Runway vs Topaz Video (formerly Topaz Video AI)
A spec-by-spec comparison of Runway and Topaz Video (formerly Topaz Video AI): pricing, free tier, clip length, resolution, watermark, commercial use and API access.
Key differences
- Runway is cheaper to start: $15/month vs $59/month for Topaz Video AI.
- Runway has a free option; Topaz Video AI requires a paid plan.
- Max resolution: Runway — 4K (upscale); Topaz Video AI — 4K+ (upscale).
- Commercial use: Runway — All plans; Topaz Video AI — Orgs under $1M annual revenue; Pro plans for full commercial use.
- Runway is strongest at text to video; Topaz Video AI at editing.
| Runway | Topaz Video (formerly Topaz Video AI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan · from $15/mo | from $59/mo |
| Free tier | 125 one-time credits, limited model selection | |
| Max clip length | 10s per generation (Gen-4.5) | |
| Max resolution | 4K (upscale) | 4K+ (upscale) |
| Watermark on free plan | Yes | |
| Commercial use | All plans | Orgs under $1M annual revenue; Pro plans for full commercial use |
| Developer API | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
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
Topaz Video is desktop software that uses AI models such as Starlight, Proteus, Iris and Chronos to upscale low-resolution footage, remove noise and blur, deinterlace, stabilize and create slow motion by generating new frames. It renders locally with optional cloud credits, and a browser version plus API is also offered. It is used by filmmakers, archivists and editors restoring or enhancing footage.
- Unlimited local rendering keeps files on your machine
- Wide model lineup for upscaling, denoise, interpolation and SDR-to-HDR
- Upscaling API available for developers
- Standard licenses limit commercial use to orgs under $1M revenue
- Only 25 monthly cloud video credits with the Topaz Video plan
- Local rendering needs capable hardware
Specs last verified 2026-10-23 (Runway) and 2026-10-23 (Topaz Video (formerly Topaz Video AI)). See each tool page for sources.