Pick Runway if…
you edit and finish videos in one place and need talking characters with lip sync and custom voices.
Runway wraps its Gen-4 models in an editor with lip sync, custom voices and 4K upscaling, aimed at people finishing videos. Luma sells Ray3 and its creative agents through one shared credit pool, and has no standing free tier. Runway is the cheaper way in; Luma's appeal is cinematic camera moves and a pool that also covers image and agent work.
Pick Runway ($15/mo) if you need lip sync, text-to-speech with a custom voice and an editor around the model. Pick Luma Dream Machine ($30/mo) if cinematic camera moves and 4K HDR matter most, or you want one credit pool for video, images and agents.
| App | Free tier | Paid from | Top plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runway | Yes | $15/mo | $95/mo | Professional and semi-pro video creators who need camera control, lip sync, and 4K output |
| 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 |
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 | Luma Dream Machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 125 one-time credits, 3 editor projects, 5GB | None, only limited daily trial credits |
| Entry plan | Standard: 625 credits/mo, 4K upscaling, no watermark | Plus: 10,000 credits/mo, commercial use, guest collaborator editing |
| Standout tools | Lip sync and custom voice (Pro), built-in editor | Creative agents, 4K with HDR |
| Top individual plan | Max: 9,500 credits/mo, 1-month rollover, 500GB | Ultra: 150,000 credits/mo, 15x agent usage multiplier |
| Business plans | Enterprise: SSO, workspace analytics, custom teamspaces | Team & Enterprise: shared credits, SSO, custom fine-tuning |
you edit and finish videos in one place and need talking characters with lip sync and custom voices.
you care most about cinematic camera movement and want Luma's agents and image tools on the same credits.
Runway: Standard is $15/mo, with a lower rate billed annually, while Luma starts at $30/mo for Plus. Runway also has a free tier, Luma doesn't.
Runway Max ($95/mo) gives 9,500 credits a month with one month of rollover and first access to new models. Luma Ultra ($300/mo) gives 150,000 credits and a 15x usage multiplier with Luma's creative agents.
On Runway, only on Max, and only for one month. Luma's pricing doesn't mention rollover on any plan.
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.