Veo vs Kling vs Runway vs Sora: AI video generators compared

Sora, one of the four names in this comparison, no longer exists as a product: OpenAI shut down the Sora app in April 2026 and closed the Sora API in September 2026. What's actually available today is Runway, Google's Veo 3.1, and MiniMax's Hailuo AI, with Kling AI as a fourth option outside this list. This post covers what each one generates, at what length, and for how much, so pick Runway for editing tools bundled around the model, Veo for access through Google's existing plans, or Hailuo for the cheapest way to try video generation at all.

Key takeaways

• OpenAI discontinued Sora entirely during 2026: the consumer app and website on April 26, and the developer API on September 24, so it can no longer be signed up for despite remaining a common point of comparison.
• Runway's cheapest paid plan is $15 a month ($12 billed annually) for 625 monthly credits, enough for roughly 52 seconds of its Gen-4.5 video.
• Google's Veo 3.1 is reached through a Google AI subscription rather than sold on its own: AI Pro at $19.99 a month gives limited-quality access, and full-quality generation needs the $99.99-a-month AI Ultra plan.
• Hailuo AI has a free, no-account mode that caps every clip at six seconds, plus paid plans above it.
• Kling AI, frequently mentioned alongside these three, isn't part of this list because it isn't a Toolio listing, though it remains an active competitor with its own free and paid tiers.

What each tool actually generates

Runway

Runway turns text or image prompts into video and bundles an editing suite around its own Gen model line, including inpainting, camera control and lip sync tools rather than generation alone.

It suits individual creators and small teams who want editing tools alongside generation, rather than a bare text-to-video box.

The free plan gives 125 one-time credits with no expiration. Paid plans, billed annually, run Standard at $12 a month (regularly $15), Pro at $28 a month (regularly $35), and Max at $76 a month (regularly $95), with roughly 52, 187 and 791 seconds of Gen-4.5 video respectively included each month. Confirmed on Runway's own pricing page as of September 2026.

Its main drawback: the credit system means longer or higher-resolution clips draw down the monthly allowance fast, so a Standard subscriber generating full-length Gen-4.5 footage gets under a minute of finished video a month before buying more credits.

Sora, discontinued

Sora generated short video clips from text prompts and briefly became one of the most talked-about tools in this category after its public app launch. That app and website were shut down on April 26, 2026, and the developer API followed on September 24, 2026, both confirmed on OpenAI's own help center and reported widely at the time.

As of this writing, there is no current way to sign up for Sora, generate video with it, or query its API. If a directory listing or another article still describes it as available, treat that description as stale.

Its drawback, at this point, is simply that it no longer exists as a product to choose.

Veo 3.1, from Google

Veo 3.1 generates cinematic video clips from text or image prompts with first-and-last-frame control, accessed through the Gemini app and Google's Flow editor rather than sold as a standalone subscription.

It suits people already inside Google's ecosystem, through Workspace or an existing Gemini subscription, who want video generation without adding a separate vendor.

The free tier includes a small daily credit allowance for lower-quality Lite generations. Google AI Plus is $4.99 a month with 200 Flow credits; Google AI Pro is $19.99 a month with 1,000 credits and limited-quality access to Veo 3.1 Lite and Fast settings; Google AI Ultra starts at $99.99 a month, rising to $199.99 for a higher usage tier, and is required for full-quality Veo 3.1 Quality output. Confirmed on Google's own subscriptions page and its 2026 pricing announcement.

Its main drawback: full-quality generation is gated behind the most expensive tier. Pro subscribers are limited to Lite and Fast quality settings, not the top output the model is capable of.

Hailuo AI, from MiniMax

Hailuo generates video from text or image prompts and can be used for a single clip without creating an account.

It suits people prototyping a quick video idea or wanting a short social clip without committing to a subscription first.

There's a free tier built around daily credits, and paid plans above it. Published prices for the paid plans vary between sources, so check Hailuo's own pricing page for current rates rather than relying on a specific figure here.

Its main drawback: the free, no-account mode caps every clip at six seconds, which rules out anything beyond a short loop or teaser.

Resolution, length and audio

Clip length is the practical constraint that decides what any of these tools is good for. Runway's Gen-4.5 is priced by the second, so a subscriber effectively buys a length budget every month rather than an unlimited generation allowance. Veo 3.1 works in fixed generation tiers, Lite, Fast and Quality, rather than a raw seconds count, and Google gates the higher tiers behind its more expensive plans instead of charging by clip length directly. Hailuo's no-account mode is capped at six seconds regardless of plan, which is short enough that most people use it for a single beat, a loop or a teaser rather than a finished piece.

Audio support also differs. Runway's suite includes lip sync as a distinct tool, useful for matching generated video to an existing voice track. Veo 3.1 generates video with synchronized audio directly from the prompt on supporting tiers. Neither Hailuo's free mode nor its documented paid tiers were confirmed here to include native audio generation, so anyone who needs sound built into the output rather than added afterward should check that specifically before choosing a plan.

How to choose

Need editing tools, inpainting, lip sync or camera control around the video itself, not just generation: Runway. Already pay for Google Workspace or a Gemini subscription and want video without an extra bill: Veo 3.1 through AI Pro or AI Ultra. Want to try something before paying anything, or need one short social clip fast: Hailuo's free, no-account mode, accepting the six-second cap. Looking specifically for Sora: it's gone, and budgeting for one of the three above is the practical option. Comparing across a fourth model before deciding: Kling AI sits outside this list but is worth checking directly on its own site.

FAQ

Can I still use Sora?

No. OpenAI discontinued the Sora app and website on April 26, 2026, and shut down the Sora API on September 24, 2026. There is no current way to access it.

Which of these is cheapest to start with?

Hailuo's free tier and Runway's free 125-credit plan both cost nothing to try. Among paid plans, Runway's Standard tier at $12 to $15 a month is less expensive than Google's AI Pro at $19.99 a month, which is the entry point for Veo 3.1 access.

Do any of these include commercial usage rights on the free plan?

Terms vary and change over time, so check each vendor's current terms before publishing paid work made on a free tier. Free tiers commonly restrict commercial use or attach watermarks in ways paid tiers don't.

What replaced Sora for people who used it?

OpenAI has not announced a direct replacement video model as of September 2026. People who used Sora for video generation have moved to Runway, Veo, Hailuo or Kling, each with a different pricing structure and feature set than Sora had.

Do these tools generate audio along with the video?

Veo 3.1 generates synchronized audio directly from the prompt on the tiers that support it. Runway treats audio as a separate tool within its suite, including a dedicated lip sync feature for matching generated video to an existing voice recording, rather than generating a soundtrack automatically with every clip. Confirm native audio support directly with Hailuo before assuming it's included, since it wasn't clearly documented at the time of writing.