Side-by-side comparison
Pika vs Runway
Plans, free tiers and API access for Pika and Runway, from each vendor's own pages. Last checked Oct 4, 2026.
The short answer
- Pika has the lower entry price at $10/mo, against $12/mo for Runway.
- Both Pika and Runway have an ongoing free plan.
Pricing and features
- Starter$10/mo
- Creator$35/mo
- Standard$12/mo
- Pro$28/mo
- Max$76/mo
How to choose
Pika and Runway both sell AI video generation with credit systems, and both have a free plan, but the free plans work differently. Pika's free plan includes all models with 0 monthly credits, so generation relies on paid credit packs. Runway's free plan gives 125 one-time credits, 5GB asset storage and a selection of models. Paid Pika plans are Starter at $10 and Creator at $35 per month billed monthly, with top Fancy plans reaching $880. Runway lists Standard at $12, Pro at $28 and Max at $76 billed annually, or $15, $35 and $95 billed monthly. Runway's Max allows one month of credit rollover. Runway documents a Dev Platform and MCP access; Pika links developer and API pages.
- Pika: You want a lower monthly entry at $10 and one subscription covering video, image and audio models.
- Runway: You want a one-time free credit grant to test with and a documented developer platform.
- Either: You are a creator or marketer comparing monthly video credit plans in the $10 to $35 range.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Pika or Runway?
Pika has the lower starting price ($10/mo versus $12/mo). Compare plans before choosing, since limits differ.
Is Pika free?
Free plan. Free plan includes all models with 0 monthly credits and paid credit packs only
Is Runway free?
Free plan. Free plan includes 125 one-time credits, a selection of generative models, and 5GB asset storage with no monthly fee