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By the toolist.ai editors. Researched from both vendors' pages and hands-on tests published by others, not hands-on tested by toolist.ai. Updated October 6, 2026.
Runway vs Kling
Verdict
Pick Kling for more footage per dollar: by our calculation its Standard plan makes 1080p clips with sound for about 16 cents a second, against about 29 cents a second for Runway Gen-4.5 at 720p on Runway's Standard plan, and Kling 3.0 ranks well above Gen-4.5 on Artificial Analysis's blind-vote board. Pick Runway if you also edit real footage: its Aleph model restyles and relights video you shot, and it plugs into Premiere Pro, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve.
Based on published plans and other people's hands-on tests, not on a test of our own.
Choose Runway if
- You edit footage you shot, not only generate new clips (Aleph)
- You work in Premiere Pro, After Effects or DaVinci Resolve
- You want several models, including Kling 3.0, on one credit balance
Choose Kling if
- You want more seconds of video for your money
- You want native 4K from the generator (Runway's Gen-4.5 renders at 720p and upscales)
- You want the lower entry price ($8.80 against $15 a month)
Side by side
| Runway | Kling | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Runway is an AI video studio whose Gen-4.5 model turns prompts or images into short clips, with the Aleph model for editing existing footage and third-party models on the same credits. Paid plans start at $15 a month. | Kling makes short AI video clips with native sound from text prompts or images, with multi-shot storyboards and native 4K on paid plans. Paid plans start at $8.80 a month after a $6.99 first month. |
| Best for | Filmmakers who want generation plus editing of real footage | Low-cost clips with native sound and strong camera moves |
| Free plan | 125 credits once (they never refresh), a limited set of models without Gen-4.5, and a watermark on every video. | Free credits on login with an unstated amount, watermarked output, no 1080p, and not for commercial use. |
| Cheapest paid plan | Standard ($15 a month) | Standard ($8.80 a month) |
| Price per unit, calculated | $0.288 per second of Gen-4.5 video (Standard) | $0.160 per second of Kling 3.0 1080p video with sound (Standard) |
| Prices last checked | 2026-10-16 | 2026-10-16 |
| Test result | Not tested by us; see what published tests found below. | Not tested by us; see what published tests found below. |
Price per unit is our division of each plan's monthly price by what it includes, not a measured cost.
What hands-on testers found
Runway
Artificial Analysis Video Arena, October 6, 2026
- Gen-4.5 ranked 23rd of 31 on the no-audio board.
- Runway's December 2025 claim of first place no longer holds on today's board.
More tests in our Runway review.
Kling
Artificial Analysis Video Arena, October 6, 2026
- Kling 3.0 Omni ranked 15th and Kling 3.0 16th on the board with audio.
- Kling 3.0 is the board's fixed 1000-point reference.
More tests in our Kling review.
Read the full reviews: Runway, Kling. Runway pricing.