Hailuo AI (MiniMax) vs Runway
A spec-by-spec comparison of Hailuo AI (MiniMax) and Runway: pricing, free tier, clip length, resolution, watermark, commercial use and API access.
Key differences
- Hailuo AI is cheaper to start: $14.99/month vs $15/month for Runway.
- Free tier: Hailuo AI — Free credits for new users; Runway — 125 one-time credits, limited model selection.
- Max length: Hailuo AI — 15s per generation (MiniMax H3); Runway — 10s per generation (Gen-4.5).
- Max resolution: Hailuo AI — 2K (MiniMax H3); Runway — 4K (upscale).
- Commercial use: Hailuo AI — Paid plans; Runway — All plans.
| Hailuo AI (MiniMax) | Runway | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan · from $14.99/mo | Free plan · from $15/mo |
| Free tier | Free credits for new users | 125 one-time credits, limited model selection |
| Max clip length | 15s per generation (MiniMax H3) | 10s per generation (Gen-4.5) |
| Max resolution | 2K (MiniMax H3) | 4K (upscale) |
| Watermark on free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial use | Paid plans | All plans |
| Developer API | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
Hailuo AI is MiniMax's consumer app for generating video and images, now built around the MiniMax H3 and H3 Max models with multi-reference inputs. It also offers an agent mode and audio tools. It targets social creators and marketers, while developers can reach the same models through the MiniMax API platform.
- H3 model supports 4 to 15 second clips and up to 2K output
- Higher tiers (Ultra, Max) include unlimited use of older Hailuo models
- Same models available to developers via the MiniMax API
- Watermark-free downloads and commercial rights require a paid plan
- Buying credit packs alone does not remove watermarks
- Standard list price is $14.99/month; lower prices are temporary promotions
Runway is a browser and mobile creative suite centered on its in-house Gen-4.5 video model, with partner models such as Seedance, Kling and Nano Banana available on the same credit balance. It covers text-to-video, image-to-video, video editing (Aleph), audio and upscaling in one workspace. It suits filmmakers, agencies and creators who want several frontier models plus a developer API under one account.
- Hosts Gen-4.5 plus partner models (Seedance, Kling, Nano Banana) on one credit pool
- Pro and Max plans include an Unlimited mode for supported models
- Separate developer API with per-second pricing ($0.12/s for Gen-4.5)
- Free credits are one-time only and do not renew
- Standard's 625 credits equal only about 52 seconds of Gen-4.5 per month
- Monthly credits on Standard and Pro do not roll over
Specs last verified 2026-10-23 (Hailuo AI (MiniMax)) and 2026-10-23 (Runway). See each tool page for sources.