# Leonardo AI vs Runway

> Leonardo AI: AI image and video studio with custom model training and a real-time canvas editor
> Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API

- Leonardo AI profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/leonardo-ai
- Runway profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/runway
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/leonardo-ai-vs-runway
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Leonardo AI and Runway are both Image & Visual AI tools. Both have a free plan or trial.

### Choose Leonardo AI if

- You want a tool built for game and concept art.
- Free plan with 150 tokens per day.
- Many first-party and third-party image and video models in one account.

### 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

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

## Features

| Feature | Leonardo AI | Runway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Canvas | Yes | Not listed |
| Multiple models | Yes | Yes |
| Personal model training | Yes | Not listed |
| Video generation | Yes | Not listed |
| Blueprints | Yes | Not listed |
| Image editing tools | Yes | Not listed |
| Mobile apps | Yes | Not listed |
| API and MCP server | Yes | Not listed |
| Gen-4.5 video model | Not listed | Yes |
| Creative Agent | 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 | Leonardo AI | Runway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | No |
| macOS | No | No |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |

## Leonardo AI strengths

- Free plan with 150 tokens per day
- Many first-party and third-party image and video models in one account
- Personal model training on paid plans
- AI Canvas for inpainting and outpainting
- Apps for iOS and Android, plus a pay-as-you-go API

## Leonardo AI limitations

- Free generations are public and the daily allowance is small
- Token costs vary by model and settings, so spend is hard to predict
- Unlimited relaxed video generation needs the $60 Ultimate plan
- Official pricing page blocks automated access, so plan details need checking on the site

## 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 Leonardo AI better than Runway?**

It depends on your workflow. Leonardo AI is built for game and concept art. Runway is built for Text-to-video and image-to-video generation.

**What are the key feature differences between Leonardo AI and Runway?**

Leonardo AI: AI image and video studio with custom model training and a real-time canvas editor. Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API.

**Does Leonardo AI or Runway have a free plan?**

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

**Which is cheaper, Leonardo AI or Runway?**

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