Runway pricing for 2026 explained: Free, Standard, Pro and Max plans, how many seconds of Gen-4.5 each buys, partner model costs, and credit rollover rules.
Runway pricing is easy to read and hard to predict. Each plan comes with a monthly credit allowance, and the number of seconds those credits buy depends entirely on which model you choose.
This guide covers Runway's current plans, how many seconds of video each plan buys, what partner models like Veo cost inside Runway, and the rollover rules that decide whether unused credits survive the month. Prices were checked in October 2026.
Runway plans at a glance
Max replaced Runway's old Unlimited plan in 2026. The free tier's 125 credits are a one-time allowance, not a monthly refill.
How many seconds each plan buys
Runway's own Gen-4.5 model uses 12 credits per second of video. That turns the plans into seconds like this:
- Free: about 10 seconds of Gen-4.5, once
- Standard: about 52 seconds of Gen-4.5 a month
- Pro: about 187 seconds, a little over 3 minutes
- Max: about 791 seconds, a little over 13 minutes
Partner models cost more. Veo 3 with audio runs 40 credits per second inside Runway, so a Standard plan covers about 15 seconds of Veo.
Rollover, refunds and the hidden costs
Standard and Pro credits expire at each monthly refresh. Only Max rolls credits over, and only once, so a quiet month on a lower plan is credits lost.
Failed generations still cost credits. Reviewers on G2 repeatedly mention prompts that missed and still billed, and Runway's terms treat consumed credits as non-refundable.
The developer API bills separately from web plans. In September 2026 Runway's API added MiniMax H3 (September 3) and Seedance 2.5 with a 480p draft mode (September 28), each at its own credit rate.
What you get beyond credits
Runway's price buys more than generation. Aleph 2 restyles footage you already shot, Workflows chain steps into repeatable pipelines, and since September 2026 Runway runs inside Premiere Pro, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve.
Those editing tools are the strongest reason to pay for Runway. They are also why the plans suit editors more than teams producing scripted videos.
Which Runway plan should you choose?
- Standard ($12 a month annually): testing Gen-4.5 and occasional short shots; under a minute a month
- Pro ($28 a month annually): regular B-roll for a small team; about 3 minutes of Gen-4.5
- Max ($76 a month annually): daily generation or heavy Aleph 2 editing; about 13 minutes of Gen-4.5 with one rollover
- Enterprise: custom credits, security review and procurement terms
Runway vs HeyGen on cost
Runway prices seconds of generated footage. HeyGen prices finished video: Creator costs $24 a month billed annually, Avatar III videos and audio dubbing are unlimited on paid plans, and Avatar V presenters use 20 credits per minute.
For a 3-minute explainer with a presenter, Runway needs 2,160 credits of Gen-4.5 plus stitching and narration, while HeyGen's text to video workflow renders it in one pass. HeyGen also runs Veo 3.1 and Kling 3.0 for B-roll inside the same project, without a per-second partner surcharge.
FAQs
How much does Runway cost per month?
Runway costs $15 a month for Standard ($12 billed annually), $35 for Pro ($28 annually) and $76 a month billed annually for Max, as of October 2026. Free accounts get 125 one-time credits.
How many seconds of video does Runway Standard include?
About 52 seconds of Gen-4.5 a month, since Standard includes 625 credits and Gen-4.5 uses 12 credits per second. Partner models like Veo 3 with audio use 40 credits per second.
Do Runway credits roll over?
Only on Max, and only once. Standard and Pro credits expire at each monthly refresh. HeyGen rolls unused credits over for one month on monthly plans.
Does Runway charge for failed generations?
Yes. Credits are consumed when a generation runs, whether or not the result is usable, and consumed credits are not refunded.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Runway?
Kling AI starts at $6.99 a month with 66 free credits a day for raw clips. For finished videos, HeyGen starts at $24 a month billed annually with unlimited Avatar III videos and AI dubbing on paid plans.
Greetings! My name is Ayesha Shaheryar. My words have helped millions over the past two years. As a HeyGen expert and a writer, I am here to introduce tips and tricks to edit your next video in no time.
