Runway vs Kling AI

Prices and plans checked November 3, 2026. Companies change plans often, so confirm on their sites before you buy.

Quick verdict

Pick Kling if you mainly want to generate great-looking clips for less money. It gives free credits every day, its paid plans start at $10/month, and Kling 4.0 (released October 2026) can generate up to 30 seconds in one pass with realistic motion.

Pick Runway if you want a complete AI video studio. Besides its own Gen-4.5 model, you can edit real footage with Aleph, drive characters with your own performance using Act-Two, and use other top models, including Veo 3.1 and Kling itself, from one app with team workspaces.

	Runway	Kling AI
Made by	Runway (US)	Kuaishou (China)
Free plan	125 credits, one time only	66 credits every day (watermarked, no commercial use)
Cheapest paid plan	Standard, $15/month ($12 yearly), 625 credits	Standard, $10/month ($6.60 yearly), 660 credits
Mid tier	Pro, $35/month ($28 yearly), 2,250 credits	Pro, $37/month, 3,000 credits
Top self-serve tier	Max, $95/month ($76 yearly), 9,500 credits	Ultra, $180/month, 26,000 credits
Latest own model	Gen-4.5	Kling 4.0 (October 2026)
Other models included	Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0 Pro, Seedance 2.0 and more	Kling's own video and image models
Edit existing video	Yes, with Aleph	Limited (motion control, video extension)
Teams	Shared workspaces, up to 10 users on Pro and Max	Individual-focused
Best for	Agencies, filmmakers and editors	Creators who want the most video per dollar

Price and credits

Both use monthly credits that don't roll over (Runway's Max plan is the exception, with a one-month rollover). On Runway, its Gen-4.5 model costs about 12 credits per second of video, so the 625 credits on Standard are roughly 50 seconds of Gen-4.5 footage a month.

Kling is the better deal for pure generation. Its free plan refreshes 66 credits every day, and its paid plans include more credits for similar money. Free Kling videos are watermarked and can't be used commercially, so you'll need a paid plan for client work.

Quality and models

Kling has built its name on lifelike motion and consistent characters. Kling 3.0 (February 2026) added native audio, multi-shot scenes and later native 4K, and Kling 4.0 (October 2026) pushes single generations up to 30 seconds.

Runway's advantage is choice. Gen-4.5 is its flagship, but paid plans also include Google's Veo 3.1 and Kling 3.0 Pro, so you can pick the best model per shot without juggling subscriptions.

Editing and workflow

This is where Runway pulls ahead. Aleph lets you change existing footage: swap backgrounds, change the weather or time of day, add or remove objects. Act-Two maps your own facial and body performance onto a character, and team workspaces keep projects and assets in one place.

Kling focuses on generation. Tools like motion control and video extension help, but it isn't built for editing footage you've already shot.

FAQ

Is Kling free?

Yes. Kling gives 66 free credits every day, but free videos have a watermark, lower resolution and no commercial use.

Can I use Kling inside Runway?

Yes. Runway's paid plans include Kling 3.0 Pro alongside its own Gen-4.5 and Google's Veo 3.1.

Which is cheaper?

Kling. Its Standard plan is $10/month with more credits than Runway's $15/month Standard.

Which is better for editing real footage?

Runway, thanks to Aleph and Act-Two.

Sources

Some links on AIGenXTools are affiliate links. That never decides which tool we recommend.