Hailuo vs Pika
Which AI video generation should you pick in 2026? Pricing, agents, plans and use cases, side by side.
FSReviewed July 7, 2026 by Faisal Saleem · no paid placementsBoth Hailuo and Pika are credible video generation options, the right pick depends on your specific use case. See the head-to-head below.
- You need Fast generation or Excellent image-to-video, which Pika doesn't offer.
- You mostly do fast social & short-form clips or image-to-video animation.
- You need Pikaffects or Text-to-video, which Hailuo doesn't offer.
- You mostly do social video or viral content.
By the numbers
Side by side
| SPEC | ||
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | Free daily credits; paid plans | $8/mo |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| AI agent | No | No |
| Editor's Pick | No | No |
| Key features | Fast generationExcellent image-to-videoDaily free creditsHD output | PikaffectsText-to-videoImage-to-videoScene Ingredients |
| Best for | Fast social & short-form clipsImage-to-video animationB-roll and concept testsBudget-conscious creator workflows | Social videoViral contentMusic visualsMarketing |
| Works with | #video#text-to-video#image-to-video | #video#social#effects |
Plan by plan
- 80 monthly video credits
- Pika 2.5 (480p only)
- Pikascenes, Pikadditions
- 700 monthly video credits
- All resolutions
- Pikaframes
- 2300 monthly video credits
- Faster generation
- All editing tools
- 6000 monthly video credits
- Fastest generation
- Full feature access
What each is best for
| USE CASE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fast social & short-form clips | ||
| Image-to-video animation | ||
| B-roll and concept tests | ||
| Budget-conscious creator workflows | ||
| Social video | ||
| Viral content | ||
| Music visuals | ||
| Marketing |
Strengths and trade-offs
- Free tier available; paid plans from Free daily credits; paid plans
- Fast generation
- Excellent image-to-video
- Daily free credits
- No autonomous agent, handles single prompts, not multi-step workflows
- Competition is strong in this space, see Pika for comparison
- Free tier available; paid plans from $8/mo
- Pikaffects
- Text-to-video
- Image-to-video
- No autonomous agent, handles single prompts, not multi-step workflows
- Competition is strong in this space, see Hailuo for comparison
Hailuo vs Pika FAQ
Short answers to what people ask most before choosing between these two.
Is Hailuo better than Pika?
It depends on your workflow. Hailuo is focused on assistive features, while Pika doesn't include an agent. Neither is currently our Editor's Pick, both are credible options. See the side-by-side table above for specifics.
Is Hailuo cheaper than Pika?
Both tools have similar entry pricing, Hailuo Free daily credits; paid plans and Pika $8/mo. Pricing at higher tiers varies; check the pricing breakdown above.
Does Hailuo have an AI agent?
No, Hailuo is built around assistive features (autocomplete, chat) rather than a true autonomous agent. If agent functionality is a hard requirement, neither tool in this comparison ships one.
Does Pika have an AI agent?
No, Pika focuses on assistive features rather than agents.
What's the difference between Hailuo and Pika?
Both are video generation tools. The key differences come down to pricing (Hailuo: Freemium, from Free daily credits; paid plans; Pika: Freemium, from $8/mo), agent capability (Hailuo: no, Pika: no), and feature focus. Use the comparison table above to weigh which axis matters most for your work.
What's a good alternative to Hailuo and Pika?
Beyond Hailuo and Pika, the strongest alternatives in Video Generation depend on whether you prioritise price, agent capability, or specific features. See our "Hailuo alternatives" and "Pika alternatives" pages for a hand-picked ranking of each.