 | 5, 10, 15s | 480p, 720p, 1080p | 10 credits (5s, 480p) | Yes |
| Seedance 2.5 | 5, 10, 15, 30s | 480p, 720p | 11 credits (5s, 480p) | Yes |
In dollars, a credit costs $0.30 on the Mini pack ($9 for 30) and about $0.18 on the Business pack ($299 for 1,650). So a 5-second Kling 3.0 Standard clip is about $2.40 on Mini or $1.45 on Business. More models are listed on the models page.
A practical approach: test prompts on a low-cost model (Grok Imagine, Vidu Q3 Turbo or VEO 3.1 Lite), then re-render the prompt you like on the model that fits the final shot. The re-render is a new generation, so expect differences.
Text-to-video vs image-to-video
- Text-to-video — when you want original footage and have no image. Most creative freedom, least control.
- Image-to-video — when exactly what's in frame matters (your product, your design). Start from a photo and add motion.
A common workflow is to generate an image first, then animate it with Animate to Video in My Photos. See image to video.
Tips for better results
- Be specific — concrete nouns and clear camera direction beat vague adjectives.
- One main action per clip.
- Describe the sound when the model generates audio.
- Change one thing at a time between attempts, so you learn what helped.
- Avoid text in the scene unless you check it carefully; generated lettering is often wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What is text-to-video AI? AI that generates a video clip from a written prompt. You describe the scene and motion, and the model renders the footage.
How is it different from image-to-video? Text-to-video creates footage from scratch; image-to-video animates a picture you already have.
How long does generation take? It depends on the model, the settings and the provider's queue. Short, low-resolution clips usually finish sooner than long 1080p ones.
How much does it cost? On Viralance, from 2 credits per clip. New accounts get 4 free credits after email verification; after that, one-time packs start at $9 for 30 credits, with no subscription.
Do I own the videos? Viralance's terms say you retain ownership of the videos you generate. You are still responsible for rights in anything you put into the prompt or inputs, such as logos, people or music.
Keep going — related questions
- How do I turn a photo into a video instead?
- AI video models compared (2026)
- How do I make videos with AI end to end?
Turn your idea into a video. Create a Viralance account, write a prompt and generate your first text-to-video clip.
