Most answers compare vibes. Here is the version with specs.
- Runway: deeper editing, motion controls you can grab onto. Built for people who finish projects, and you pay for that maturity. - Pika: cheaper, friendlier. Hand it to a teammate who has never touched video and they are making something usable in ten minutes. - The decision point: clip length, resolution, and how the credit system treats longer generations. Check the numbers for the lengths you actually use. - Native audio: some generators render dialogue in the same pass now. If you make talking-head ads, that kills a whole production step. Silent b-roll? You will pay for it and never use it. - My take: video core to what you sell, Runway's depth is worth it. Social clips this week, Pika with less friction.
Run both free tiers on the same prompt this weekend. Your own test renders beat any thread. For script-to-avatar videos without the generator maze, AvatarTalk delivers 30-second spokesperson videos for $4.99 each.