Luma has no standing free tier, only limited daily trial credits, and its cheapest plan is Plus at $30/mo. Credits are pooled across video, image and Luma's creative agents, but the per-clip cost for video isn't published upfront, so it's hard to know what a plan buys.
Runway ($15/mo) is the strongest alternative for controlled, cinematic shots. Kling AI starts at $10/mo with a daily free allowance. Krea AI gives you many image and video models on one canvas, with a free plan to start.
| App | Free tier | Paid from | Top plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luma Dream Machine | No | $30/mo | $300/mo | Creators who want cinematic camera moves and want one credit pool that also covers Luma's image and agent tools |
| Runway | Yes | $15/mo | $95/mo | Professional and semi-pro video creators who need camera control, lip sync, and 4K output |
| Kling AI | Yes | $10/mo | $180/mo | Budget-conscious creators who want frequent model upgrades and generous mid-tier credit pools |
| Krea AI | Yes | $9/mo | $200/mo | Creators who want to experiment across many image and video models without juggling separate subscriptions |
| Gemini | Yes | $4.99/mo | $99.99–199.99/mo | Google ecosystem users, video generation, very long documents (1M tokens) |
Monthly prices in US dollars before tax, from each vendor's official pricing (US list price; weekly-billed plans converted to a monthly figure). Updated November 2, 2026
Runway is made for filmmakers, with Gen-4's character and scene consistency, camera control and lip sync. Standard ($15/mo) includes 625 credits a month and 4K upscaling.
Pick it if: you chose Luma for camera moves and want a lower entry price with pro editing tools.
Where it falls short: The free tier is a one-time 125 credits, and credits burn fast on high-res clips.
Full Runway pricing →Kling refreshes about 66 free credits a day, and Standard ($10/mo) unlocks 1080p, no watermark and commercial rights. Pro adds native-audio features.
Pick it if: you want realistic motion for far less than Luma Plus.
Where it falls short: Credits expire monthly with no rollover, and English-language support lags Western rivals.
Full Kling AI pricing →Krea AI works across image, video and 3D with dozens of models. Basic ($9/mo) includes all image models plus select video models and a commercial license; Pro ($35/mo) opens every video model.
Pick it if: you used Luma's third-party models and want a cheaper way to try many models.
Where it falls short: Image, video and LoRA training share one credit pool, so heavy video use drains it quickly.
Full Krea AI pricing →Gemini AI Plus ($4.99/mo) includes Gemini Omni Flash video with the Gemini assistant; AI Ultra ($99.99–199.99/mo) raises video to 4K and adds Project Genie.
Pick it if: you want video as part of a general AI subscription instead of a separate credit plan.
Where it falls short: It lacks Luma's creative agents and a dedicated video workspace.
Full Gemini pricing →Luma lists 4K with HDR, but the alternatives gate resolution differently. Runway includes 4K upscaling from Standard. Kling's free tier stops at 720p and Standard unlocks 1080p, while Gemini only reaches 4K on AI Ultra. If 4K delivery is a requirement, compare the plan that unlocks it, not the entry plan.
Yes. Kling's free tier refreshes about 66 credits a day, and Krea AI's free plan gives 100 units a day across image and video models. Both have limits: Kling's free clips are watermarked and Krea Free has no commercial license.
Runway is cheaper to start ($15/mo vs $30/mo) and offers more editing tools such as lip sync. Luma's appeal is cinematic camera moves, 4K HDR and one credit pool that also covers its agents and image tools.
How we choose: prices come from each vendor's official pricing page and are re-checked every week. We take no affiliate fees, so rankings aren't for sale.