Pika is an online creative studio. You describe a scene or provide a photo, and it produces a short video, up to 30 seconds with sound. Since September 17, 2026, it brings together more than 25 small apps for video, image, and sound. It uses its own model, Pika 2.5, and those of other vendors.
Pika has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Creator, $35 per month, or $28 per month billed yearly. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
PikaShort videos, images, and sound from a descriptionWho it’s for: marketing and communications teams that need short shots for social media, an ad, or the opening of a presentation.
You describe the video you want, from a few seconds to 30 seconds, in one or several shots. You can attach up to 50 elements (a character, a product, a setting, a style) and refer to them in your text with the @ sign.
You provide a photo and a short description of the motion. Pika turns it into 5 or 10 seconds of video, in 720p to try or in 1080p to keep. With text alone, without a photo, the video lasts 5 seconds. It comes out without sound.
You provide 2 to 5 images in order. Pika creates the motion that leads from one to the next, from 1 to 5 seconds per transition. With only two images, the transition can last 10 seconds. The written prompt is optional.
Also
Prices are published in dollars. Example given by the vendor: a 5-second video in 720p with the Seedance 2.5 model costs 122 credits. Packs range from 1,500 credits ($25) to 66,000 credits ($1,000), or 60 credits per dollar, valid for 365 days. Subscription credits do not roll over from one month to the next. Subscriptions and packs are not refunded.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Look at the tool before paying |
| Starter | $10 per month, or $8 per month billed yearly | Personal tests |
| Creator Recommended to start | $35 per month, or $28 per month billed yearly | Publish for your company |
| Fancy | $95 to $880 per month, depending on the number of credits | High volumes |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Teams and large accounts |
The free account gives access to all the models, but with 0 credits per month. To generate anything, you have to buy a credit pack. No commercial use rights.
Pay nothing until you have a specific need. For a one-off test, a pack of 1,500 credits at $25 is enough, and it stays valid for one year. If you publish on behalf of your company, take the Creator plan: it is the first one that grants commercial use rights.
Your data. Pika can use what you upload and what you generate to improve its AI models, and a standard account does not let you opt out.
What it does less well
Animate a product photo into a 5-second videoPikaThe prompt to copy
The camera moves slowly toward the product sitting on a wooden table. Soft morning light. Blurred background. No text on screen.
A more complete video studio, with advanced retouching and editing tools.
Another tool that turns a description or a photo into a short video, with free sign-up.
An assistant that chooses the model for you and lays everything out on a large board.
Google’s video studio, with a few free credits every day to try it.
If you mostly want a person talking to the camera, in several languages.
Free: $0; Starter: $10 per month, or $8 per month billed yearly; Creator: $35 per month, or $28 per month billed yearly; Fancy: $95 to $880 per month, depending on the number of credits; Enterprise: custom pricing. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Yes. The free account gives access to all the models, but with 0 credits per month. To generate anything, you have to buy a credit pack. No commercial use rights.
Pika can use what you upload and what you generate to improve its AI models, and a standard account does not let you opt out.
Runway: A more complete video studio, with advanced retouching and editing tools. Kling AI: Another tool that turns a description or a photo into a short video, with free sign-up. Luma: An assistant that chooses the model for you and lays everything out on a large board. Google Flow: Google’s video studio, with a few free credits every day to try it. HeyGen: If you mostly want a person talking to the camera, in several languages.
Page checked on October 3, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.