Category
AI video generators: what they are and who makes them
Runway, Google Veo (Flow), Luma and 6 more, sorted into types, with the company behind each and where it is based.
Types of AI video generators
Prompt-to-clip generators
Runway, Luma, Kling and Pika turn a text prompt or still image into a clip of roughly 5 to 10 seconds. You pay per generation in credits, so the real question is how many usable takes a month buys after the rejected ones.
Platform models inside a bigger subscription
Google Veo in Flow and Adobe Firefly sit inside plans people may already hold for storage or design software. The video allowance is a credit pool shared with images and other features, which suits occasional use better than daily production.
Avatar and presenter video
Synthesia and HeyGen render a digital presenter speaking a script in many languages. Output is measured in minutes, and the value is repeatable training, sales or onboarding video made without a camera, a studio or a re-shoot. That makes it a purchase for teams with a recurring script.
Script-to-video assemblers
Invideo AI builds a finished video from a prompt by combining generated clips, stock footage, voiceover and captions. It trades per-clip control for speed on social and marketing formats, and it is billed per seat instead of per clip. Stock footage is part of the plan.
Facts at a glance
| Tool | Publisher | Based in | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runway | Runway AI, Inc. | United States | Free tier + API |
| Google Veo (Flow) | United States | Free tier + API | |
| Luma | Luma AI | United States | Trial + API |
| Kling AI | Kuaishou | China | Free tier + API |
| Adobe Firefly | Adobe | United States | Free tier + API |
| Synthesia | Synthesia Ltd | United Kingdom | Free tier + API |
| HeyGen | HeyGen Technology, Inc. | United States | Free tier + API |
| Invideo AI | Invideo | Singapore | Free tier |
| Pika | Pika Labs, Inc. | United States | Free tier + API |
