# Runway vs Skim

> Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API
> Skim: Find the five contract clauses most likely to cost you money before you sign

- Runway profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/runway
- Skim profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/skim
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/runway-vs-skim
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Runway is listed under Image & Visual AI and Skim under Productivity. Runway scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.4 vs 7.6 out of 10). Only Runway has a free plan or trial. Only Runway is available on iOS and Android and offers an API.

### 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.

### Choose Skim if

- You want a tool built for quick pre-signature review of leases, contractor quotes and terms of service, drafting a reply to push back on a clause.
- Simple one-off $9 price covering up to 3 documents, with no subscription.
- No account or prompt writing required.

## Pricing

| | Runway | Skim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | No |
| Starting price | $0 | $9 |

## Features

| Feature | Runway | Skim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gen-4.5 video model | Yes | Not listed |
| Creative Agent | Yes | Not listed |
| Multiple models | Yes | Not listed |
| Characters | Yes | Limited |
| Aleph and Act-Two | Yes | Not listed |
| Audio tools | Yes | Not listed |
| Workflows and Recipes | Yes | Not listed |
| Runway Dev API | Yes | Not listed |
| Runway MCP | Yes | Not listed |
| Five red flags | Not listed | Yes |
| Plain-English rewrite | Not listed | Yes |
| Paste-ready reply | Not listed | Yes |
| PDF upload or pasted text | Not listed | Yes |
| No account | Not listed | Yes |
| Free sample | Not listed | Yes |
| One-time pricing | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

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

## 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

## Skim strengths

- Simple one-off $9 price covering up to 3 documents, with no subscription
- No account or prompt writing required
- Output includes a rewrite and a ready-to-send reply, not just a list of risks
- Free sample report to judge quality before paying
- Privacy page clearly states what is and is not stored

## Skim limitations

- Only the first 20,000 characters of a document are analyzed
- Document text goes to xAI, whose retention Skim does not control
- Fixed five-flag output with no follow-up chat
- Operator, company and contact details are not disclosed on the site
- Not legal advice, and no independent reviews found

## FAQ

**Is Runway better than Skim?**

It depends on your workflow. Runway is built for Text-to-video and image-to-video generation. Skim is built for quick pre-signature review of leases, contractor quotes and terms of service, drafting a reply to push back on a clause.

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

Runway: AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API. Skim: Find the five contract clauses most likely to cost you money before you sign.

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

Runway has a free plan or trial; Skim is paid only.

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

Runway starts at $0 and Skim starts at $9. See the pricing table above for what each tier includes.