FAQ · Free · No sign-up · Updated November 2026
AI Video Cost Calculator FAQ
The calculator is free and needs no sign-up, upload or video file. You pick a model and enter clip length, resolution, clip count and discard rate, and it shows your total cost, your cost per finished second and your cost per finished minute. The answers below cover the price, the time, what you need to start and who owns the result.
- The first sentence of every answer is the answer
- No account and no upload
- Each rate shows its source and the date we checked it
Is the AI video cost calculator free?
Yes. The calculator is free, with no sign-up and no usage limit. You can open it, change the numbers as often as you like and close the tab. Nothing is saved to an account.
The site runs on ads. Ads never change which models are listed, in what order, or which one is marked cheapest. That label comes only from the math.
The calculator does not make videos. It works out what a video would cost you at the provider you pick. You still pay that provider directly for the actual generation, at their price.
We don't sell anything, so there is no checkout and no paid tier on this site.
How much does AI video cost?
It depends on the model, the resolution, how long your clips are and how many takes you throw away. Your discard rate moves the total as much as the model you pick. We don't quote one number because there isn't one. Run your own numbers in the calculator and you get a figure for your project.
Billed seconds means every second the model generates, including takes you don't keep. That's what providers charge for. The How It Works page shows the full formula. In short:
total cost = clips × seconds per clip × (1 ÷ (1 − discard rate)) × rate per secondProviders bill in different units. The calculator converts each one to a price per generated second, so you can compare them side by side.
| Billing unit | What you see on the provider's page | Model families that use it | What the calculator does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per second | A dollar rate per generated second | Varies by provider and tier | Uses the rate as is |
| Credits per second | Credits used for each second, by model | Runway | Credits × dollar value of one credit |
| Credits per clip | Credits for each clip, by mode, feature and length | Kling, Pika | Clip price ÷ clip length |
| By resolution and length | A price table for each resolution and length | Luma, Seedance, Hailuo | Uses the row for your resolution |
These multipliers are plain arithmetic, so they apply to every model. Exact rates for each model are on the pricing page, each with its check date. If a provider's own page disagrees with ours, the provider is right.
How long does it take to get a video?
The calculator gives you a result as soon as you change a field. How long the video itself takes is up to the provider. Render time changes with the model, the tier, the resolution, clip length and how busy the provider's queue is.
- Fast tiers (for example Seedance Fast or Hailuo Fast) are made for speed and usually cost less per second. Check the provider's page for their actual speed.
- Higher resolution and longer clips usually take longer and cost more.
- Retries add time as well as money. At a 50% discard rate you generate twice the footage you keep, so plan for twice the waiting.
When you plan a deadline, count retries the same way the calculator does: finished clips × attempts per keeper.
Do I need an original video or an account?
No. You need five numbers and no file, footage or login. You don't upload anything, so we never hold your video, images or prompts.
- Model: Seedance, Hailuo (MiniMax), Veo, Kling, Runway, Luma or Pika.
- Seconds per clip: how long each finished shot is.
- Resolution: for example 720p or 1080p. Many providers charge more for higher resolution.
- Clips you need: how many finished shots go into the edit.
- Discard rate: the share of takes you throw away. Start at 50% for new prompts.
The provider may ask for a reference image or clip if you use image-to-video. That happens on their site, not here.
Who owns the copyright to AI-generated video?
Each provider's own terms decide that, not this site. Read the terms of the model you use before you publish commercially. We don't generate, host or license any video, so we have no claim on what you make.
- Your inputs: you need the rights to any image, clip, face, voice or brand you upload to a provider.
- Commercial use: some plans allow it and some don't. The rules can differ between free and paid tiers.
- Brands and logos: model names on this site are only there to identify each model. We are not affiliated with any provider.
This is general information, not legal advice. For anything high-stakes, ask a lawyer where you live.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the other questions people ask. The first line of each one is the answer.
Is the AI video cost calculator really free?
Yes. It's free, with no sign-up and no limit on how many times you use it. Ads pay for the site and never change the results.
Why does my total look higher than the provider's list price?
Because the calculator counts the takes you throw away. At a 50% discard rate you pay 2× list price for every finished second. At 75%, you pay 4×. Set the discard rate to 0% to see list price.
What is cost per finished minute?
It's what one minute of usable video costs once retries are counted. It's the fairest way to compare models, because a cheaper model that needs more tries can end up costing more.
Which AI video model is the cheapest?
No single model is cheapest for every project. It depends on your resolution, clip length and discard rate. Enter your numbers in the calculator and it marks the cheapest option for that setup. The pricing page lists every rate with its check date.
What discard rate should I use?
Start at 50% for new prompts. Lower it once your prompts give usable takes more often, and raise it for hard shots like hands, text or fast motion. Your own history is the best guide.
Can I use the result to quote a client?
Yes, as an estimate. Check the provider's own pricing page before you send the quote, because rates change and the provider's price is the one you pay.
Can I still budget for Sora?
No. Sora is listed as discontinued and isn't used in any total. According to OpenAI's help center, the Sora app and website shut down on April 26, 2026 and the API on September 24, 2026. See Alternatives for what the replacements cost.
How current are the prices?
Every rate shows the date we checked it. Providers change prices often, so the provider's own pricing page is always right. If you spot an outdated rate, tell us and we'll fix it.
Does the calculator include audio, upscaling or editing?
It only counts generation. Some models charge extra for audio or charge differently for each quality tier. The pricing page notes what to check for each model.
Do you store my numbers or prompts?
No. You don't enter a prompt or upload a file, and there's no account. See the Privacy Policy for details.
How do I contact you?
Email contact@aivideocostcalc.com or use the contact page.
Where to go next
Each question you might have next has its own page. Pick a line to open it.
- 01Price my projectThe calculator: total cost, cost per finished second and per finished minute, with models side by side.
- 02What each model chargesRates by model and resolution, each with its source and check date.
- 03How the math worksThe full formula, how credits become dollars and why discard rate matters.
- 04Cheaper or Sora-free optionsAlternatives compared by what a finished minute costs.
- 05Who runs this siteHow we check prices, how the site is funded and what we're not.
- 06Report a wrong priceSend a correction or a model you'd like us to add.