Runway vs Magic Hour
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Runway has the lower starting price: about $15 a month, against $19 for Magic Hour.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Gen-4.5 video model
- Aleph video-to-video editing
- Image-to-video
- 4K upscaling
- Developer API
- Image-to-video
- Video face swap
- Lip sync
- Video-to-video
- Developer API
| Feature | Runway | Magic Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | AI video generation and editing suite for filmmakers and studios | AI video platform for face swap, lip sync and image-to-video |
| Category | Video | Video |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $15/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Runway AI | Magic Hour |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: Image-to-video, Developer API.
Pricing compared
Runway has the lower starting price: about $15 a month, against $19 for Magic Hour.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Free
Free
- 125 one-time credits
- Selection of generative models
- 5 GB asset storage
Standard
$15/mo
- 625 credits / month
- All AI video and image models
- App Studio
Pro
$35/mo
- 2,250 credits / month
- All AI video and image models
Max
$95/mo
- 9,500 credits / month
- Credits roll over 1 month
- Early access to new models
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Team and enterprise plans
- Custom usage and security
3 plans
Creator
₹1,800/mo
- 144,000 credits per year
- 1024px resolution
- No watermark
Pro
₹3,800/mo
- 300,000 credits per year
- 1472px resolution
- Priority queue
Business
₹8,580/mo
- 840,000 credits per year
- 4K resolution
- API access
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
Runway
- High-quality cinematic output
- Edits real footage, not just generation
- Mature web editor and API
- Standard plan covers under a minute of video
- Free credits are one-time only
Magic Hour
- Free plan without watermark
- Many tools on one credit pool
- API on paid plans
- Lower resolution on cheaper plans
- Less control than pro tools
Which one should you choose?
Choose Runway if you want:
- High-quality cinematic output
- Edits real footage, not just generation
- Mature web editor and API
Watch out: standard plan covers under a minute of video.
Choose Magic Hour if you want:
- Free plan without watermark
- Many tools on one credit pool
- API on paid plans
Watch out: lower resolution on cheaper plans.
Runway vs Magic Hour FAQ
What is the difference between Runway and Magic Hour?
Runway: AI video generation and editing suite for filmmakers and studios. Magic Hour: AI video platform for face swap, lip sync and image-to-video. Both are video tools.
Is Runway or Magic Hour cheaper?
Runway has the lower starting price: about $15 a month, against $19 for Magic Hour.
Do Runway and Magic Hour have free plans?
Runway: Yes. Magic Hour: Yes.
Who makes Runway?
Runway is made by Runway AI, based in United States.
Who makes Magic Hour?
Magic Hour is made by Magic Hour, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Runway or Magic Hour?
Choose Runway if you value high-quality cinematic output and edits real footage, not just generation. Choose Magic Hour if you value free plan without watermark and many tools on one credit pool.