# Runway

> AI video, image and audio creation suite with Gen-4.5, agents and an API

- Category: [Image & Visual AI](https://finderatlas.com/categories/image-ai)
- Pricing: Freemium
- Website: https://runway.com
- Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, API
- API: available
- Mobile app: available
- Made by: Runway AI, Inc., founded 2018, New York, NY
- Last updated: 2026-10-20
- FinderAtlas page: https://finderatlas.com/tools/runway

## Overview

Runway is an AI video, image and audio creation platform from Runway AI, Inc. Its web app, Runway Creative, lets users generate and edit video, images and audio in one workspace. It offers Runway's own video model, Gen-4.5, and also other labs' models such as Seedance 2.0. A Creative Agent builds videos from a conversation, and Characters keep the same subject consistent across shots.

## Key features

- Gen-4.5 video model
- Creative Agent
- Multiple models
- Characters
- Aleph and Act-Two
- Audio tools
- Workflows and Recipes
- Runway Dev API
- Runway MCP

## Pricing

- **Free** ($0): 125 one-time credits that do not expire
- **Standard** ($15/month): 625 credits per month; $12 per month billed annually
- **Pro** ($35/month): 2,250 credits per month; $28 per month billed annually
- **Max** ($95/month): 9,500 credits per month; $76 per month billed annually

## Best for

- Text-to-video and image-to-video generation
- Short-form ads and social video
- Pre-visualization
- Video editing with generative models

## Who uses it

- Filmmakers
- Video creators
- Marketers and ad teams
- Designers
- Developers
- Enterprise creative teams

## 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

## 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

## Not recommended for

- Static text document editing
- Users who need unlimited generations on a fixed budget

## Integrations

- Runway MCP
- ChatGPT plugin
- Meta Ads
- Google Ads
- TikTok Ads

## FinderAtlas editorial scores (out of 10)

- Video Quality: 9/10
- Camera & Motion Control: 8.8/10
- Model Variety: 8.5/10
- Editing Tools: 8.6/10
- Pricing Clarity: 7.2/10

## Alternatives

- [PixVerse](https://finderatlas.com/tools/pixverse): Generate videos from text, images and prompts with AI models, agents and APIs ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/pixverse-vs-runway))
- [HeyGen](https://finderatlas.com/tools/heygen): Create avatar videos from text and translate them into 175+ languages ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/heygen-vs-runway))
- [Vidu](https://finderatlas.com/tools/vidu): Generate consistent AI videos from text, images and reference characters in one workspace ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/runway-vs-vidu))
- [Kling AI](https://finderatlas.com/tools/kling-ai): Generate AI video and images from text, photos and references in one studio ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/kling-ai-vs-runway))
- [Pika](https://finderatlas.com/tools/pika): Generate, edit and extend AI video, images and audio from one creative platform ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/pika-vs-runway))
- [Higgsfield AI](https://finderatlas.com/tools/higgsfield): Generate AI video and images from 30+ models in one creative platform ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/higgsfield-vs-runway))
- [Luma Dream Machine](https://finderatlas.com/tools/luma-dream-machine): Generate and edit video and images from text or images with Luma's Ray models ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/luma-dream-machine-vs-runway))

## Recent updates

- 2026-08-08 (Gen-3 Alpha Turbo): Gen-3 Alpha Turbo Release

## FAQ

**Is Runway free to use?**

Yes, in a limited way. The Free plan gives 125 one-time credits that do not expire and access to a selection of models. Paid plans start at $15 per month for 625 credits.

**How do Runway credits work?**

Each generation costs a set number of credits based on the model, duration and resolution. Gen-4.5 uses 12 credits per second of video, so a 5-second clip costs 60 credits. Standard and Pro credits reset each month and do not roll over, while Max credits roll over for one month.

**Can I buy more credits?**

Yes. Credits can be bought from the Plans & Billing page, with a minimum of 1,000 credits. Purchased credits never expire.

**Does Runway have an API?**

Yes. Runway Dev provides an API with Node (@runwayml/sdk) and Python (runwayml) SDKs. It includes Gen 4.5, Aleph 2.0 and other models. API credit pricing is in Runway's developer documentation.

**Does Runway have a mobile app?**

Yes. The iOS app is on the App Store as "Runway: AI Image & Video" and is free to download with in-app purchases. The Runway site also links an Android app.

**What happened to runwayml.com?**

The site now redirects to runway.com. The developer documentation and the iOS publisher name still use "runwayml".