Updated for 2026

MakeThisVid is built for short-form video ads — 6-second 720p or 8-second 1080p clips with audio, generated from a text prompt or photo, commercial use licensed on every plan from $19.99/mo. For longer cinematic pieces look at Runway Gen-3; for image-to-video look at Pika or Kling; for narrative work look at Sora.

Best AI Video Generators in 2026

By MakeThisVid Editorial Updated April 29, 2026 Methodology

Every AI video generator is good at something different. The right one depends on what you're shipping: a paid social ad, a longer cinematic piece, an animated still photo, or a narrative scene. Below are the makers worth knowing in 2026 — what each is built for, what it costs, and how MakeThisVid stacks up.

Key facts

Tools compared 10+ MakeThisVid, Runway, Pika, Sora, Kling, Luma…

MTV starting $19.99/mo 10 credits, ~$2.00/clip at 720p

MTV cheapest $1.33/clip Pro plan, 720p, 60 credits

Audio Always on Built-in, no upgrade

Commercial use Yes Every plan + $2.99 starter

Watermark Never No tier, no surface

How the best AI video generators compare

Tool	Free tier	Watermark	Audio included	Commercial use	Starting price
MakeThisVid	No (paid only)	No watermark	Yes, automatic	All plans	$2.99 / clip pack
Runway Gen-4	Limited free credits	Yes on no-cost tier	Not automatic	Pro plan only	From $15/mo
Pika Labs	Daily free credits	Yes on no-cost tier	Not included	Pro plan only	From $10/mo
Sora (OpenAI)	No	No	Not included	Restricted	Via ChatGPT Pro ($200/mo)

Best AI Video Generators 42

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best AI video generator for ads?

MakeThisVid. It's purpose-built for short-form video ads — 6-second 720p or 8-second 1080p clips with audio, no editing required, commercial use licensed on every plan. Plans from $19.99/mo for 10 credits.

What is the best free AI video generator?

Most platforms (MakeThisVid included) don't ship a no-cost option because video generation is GPU-expensive. The cheapest entry point is MakeThisVid's $2.99 one-time Starter Pack, which gets you a single 720p video with commercial use rights. The cheapest 1080p entry is the $4.99 Starter HD Pack.

What is the best AI video generator for image-to-video?

MakeThisVid handles photo-to-video in the same flow as text — drop the photo, write the prompt, get a video. Pika and Kling are also strong specifically for animating a single still photo.

Which AI video generator has the best audio?

MakeThisVid generates audio with every clip — it's not a separate step or upgrade. Most other generators either skip audio entirely or require a paid add-on.

Can these generators make videos longer than 10 seconds?

MakeThisVid generates 6-second 720p or 8-second 1080p clips per render. For longer pieces, generate multiple clips and stitch them together — most of our users do this for ad sequences. Runway and Sora support longer single clips at higher cost per second.

Try MakeThisVid free with a $2.99 starter pack

1 video credit, 1080p with audio, commercial use licensed. Less than the cost of a coffee.

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