Animate an image or a text
You provide a photo or a description. Runway creates a video shot of 5 or 10 seconds. With a photo, you only describe the motion you want.
AI tools · Image, video, audio
Runway pricing, use cases, and first steps
Runway is an online studio that creates video, images, and sound from a description or a photo. You upload an image, describe the motion, and get a shot a few seconds long. It can also change an existing video: swap the setting, remove an object, replace a product.
Runway has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Standard, $15 per month ($12 per month if billed yearly). Prices checked on October 4, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
RunwayMake and edit short videos, without a camera- Vendor
- Runway AI, Inc. (United States)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Standard, $15 per month ($12 per month if billed yearly)
- Page checked on
- October 4, 2026
What Runway does
Who it’s for: marketing and communications teams that need illustrative footage without organizing a shoot.
Agent: describe the project, let it produce
You chat with an assistant. It analyzes what you give it, proposes a plan, picks the right generator at each step on its own, and assembles images, video, voice, and music.
Edit Studio: edit a video with one sentence
You upload a video that has already been shot and write what should change: the setting, the light, the weather, an object to remove, a product to replace. The video must be between 2 and 30 seconds long.
Also
- Act-Two: play a character
- Apps: ready-made tools for a specific task
- Voice, music, and sound effects
- Workflows: chain the steps
- In your video editing software
Runway pricing
Runway publishes its prices in dollars; prices and credits per plan confirmed on October 4, 2026 on the pricing page. On the French App Store, we noted €17.99 per month for Standard and €39 for Pro. Monthly credits do not roll over on Standard and Pro.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Seeing whether the tool suits you |
| Standard Recommended to start | $15 per month ($12 per month if billed yearly) | An employee who makes a few videos per month |
| Pro | $35 per month ($28 per month if billed yearly) | Weekly use |
| Max | $95 per month ($76 per month if billed yearly) | Everyday video production |
| Team | $69 per user per month ($55 if billed yearly) | A small team, from 2 to 9 people |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Large organizations |
What the free plan includes
125 credits given one time only, with no expiration date. A reduced choice of tools. The Runway logo stays on videos. No way to buy extra credits without subscribing.
Nova’s advice
Run your first tests with the 125 free credits. They go fast: expect two short shots. If you produce videos for an outside audience, Standard is enough to start: it removes the logo. Move to Pro only if you run short of credits every month.
Free or paid: how usage is counted
Every second of video costs credits. The subscription refills them every month; the free plan gives them only once.
A first try, in 5 minutes
Your data. Runway’s terms allow it to use your files and creations to train its models, and we did not find a setting to opt out.
What it does less well
- The interface is in English only, on the web and on the phone.
- Credits go fast. “Gen-4.5” costs 12 credits per second: the Standard plan gives less than a minute of video per month.
Animate a product photoRunway- Open app.runwayml.com and log in.
- In the left sidebar, click “Tool.”
- At the bottom left, open the model picker. If a model shows a prompt to change plans, it is not included in the free plan: pick another one.
- Upload a sharp photo of your product or your premises, with no recognizable person in it.
- Paste the prompt below. It describes the motion, not the image.
- Click the purple “Generate” button. Under the finished video, “Use” suggests what to do next.
The prompt to copy
The camera moves slowly toward the product. Morning light glides across the table. Nothing else moves.
Jobs that use Runway
In the starter kit for one job.
Alternatives to Runway
Google Flow
Google’s video tool, with sound, if you already have a Google subscription.
Higgsfield
Another video studio, geared toward advertising.
HeyGen
If you want a presenter who reads a script to the camera.
Canva
For a simple video made of visuals, text, and music.
Frequently asked questions about Runway
How much does Runway cost?
Free: $0; Standard: $15 per month ($12 per month if billed yearly); Pro: $35 per month ($28 per month if billed yearly); Max: $95 per month ($76 per month if billed yearly); Team: $69 per user per month ($55 if billed yearly). Prices checked on October 4, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Runway for free?
Yes. 125 credits given one time only, with no expiration date. A reduced choice of tools. The Runway logo stays on videos. No way to buy extra credits without subscribing.
What happens to my data with Runway?
Runway’s terms allow it to use your files and creations to train its models, and we did not find a setting to opt out.
What are the alternatives to Runway?
Google Flow: Google’s video tool, with sound, if you already have a Google subscription. Higgsfield: Another video studio, geared toward advertising. HeyGen: If you want a presenter who reads a script to the camera. Canva: For a simple video made of visuals, text, and music.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 4, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.