Last checked . Prices are re-checked every week (planned: Wednesdays). Each row shows its own check date; a row older than 14 days is out of date.
What the numbers mean
- Cost per attempt is what one generation costs: price per second times clip length, or the clip price for clip-priced models.
- Cost per usable clip is the cost per attempt divided by your keeper rate, plus the optional upscale or fix cost for each clip you keep. At a 50% keeper rate you pay for two generations to get one clip you use.
- Cost per finished minute scales the usable clip cost to 60 seconds of finished video.
- Cost of your finished video multiplies the usable clip cost by the number of clips you need to reach your target length.
- Usable clips per month is your monthly budget divided by the cost per usable clip.
The keeper rate is an assumption
The default of 50% is a placeholder, not a measured value. The right number depends on how precise your prompts are, how much motion and how many characters are in the shot, and what you consider usable. A simple product shot may keep most generations. A multi-character scene with dialogue may keep far fewer. Set your own rate from your last batch: kept clips divided by generations.
Compare all routes
Switch to Compare all routes to list the 10 cheapest routes per usable clip for the same inputs. Use the filters to set a resolution, require audio, or limit the list to APIs or plans. By default the comparison uses 720p, active and preview models, and the cheapest tier of each app plan. Routes that cannot make a clip as long as yours are skipped and counted.
Limits of the estimate
- App plans charge a monthly fee whether you use the credits or not. The calculator prices each credit at the plan price divided by its credits, so it shows the cost if you use all of them.
- Unused credits usually expire. Some plans roll them over for a month.
- Failed generations are refunded by some providers and billed by others. Check the provider terms.
- Rate limits, queue times and watermarks are not in the cost. See free AI video generators for limits and watermarks.
Formulas are written out on the methodology page. Worked examples: cost of a 30-second AI ad and how to cut AI video costs.
Questions people ask
What is a good keeper rate?
There is no standard. Measure your own: kept clips divided by total generations over a batch of 20 or more. Use that number instead of the default 50%.
Why does a clip-priced model show a note about billing?
Some models sell fixed-length clips, for example 5 or 10 seconds. If your clip is longer than the fixed length, the price is the number of clips needed. The compare mode skips those routes because they cannot make a single clip of that length.
Does the calculator include audio?
Only when the offer's basis says so. Use the audio filter in compare mode to require audio, because the same model often costs more with audio on.
Sources
Prices and limits were read from the sources below on the dates shown. They change often: confirm on the provider's page before you pay.
- Runway API pricing (credits per second) - 2026-11-05
- Google Flow credits support page - 2026-11-05
- BytePlus ModelArk pricing - 2026-11-05