# Artgen vs Runway

> Artgen: Browser art studio for AI images, pixel art, ASCII and print effects
> Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API

- Artgen profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/artgen-image-to-pixel-art
- Runway profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/runway
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/artgen-image-to-pixel-art-vs-runway
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Artgen and Runway are both Image & Visual AI tools. Runway scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.4 vs 7.6 out of 10), led by pricing clarity. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Artgen is available on Chrome Extension. Only Runway is available on iOS and Android.

### Choose Artgen if

- You want a tool built for turning photos into pixel art or ASCII art for free, quick AI illustrations in named art styles, repeatable image effects.
- Six deterministic image effects are free with sign-in and need no credits.
- Credits never expire and roll over between months.

### Choose Runway if

- You want a tool built for Text-to-video and image-to-video generation.
- Combines video, image and audio generation and editing in one workspace.
- Offers Runway's own Gen-4.5 plus third-party models such as Seedance 2.0.

## Pricing

| | Artgen | Runway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Artgen | Runway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Image to pixel art | Yes | Not listed |
| Image to ASCII | Yes | Not listed |
| Fixed print effects | Yes | Not listed |
| AI image generation | Yes | Not listed |
| Image editing tools | Yes | Not listed |
| Video and audio tools | Yes | Not listed |
| Chrome extension | Yes | Not listed |
| API | Yes | Not listed |
| Credit transparency | Yes | Not listed |
| Gen-4.5 video model | Not listed | Yes |
| Creative Agent | Not listed | Yes |
| Multiple models | Not listed | Yes |
| Characters | Not listed | Yes |
| Aleph and Act-Two | Not listed | Yes |
| Audio tools | Not listed | Yes |
| Workflows and Recipes | Not listed | Yes |
| Runway Dev API | Not listed | Yes |
| Runway MCP | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Artgen | Runway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | No |
| macOS | No | No |
| iOS | No | Yes |
| Android | No | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Chrome Extension | Yes | No |

## Artgen strengths

- Six deterministic image effects are free with sign-in and need no credits
- Credits never expire and roll over between months
- Wide catalog of 51 tools covering images, editing, video and audio
- Chrome extension and documented API alongside the web app
- Credit cost is shown before each AI run

## Artgen limitations

- The site does not name the company or team behind it
- Even the free effects require sign-in
- Pixel art output is a single opaque 512 px-max PNG with no transparency or sprite sheets
- Individual credit pack prices were not visible on the pricing page
- Some video and audio features appear to be limited or still rolling out

## Runway strengths

- Combines video, image and audio generation and editing in one workspace
- Offers Runway's own Gen-4.5 plus third-party models such as Seedance 2.0
- Creative Agent builds videos from a conversation
- Runway Dev API with Node and Python SDKs
- Free plan with 125 credits that do not expire
- Native iOS and Android apps

## Runway limitations

- Credit-based pricing: a 5-second Gen-4.5 clip costs 60 credits, so the 625 credits on Standard cover about 10 such clips
- Standard and Pro credits do not roll over at the end of the month
- Some App Store reviewers complain about the cost of failed or unusable generations
- 4K upscaling is unlimited only on Pro and Max

## FAQ

**Is Artgen better than Runway?**

It depends on your workflow. Artgen is built for turning photos into pixel art or ASCII art for free, quick AI illustrations in named art styles, repeatable image effects. Runway is built for Text-to-video and image-to-video generation.

**What are the key feature differences between Artgen and Runway?**

Artgen: Browser art studio for AI images, pixel art, ASCII and print effects. Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API.

**Does Artgen or Runway have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Artgen is freemium and Runway is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Artgen or Runway?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.