What AI video actually costs per clip
At raw API rates, a 5-second AI video clip costs from about 25¢ on the cheapest models to over $5 on flagship models at 1080p. Monthly plans hide that number behind credits. Below are the 28 core video models in Asset Lab with their real per-second cost, a calculator, and the formula for turning any subscription into a cost per clip.
Updated September 23, 2026 · Rates are fal.ai's raw prices as quoted in Asset Lab 2.6. The app shows the exact figure on the Generate button before every render.
Why "per month" hides the real cost
A subscription price tells you what you pay, not what each clip costs. That depends on how many credits a clip burns, how many you actually use before they reset, and how many takes you throw away. A $30 plan that covers 60 clips is 50¢ a clip, if you make all 60. Make 20 and the same plan cost you $1.50 a clip.
Paying per clip removes the guesswork: you see the price before each render, and a slow month costs nothing.
Cost per clip, every video model
Sorted cheapest first. Rates are per second at 720p where the model offers it (the resolution is listed otherwise). The catalog's two References variants (Seedance 2.5 References and Gemini Omni References 1.1) start at the same rate as their base models. Longer takes and higher resolutions cost more; the rate card has every tier.
| Model | Resolution | Per second | 5-second clip | 10-second clip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MiniMax H3 Max | 480p | $0.05/s | $0.25 | $0.50 |
| MiniMax H3 | 480p | $0.05/s | $0.25 | $0.50 |
| Veo 3.1 Lite | 720p | $0.05/s | $0.25 | $0.50 |
| FLUX 3 Draft | n/a | $0.06/s | $0.30 | $0.60 |
| Grok Imagine | 720p | $0.07/s | $0.35 | $0.70 |
| LTX 2.5 Fast | 720p | $0.09/s | $0.45 | $0.90 |
| Gemini Omni Flash 1.1 | 720p | $0.10/s | $0.50 | $1.00 |
| Wan 3.0 | 720p | $0.10/s | $0.50 | $1.00 |
| Wan 2.7 | 720p | $0.10/s | $0.50 | $1.00 |
| Kling 3.0 Turbo Standard | n/a | $0.11/s | $0.56 | $1.12 |
| Kling O3 Standard | n/a | $0.11/s | $0.56 | $1.12 |
| LTX 2.5 Pro | 720p | $0.12/s | $0.60 | $1.20 |
| Kling 3.0 Standard | n/a | $0.13/s | $0.63 | $1.26 |
| Kling 3.0 Turbo Pro | n/a | $0.14/s | $0.70 | $1.40 |
| Kling O3 Pro | n/a | $0.14/s | $0.70 | $1.40 |
| Grok Imagine 1.5 | 720p | $0.14/s | $0.70 | $1.40 |
| Wan 3.0 Prime | 720p | $0.14/s | $0.70 | $1.40 |
| HappyHorse 1.1 | 720p | $0.14/s | $0.70 | $1.40 |
| Veo 3.1 Fast | 720p | $0.15/s | $0.75 | $1.50 |
| Seedance 2.0 Mini | 720p | $0.15/s | $0.77 | $1.55 |
| Kling 3.0 Pro | n/a | $0.17/s | $0.84 | $1.68 |
| FLUX 3 | 720p | $0.17/s | $0.85 | $1.70 |
| Seedance 2.0 Fast | 720p | $0.24/s | $1.21 | $2.42 |
| Seedance 2.0 | 720p | $0.30/s | $1.52 | $3.03 |
| Veo 3.1 | 720p | $0.40/s | $2.00 | $4.00 |
| Kling 3.0 4K | n/a | $0.42/s | $2.10 | $4.20 |
| Kling O3 4K | n/a | $0.42/s | $2.10 | $4.20 |
| Seedance 2.5 | 720p | $0.47/s | $2.37 | $4.73 |
Veo 3.1 takes are fixed at 4, 6 or 8 seconds; the 5- and 10-second figures above are the per-second rate multiplied out for comparison. Seedance 2.5 and Kling 4K cost the most because of long takes and high resolution. See Seedance 2.5 in depth.
Estimate your month
Pick a model, a clip length and how many clips you make. This runs entirely in your browser.
An estimate at raw rates. Some models only take certain lengths, and the app quotes the exact price before each render. Plus the one-time $49 for the app.
Turning a subscription into cost per clip
For any credit-based plan, the honest number is:
Real cost per clip = monthly price ÷ clips you actually made that month.
The plan's advertised credits only give you the best case: the cost per clip if you use every credit. Expiring credits, failed takes and quiet months all push the real number up. Check a plan's current credit rates on its own pricing page, then run your last month's actual output through the formula.
Comparing a specific plan? We keep a dated comparison with Higgsfield, plus Krea and using fal.ai directly.
How to spend less per finished clip
- Draft cheap, finish expensive. Block the shot on a lite or draft tier, then re-render the keeper on a flagship.
- Lock the first frame. A still costs cents; get the frame right as a still and use it as the start frame, so fewer video takes miss.
- Storyboard multi-shot pieces. Plan the shots and approve a still for each before paying for any motion.
- Turn audio off on models that charge less without it, when you'll score the piece anyway.
$49 once. Then pay only for what you generate: images from under a cent, 5-second video clips from about 25¢. No monthly fee, no credits that reset each month. The exact price of every render is on the Generate button before you click.
AI video costs
What is the cheapest AI video generator?
Per clip, the draft and lite tiers: Veo 3.1 Lite (about $0.05/s at 720p), MiniMax H3 (about $0.05/s at 480p) and FLUX 3 Draft (about $0.06/s), roughly 25–30¢ for 5 seconds. Flagships like Seedance 2.5 are about $2.37 for 5 seconds at 720p.
How much does AI video cost per clip?
From about 25¢ for 5 seconds on budget models to $2–6 on flagships at 720p–1080p. Most mid-range models land between 50¢ and $1 for 5 seconds.
How do I work out cost per clip on a subscription?
Monthly price ÷ clips you actually made. Advertised credits only set the best case; expiring credits raise the real number.
Is Asset Lab free?
No. $49 once. Then pay only for what you generate: images from under a cent, 5-second video clips from about 25¢. No monthly fee, no credits that reset each month. There's a free demo of the real app.
Do I need a GPU?
No. The models render on fal.ai's cloud, so any Apple Silicon Mac or x86-64 Linux machine makes the same clips, no Nvidia GPU required.
Related: Higgsfield alternative · full rate card · what $49 includes · Seedance 2.5
Pay for clips, not months.
$49 once. Then pay only for what you generate: images from under a cent, 5-second video clips from about 25¢. No monthly fee, no credits that reset each month.