The rise of AI-powered video generators has democratized video creation. No longer are extensive editing skills and a large budget required to produce professional-quality videos. This article explores several free AI video generation tools, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the best option for your needs. We put these platforms to the test with the same prompt: “dogs running through a green grass meadow towards a distant castle in the style of Ghibli films like Spirited Away.”
Haiper 1.5: Quick and Easy, But Limited
Developed by former Google DeepMind researchers, Haiper 1.5 generates short, 2- to 4-second video clips from text, image, or video prompts. While the user interface is intuitive, achieving desired results requires prompt engineering finesse. Our test prompt yielded a clip (view here) with visual artifacts, highlighting the need for iterative refinement. The free tier offers limited daily creations and concurrent generations, posing a challenge for extensive experimentation. Paid tiers offer increased credits, concurrent generations, and watermark removal.
Pika 1.0: Multiple Options, Short Clips
Pika offers a suite of tools for creating and editing short, three-second videos in various styles. Our test prompt generated four distinct clips (view here), showcasing the platform’s ability to offer variations. However, similar to Haiper, visual artifacts were present. Pika’s free tier offers limited daily credits, while paid tiers unlock additional credits, lip syncing, upscaling, and extended video length.
Canva: Simple and Versatile, Limited AI Capabilities
Canva, a popular design platform, integrates AI video generation powered by Runway. However, its AI capabilities are limited, with restrictions on artistic styles. Our modified test prompt (excluding Ghibli and Spirited Away) produced a less-than-ideal result. While Canva allows direct MP4 downloads, its free tier offers limited credits for AI generation. Paid subscriptions unlock extensive stock resources and additional AI tools.
Based Labs: Powerful but Complex
Based Labs offers a robust suite of AI tools for image and video generation. However, its video generation process is complex, requiring manual steps. Our test prompt, first generated as an image, was then processed into a short video clip, albeit with a distinct lack of Ghibli influence. While free users receive initial credits, paid subscriptions offer significantly more.
Invideo AI: Long-Form Videos, Slow Generation
Invideo AI generates longer videos, exceeding a minute in length, with added voiceover and music. However, its generation process is slow. Our test prompt produced a lengthy video (view here) with limited stylistic resemblance to Ghibli. Free users receive limited weekly generation time and exports, while paid subscriptions offer increased generation time, stock images, cloud storage, and voice cloning.
Runway: Advanced Features, Requires Expertise
Runway offers advanced video generation and editing tools, leveraging its Gen model. However, achieving desired results necessitates prompt engineering expertise. Our test prompt, processed through image generation and then video generation, yielded a psychedelic result. Free users have limited credits and access to the older Gen-2 model. Paid subscriptions unlock more credits, access to the Gen-3 Alpha model, and additional features.
Choosing the Right AI Video Generator
Each platform offers distinct advantages and disadvantages. Consider your specific needs when choosing a tool. Invideo excels in long-form content, while Haiper and Pika are suited for short-form social media content. Canva offers simplicity, while Based Labs and Runway provide advanced features for experienced users. Experiment with the free tiers to determine which platform best aligns with your creative vision and technical skills.
