kitio.aiPika vs Lumen5
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Pika has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $29 for Lumen5.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Text and image to video
- Pikaffects
- AI avatars
- Audio models
- Developer API
- Blog to video
- Brand kits
- AI voiceover
- Multilingual captions
- Social publishing
| Feature | Pika | Lumen5 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Social-first AI video studio with effects, avatars and audio | Turn blog posts and text into branded social videos |
| Category | Video | Video |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $10/mo | $29/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Pika Labs | Lumen5 |
| Based in | United States | Canada |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Pika has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $29 for Lumen5.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- No monthly credits, packs only
- 2 parallel generations
- No commercial license
Starter
$10/mo
- 900 credits per month
- All models, no watermark
- Commercial license
Creator
$35/mo
- 3,150 credits per month
- 8 parallel video generations
- Commercial license
Fancy
$95/mo
- 8,550+ credits per month ($95–$880)
- Unlimited parallel generations
- Priority queue
5 plans
Community
Free
- Watermarked videos
- 720p export
Basic
$29/mo
- No Lumen5 watermark
- 1080p export
Starter
$79/mo
- Brand kit
- Premium stock media
Professional
$199/mo
- Multiple brand kits
- Custom fonts and watermarks
Enterprise
Custom
- Custom templates
- Dedicated support
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Pika
- Fun effects built for social posts
- Easy for beginners
- Mobile app available
- Less suited to cinematic realism
- Credit costs vary by feature
Lumen5
- Fast article-to-video workflow
- Strong brand controls
- Easy for marketers
- No 4K output
- Extra seats need the Team plan
Which one should you choose?
Choose Pika if you want:
- Fun effects built for social posts
- Easy for beginners
- Mobile app available
Watch out: less suited to cinematic realism.
Choose Lumen5 if you want:
- Fast article-to-video workflow
- Strong brand controls
- Easy for marketers
Watch out: no 4k output.
Pika vs Lumen5 FAQ
What is the difference between Pika and Lumen5?
Pika: Social-first AI video studio with effects, avatars and audio. Lumen5: Turn blog posts and text into branded social videos. Both are video tools.
Is Pika or Lumen5 cheaper?
Pika has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $29 for Lumen5.
Do Pika and Lumen5 have free plans?
Pika: Yes. Lumen5: Yes.
Who makes Pika?
Pika is made by Pika Labs, based in United States.
Who makes Lumen5?
Lumen5 is made by Lumen5, based in Canada.
Which should I choose, Pika or Lumen5?
Choose Pika if you value fun effects built for social posts and easy for beginners. Choose Lumen5 if you value fast article-to-video workflow and strong brand controls.