Best AI Video Models in 2026, Compared: Veo, Kling, Seedance, Wan and More
Ten AI video models compared by maker, max length, resolution, native audio, strengths and limits, with per-clip credit costs and a pick for each job.
Our pick for the best AI video model in 2026 depends on the shot. Veo 3.1 is the safe choice for a polished 8-second clip with sound. Kling 3.0 is the strongest all-rounder for people and motion, and it goes up to 4K. Seedance 2 is our pick for multi-shot scenes with tightly controlled camera work, and Seedance 2.5 and Wan 3.0 are the only two that run a single shot to 30 seconds. MiniMax H3 is the one for 2K output with audio. For cheap drafts, use Wan 3.0 at 480p, Grok Imagine for image animation, or Seedance 2 Fast. Sora 2 is off the list because OpenAI has discontinued it.
Updated October 2026.
Disclosure: VdoBloom is our platform. Every model below runs on it, and the credit prices are the ones our product charges today.
This post compares the models, meaning the engines that render the footage. If you are choosing an app to work in (Runway, Pika, Kling’s own app, HeyGen or a multi-model platform), read the best AI video generators of 2026 instead. That guide compares tools and workflows. This one compares specs, costs and what each model is good at.
The 10 models at a glance
The specs below are what you can select on VdoBloom, and some vendors offer more on their own apps or APIs (we note where). “Typical clip” means about 5 seconds at 720p or the model’s standard tier. At the Lite rate, one credit is worth about $0.05.
| Model | Maker | Max length | Max resolution | Native audio | Typical clip | Top tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1 (Fast / Quality) | Google DeepMind | 8 s | 1080p (16:9) | Yes | 40 cr (Fast, 8 s) | 160 cr (Quality, 8 s) |
| Kling 3.0 / 3.0 Omni | Kuaishou | 15 s | 4K | Yes (optional on 3.0, always on Omni) | 28 cr silent, 40 cr with sound | 402 cr (4K, 15 s) |
| Seedance 2 | ByteDance | 15 s | 4K | Yes | 82 cr | 1,248 cr (4K, 15 s) |
| Seedance 2.5 | ByteDance | 30 s | 1080p (10-bit) | Yes | 126 cr | 1,896 cr (1080p, 30 s) |
| Wan 3.0 | Alibaba | 30 s | 1080p | Yes | 32 cr | 384 cr (1080p, 30 s) |
| Gemini Omni / Omni 1.1 Flash | 10 s | 4K | Yes | 48 cr (6 s, up to 1080p) | 120 cr (4K, 10 s) | |
| MiniMax H3 | MiniMax | 15 s | 2K | Yes | 75 cr (768P) | 360 cr (2K, 15 s) |
| Hailuo 02 | MiniMax | 10 s | 1080P (6 s only) | No | 39 cr (768P, 6 s) | 45 cr |
| Runway Gen-4.5 | Runway | 10 s | 720p on VdoBloom | No | 48 cr | 96 cr (10 s) |
| Grok Imagine Video 1.5 | xAI | 15 s | 1080p | Yes (xAI default) | 15 cr | 75 cr (1080p, 15 s) |
| Vidu Q3 | ShengShu | 16 s | 1080p | Yes | 40 cr | 145 cr (1080p, 16 s) |
The exact price for any length and resolution is shown before you generate, and the pricing page lists credit packs.
Model by model: strengths and limits
Veo 3.1
Strengths: realism, believable physics and audio that lands on the action. Fast costs a flat 40 credits per 8-second clip, which makes it one of the easiest premium models to budget. Limits: every clip is 8 seconds. Google’s API also offers 4K, but on VdoBloom the top setting is 1080p in 16:9. Reference mode only works with Fast in 16:9. More detail is in our Veo 3.1 review.
Kling 3.0 and 3.0 Omni
Strengths: faces, hands and body motion are consistently convincing, and you can pick any length from 3 to 15 seconds in three tiers (std 720p, pro 1080p, 4K). Omni always generates audio. Limits: 4K costs three to five times the 720p rate, and with an image input the output takes the image’s aspect ratio. Kling 3.0 vs Veo 3.1 compares the two head to head.
Seedance 2 and 2.5
Strengths: Seedance 2 follows camera direction closely and accepts reference images and video. It is one of three models here that render 4K, along with Kling 3.0 and Gemini Omni. Seedance 2.5 extends one generation to 30 seconds with 10-bit 1080p. Limits: both are among the most expensive per second at 1080p and above, and content moderation is moderate, so some prompts get refused. The Seedance 2 vs 2.5 comparison covers which version to use when.
Wan 3.0
Strengths: text and image input in one model, native audio, any length from 2 to 30 seconds and five aspect ratios. A 5-second 480p draft costs 16 credits, the cheapest long-form option in this list. Limits: it tops out at 1080p, and in our experience it needs more prompt detail than Kling or Veo to get the same polish.
