Best Hailuo AI alternatives, checked in 2026
Hailuo, MiniMax's video generator, makes some of the strongest motion in its price class — and its pricing page needs reading twice. The free plan carries zero monthly credits (a one-time pack that expires in 3 days), while the paid tiers are genuinely good value per clip. Kling fights it on price, Runway on editing, Luma on simplicity. Here is the honest comparison, credit maths included.
- Kling: The closest rival: its free Basic plan also carries no monthly credits — the fight is over paid value per clip | Runway | The pro's pick: a real timeline editor around the models, with a one-time 125-credit free starter | Luma Dream Machine | Clean, simple generation — paid plans only, with trial credits instead of a free tier | Pika | Effects-driven clips (Pikaffects); the free plan holds 0 monthly credits and needs paid packs to generate | InVideo | Turns a prompt into a full edited video with stock footage — 10 free AI minutes a week, watermarked | CapCut | Not a generator first: a free editor with AI features — best paired with a generator like Hailuo
Comparison table
| Tool | Free plan | Card needed | Pricing model | Checked | Reader rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kling | Free Basic plan: no monthly credits included; max 1 video per generation, no 1080p | Not needed | Freemium | 2026-10-31 | – |
1. Kling
The closest rival: its free Basic plan also carries no monthly credits — the fight is over paid value per clip | Runway | The pro's pick: a real timeline editor around the models, with a one-time 125-credit free starter | Luma Dream Machine | Clean, simple generation — paid plans only, with trial credits instead of a free tier | Pika | Effects-driven clips (Pikaffects); the free plan holds 0 monthly credits and needs paid packs to generate | InVideo | Turns a prompt into a full edited video with stock footage — 10 free AI minutes a week, watermarked | CapCut | Not a generator first: a free editor with AI features — best paired with a generator like Hailuo
Changed since last check: starting price moved from Free tier to $0 (Oct 30, 2026).
- Free Basic plan available
- Paid Standard plan costs $8.80/mo with 660 credits
- Free plan includes no monthly credits
- Commercial use is a paid-only benefit
- Watermark removal is a paid-only benefit
- Free plan is capped at 1 video per generation with no 1080p
Hailuo AI vs Kling
See the full Hailuo AI vs Kling duel →In-depth notes on Kling
the two Chinese labs trade blows on price per clip. Hailuo Standard's 1,000 credits make about 40 six-second 768p videos; Kling's paid tiers start lower but meter just as hard, and neither free plan includes monthly credits anymore. Judge them on motion style with the same prompt.
When to stay with Hailuo AI
Switching is not always the right call. Hailuo AI is still the better pick if:
- You generate lots of short clips and count cost per clip — Hailuo's credit maths are clear (25 credits for 6 seconds at 768p), the motion quality is top-tier for the class, and Ultra/Max add unlimited generations on the older models for volume work.
How to switch from Hailuo AI
- You need a real free tierRunway's 125 starter credits and InVideo's weekly free minutes let you evaluate properly — Hailuo's free pack expires in 3 days. | You edit inside the tool | Runway's timeline and tools replace a separate editor; Hailuo hands you clips and leaves. | You want finished videos, not clips | InVideo assembles stock, voiceover and captions into a complete video from one prompt.
How we check
Free-plan limits, card requirements and the catch come from the Free Reality Check on each tool. An editor checks the maker's pricing page by hand and records when. If a tool has no check date, we say so and show no numbers.
- Official pricing pages, with the date we checked each one
- Vendor documentation and changelogs
- SaaSListy editor testing notes on each tool page
- Reader reviews on SaaSListy
Some links are affiliate links. They never change a rating, a ranking or a verdict.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hailuo AI free?
There is a free account, but it includes 0 monthly credits — new users get a one-time welcome pack that expires in 3 days, and free downloads are watermarked. Real use starts at Standard, $14.99 per month. | How many videos does Hailuo Standard make? | About 40 six-second videos at 768p from its 1,000 monthly credits (25 credits per clip), or about 12 at 1080p (80 credits per clip). | Hailuo or Kling? | Both meter hard and both dropped monthly free credits. Hailuo's per-clip maths are clearer; Kling's paid entry is cheaper. Test the same prompt on both before subscribing.
What is the best Hailuo AI alternative?
Kling is listed first on this page. The closest rival: its free Basic plan also carries no monthly credits — the fight is over paid value per clip | Runway | The pro's pick: a real timeline editor around the models, with a one-time 125-credit free starter | Luma Dream Machine | Clean, simple generation — paid plans only, with trial credits instead of a free tier | Pika | Effects-driven clips (Pikaffects); the free plan holds 0 monthly credits and needs paid packs to generate | InVideo | Turns a prompt into a full edited video with stock footage — 10 free AI minutes a week, watermarked | CapCut | Not a generator first: a free editor with AI features — best paired with a generator like Hailuo
Which Hailuo AI alternatives are free without a credit card?
Our editors verified that Kling do not ask for a card on the free plan. The free plan box under each tool lists the limits.
How do you check free plans and prices?
Editors check the maker's official pricing page by hand and record the check date. Tools that are not verified yet are labelled that way instead of showing guesses.
How does SaaSListy make money?
Some links are affiliate links. They never change a rating, a ranking or a verdict.