Why it matters
- Gen-3 Alpha produces genuinely cinematic video quality — used in the production of major films and music videos.
- The most comprehensive AI video toolset: generation, background removal, motion tracking, rotoscoping, and inpainting in one platform.
- Runway API gives developers and studios programmatic access to video generation for production pipelines.
- Credited in high-profile productions including films that premiered at major festivals.
Key capabilities
- Gen-3 Alpha text-to-video: Generate cinematic video clips from detailed text prompts with control over camera movement and style.
- Image-to-video: Animate any reference image with motion guidance and maintain visual consistency.
- Motion brush: Paint motion onto specific regions of an image to control which elements move.
- Background removal (Green Screen): Real-time AI background removal without a physical green screen.
- Rotoscoping: AI-assisted object masking and tracking across frames for compositing.
- Video inpainting: Remove or replace objects in existing footage with AI-generated content.
- Text/image to motion: Generate motion graphics and animations from text or image prompts.
- Runway API: REST API for programmatic video generation — integrate into production workflows or apps.
Technical notes
- Video quality: Up to 1080p; 5–10 seconds per generation with Gen-3 Alpha
- API: REST API available (Pro and above); supports text-to-video and image-to-video endpoints
- Credits: 1 credit = 1 second of video; plans range from 625–unlimited credits/mo
- Pricing: Free (125 credits); Standard $15/mo; Pro $35/mo; Unlimited $95/mo; Enterprise custom
- Platforms: Web app; no desktop app; API for custom integration
- Founded: 2018 by Cristóbal Valenzuela, Alejandro Matamala, and Anastasis Germanidis; based in New York
Ideal for
- Professional video editors and VFX artists who want AI tools that integrate with traditional post-production.
- Content studios and marketing agencies producing high-volume video content for social and advertising.
- Filmmakers using AI for pre-visualization, concept reels, or experimental visual storytelling.
Not ideal for
- Long-form video (10+ minutes) — AI video generation remains best for short clips and sequences.
- Complete beginners who find the credit system and professional tools overwhelming — try Pika first.
- On-premise or private cloud deployments — Runway is cloud-only.