Hailuo vs Runway
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 Runway 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 Runway doesn't offer.
- You mostly do fast social & short-form clips or image-to-video animation.
- You need Gen-3 Alpha or Motion Brush, which Hailuo doesn't offer.
- You mostly do filmmaking or music videos.
By the numbers
Side by side
| SPEC | ||
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | Free daily credits; paid plans | $12/mo |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| AI agent | No | No |
| Editor's Pick | No | No |
| Key features | Fast generationExcellent image-to-videoDaily free creditsHD output | Gen-3 AlphaMotion BrushMulti Motion BrushGreen screen |
| Best for | Fast social & short-form clipsImage-to-video animationB-roll and concept testsBudget-conscious creator workflows | FilmmakingMusic videosAdsVFX |
| Works with | #video#text-to-video#image-to-video | #video#editor#motion |
Plan by plan
- 125 one-time credits
- Gen-4 Turbo / Gen-3 Alpha Turbo
- Limited storage
- 625 monthly credits
- Access to all video models
- 100GB asset storage
- 2,250 monthly credits
- Custom voice lip sync
- 500GB storage
- All Pro features
- Unlimited Explore Mode gens
- Higher concurrency
- Custom credit amounts
- SSO and security
- Priority support
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 | ||
| Filmmaking | ||
| Music videos | ||
| Ads | ||
| VFX |
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 Runway for comparison
- Free tier available; paid plans from $12/mo
- Gen-3 Alpha
- Motion Brush
- Multi Motion Brush
- No autonomous agent, handles single prompts, not multi-step workflows
- Competition is strong in this space, see Hailuo for comparison
Hailuo vs Runway FAQ
Short answers to what people ask most before choosing between these two.
Is Hailuo better than Runway?
It depends on your workflow. Hailuo is focused on assistive features, while Runway 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 Runway?
Both tools have similar entry pricing, Hailuo Free daily credits; paid plans and Runway $12/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 Runway have an AI agent?
No, Runway focuses on assistive features rather than agents.
What's the difference between Hailuo and Runway?
Both are video generation tools. The key differences come down to pricing (Hailuo: Freemium, from Free daily credits; paid plans; Runway: Freemium, from $12/mo), agent capability (Hailuo: no, Runway: 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 Runway?
Beyond Hailuo and Runway, the strongest alternatives in Video Generation depend on whether you prioritise price, agent capability, or specific features. See our "Hailuo alternatives" and "Runway alternatives" pages for a hand-picked ranking of each.