Gemini Omni
Strengths: Google’s any-to-any model, with up to three character references and preset voices on VdoBloom. 720p and 1080p cost the same, so you never pay extra for 1080p. Limits: clips run 4, 6, 8 or 10 seconds in 16:9 or 9:16 only. See where to use Gemini Omni Flash.
MiniMax H3
Strengths: MiniMax’s successor to Hailuo, with audio generated alongside the video, 2K output and a 21:9 option for cinematic framing. Limits: it costs 15 credits per second at 768P, so it is not a drafting model.
Hailuo 02
Strengths: good physics and camera control for the price, from text or an image. Limits: no native audio, and 1080P is limited to 6-second clips.
Runway Gen-4.5
Strengths: cinematic motion and good prompt adherence from text or an image, with simple per-length pricing (5, 8 or 10 seconds). Limits: 720p on VdoBloom and no native audio, so sound needs a separate pass.
Grok Imagine Video 1.5
Strengths: the cheapest way to animate a still in this list (8 credits for 5 seconds at 480p), with lengths from 1 to 15 seconds and seven aspect ratios. xAI says audio, including speech, is generated by default. Limits: on VdoBloom it is the Preview version and image-to-video only.
Vidu Q3
Strengths: audio included, clips of up to 16 seconds, and 1080p costs only a little more than 720p. Q3 Turbo halves the 720p price. Limits: length is fixed at 5, 8 or 16 seconds, and there are only three aspect ratios.
Also available: PixVerse V6 (multi-shot, up to 15 seconds, silent on VdoBloom, 9 credits per second at 720p) is the stylised option if none of the above fit.
Same prompt, four tests
Spec tables don’t show how a model handles a real shot, so we ran the same prompt and settings through several models. Each test lists what to look for.
Test 1: a person speaking to camera
Watch whether the lips match the words, whether the face stays the same person for the whole clip, and whether the room sound fits the space.
Test 2: a product shot from one photo
Watch the label and edges of the product. A good result keeps the printed text sharp while the camera moves, and the reflections behave like real glass.
Test 3: several people in fast motion
Count the limbs. Busy scenes with more than one person are where models merge bodies, swap clothing between people or lose track of who is who.
Test 4: one long take with readable signage
Check whether a sign stays spelled correctly from the first second to the last, and whether the scene drifts or loops in the second half of a long clip.
Which model for which job
- A hero shot with sound, 8 seconds or less: Veo 3.1 Quality, or Fast for drafts.
- People, faces, dance and body motion: Kling 3.0 (pro for delivery, std for tests).
- Directed camera moves and multi-shot scenes: Seedance 2.
- One continuous shot longer than 15 seconds: Seedance 2.5 for quality, Wan 3.0 for cost.
- 4K delivery: Kling 3.0 4K, Seedance 2 4K or Gemini Omni 4K, and Gemini Omni is the least expensive of the three at 10 seconds.
- Wide cinematic framing (21:9): MiniMax H3 or Seedance 2.
- Animating a photo cheaply: Grok Imagine Video 1.5 or Vidu Q3 Turbo.
- High-volume drafts: Wan 3.0 at 480p or Seedance 2 Fast, then re-render the keeper on a premium model.
The habit that saves the most credits is the same whichever model you pick. Test framing and motion at low resolution, then spend on the take you keep. AI video credits explained walks through the arithmetic. Start from Text to Video or Image to Video. Both pickers list every model above.
What about Sora 2?
OpenAI has discontinued Sora. According to OpenAI’s help center, the Sora web and app experiences ended on 26 April 2026, and the Sora API was scheduled to end on 24 September 2026. It is not on VdoBloom and is not in this comparison. If you used it for realistic clips with dialogue, the closest replacements are Veo 3.1 and Kling 3.0 Omni.
FAQ
Which AI video model has the best quality in 2026?
There is no single winner. For short clips with sound, Veo 3.1 Quality and Kling 3.0 are the most consistent in our use. For the highest resolution, Kling 3.0, Seedance 2 and Gemini Omni all reach 4K.
Which models generate audio natively?
Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0 (optional) and 3.0 Omni, Seedance 2 and 2.5, Wan 3.0, Gemini Omni, MiniMax H3, Grok Imagine Video 1.5 and Vidu Q3. Hailuo 02 and Runway Gen-4.5 are silent on VdoBloom.
Which model makes the longest single clip?
Seedance 2.5 and Wan 3.0, both up to 30 seconds per generation. Vidu Q3 reaches 16 seconds, and most of the others stop at 15.
Do I need a subscription to use these models?
Not on VdoBloom. Credits are pay-as-you-go, they never expire, and one balance covers every model in this post.
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