Correction, 2026-10-02: we called Veo 3.1 at 448 credits the default. The Veo tool opens on Veo 3.1 Fast, 168 credits for 8 seconds with sound; 448 is Veo 3.1 Standard. We also said Veo 3.1 Lite starts at 27 credits, but from a still Veo always makes 8 seconds, so Lite costs 54 with sound (33 silent) on this job. The description named Wan 2.5 while the page recommends Wan 3.0 (Wan 2.5 makes 5-second clips only on 8frame). And we stated quality we never measured as fact: that Kling's motion respects physics, that Veo has the best motion, that Seedance locks a label or a face where other models drift, that Hailuo H3's motion is kinetic and Wan's fine detail goes soft, that Runway sits a step below Veo and Kling, and which models struggle with faces. Those lines now give each model's price, length, resolution, sound and inputs (Seedance 2.5 takes up to 9 reference images on the canvas) and tell you what to test on your own still. A "typical shot under $2" is now worked arithmetic, and the sources are dated.
Correction, 2026-09-30: we named Runway Gen-4 Turbo the cheapest option (Pruna p-video Draft is cheaper), called Seedance 2.5 the most expensive model here (Veo 3.1 costs more), said only Kling generates audio among the rest (Seedance 2.5 does too), and implied a side-by-side test we have not published. Fixed.
The best image to video AI in 2026 depends on what your still image needs to survive and what the shot has to deliver. Kling 2.6 Pro is the place to start: 47 credits for a silent 5-second clip at 1080p, 95 with sound. Veo 3.1 generates sound in the same pass and always makes 8 seconds from a still: the Veo tool opens on Veo 3.1 Fast at 168 credits, and Veo 3.1 Standard is 448. Seedance 2.5 takes up to 9 reference images on the canvas, at 157 credits for 5 seconds at 720p. The cheapest clip on the canvas is Pruna p-video Draft at 4 credits for 5 seconds, and Runway Gen-4 Turbo bills per second for short motion tests. There's no single winner, and no spec sheet tells you how a model will move your particular still, which is exactly why comparing them on the same source image matters before you commit credits to the wrong one.
TL;DR
- Where to start: Kling 2.6 Pro, 47 credits (~$0.47 at pack rate) for a silent 5-second clip at 1080p, or 95 with sound, which is on by default. The Kling tool opens on Kling v3 Standard, so pick 2.6 Pro in the model menu.
- Sound in the same pass: Veo 3.1, always 8 seconds from a still. The Veo tool opens on Veo 3.1 Fast at 168 credits (1080p); Veo 3.1 Standard is 448, Veo 3.1 Lite 54 at 720p.
- Reference images: Seedance 2.5, 157 credits for 5 seconds at 720p (70 at 480p), up to 9 reference images on the canvas, 4 to 30 seconds, sound on by default.
- Above 1080p: Hailuo H3 renders 2K, 88 credits for 5 seconds.
- Cheapest clip: Pruna p-video Draft, 4 credits for 5 seconds at 720p (new to 8frame: we quote its price, not its quality). For 2-second motion tests, Runway Gen-4 Turbo at 8 credits per second, 16 credits.
What actually separates image-to-video models
If the term itself is new, what is image to video AI covers the basics. When you choose between models, two things can only be judged on your own still, and the rest you can check before you spend a credit.
Motion. Given a static frame, does the model invent movement that looks filmed, or does it warp, float, and smear? No spec sheet answers that for your image, and the same prompt moves differently on each model, so run a short, cheap take before a long one.
Identity. The whole point of starting from an image is that you already approved how something looks. A model that animates your product beautifully while redrawing its label has failed the brief. Check the label, the logo and any face on the last frame, not just the first.
The facts you can check first. Price per attempt, length, resolution, whether sound is generated, and what the model takes besides the start image (an end frame, reference images). Image-to-video is iterative: you'll run the same still several times with different motion prompts, so the cost of one attempt sets how much you can experiment. The table below lists all of it.
All the models below run on the 8frame canvas, so you can compare them yourself: same source image, same motion prompt, side by side. Prices are in 8frame credits, where a credit costs about $0.01 at pack rate. One habit saves reruns: crop the still to the delivery shape first. From a still, Wan, Hailuo H3 and Pruna follow the shape of your image, and Veo makes 16:9 or 9:16 only.
Kling 2.6 Pro and Kling v3: where to start
Kling 2.6 Pro at 47 credits for a silent 5-second clip is where most image-to-video work can start. It outputs 1080p, runs 5 or 10 seconds (95 credits silent for 10, 189 with sound), and generates sound in the same pass for 95 credits at 5 seconds. Sound is on by default, so switch it off if you'll lay your own track. It animates a start image and takes no end frame on the canvas. At about $0.47 a clip, three silent variations of the same still (141 credits) cost less than one Veo 3.1 Fast clip (168), so run three and keep the best.
Kling v3 Standard (86 credits with sound, 57 silent, for 5 seconds) and v3 Pro (114 with sound) are the newer generation and run anywhere from 3 to 15 seconds. The Kling tool opens on v3 Standard, which outputs 720p, so the newer model is not the higher-resolution one. Switch to 2.6 Pro when you want 1080p or the lower price, and keep v3 for lengths other than 5 or 10 seconds.
Veo 3.1: sound in the same pass, three price tiers
From a still, Veo 3.1 always makes an 8-second clip, and the Veo tool opens on Veo 3.1 Fast: 168 credits with sound, 112 silent, at 1080p. Veo 3.1 Standard is 448 with sound (224 silent), also 1080p, and Veo 3.1 Lite is 54 (33 silent) at 720p. Sound is on by default; of the others here, Kling's sound option and Seedance 2.5 (sound on by default) generate it too. Veo 3.1 also takes an end frame next to the start image, and its multi-reference mode takes up to 3 reference images, at 448. It makes 16:9 or 9:16 only.
The smart way to use it: draft on Lite at 54, find the motion prompt that works, then rerun it on Fast or Standard. A different tier can move the same still differently, so treat the draft as a prompt test, not a preview. Standard costs about 2.7 times Fast; whether that is worth it for your shot is something to check once on your own still before you plan a whole job on it. And a note on Sora 2: provider access ended on September 24, 2026 and 8frame no longer offers it for new generations, so don't build a pipeline around it.
Seedance 2.5: reference images for products and characters
Seedance 2.5 at 157 credits for 5 seconds at 720p (70 at 480p) costs more than Kling 2.6 Pro, and what it adds is input. On the canvas it takes up to 9 reference images (the model accepts up to 30 at its provider), plus one reference video and one audio track, where Kling 2.6 Pro, Kling v3 and Wan 3.0 animate a single start image. The caps for every model are in reference image limits by model. Seedance's provider describes the reference images as "for character consistency, style guidance, and scene composition" and says to name them in the prompt as [Image1], [Image2]. That is the vendor's description, not our measurement: if a label or a face has to survive, give it the product from more than one angle, run one 480p take at 70 credits, and check the label on the last frame before you pay 157 for 720p.
Two input rules. A start image and reference images don't combine: with both attached, the references are sent and the start image is dropped. An end frame needs a start image and no references. Length runs 4 to 30 seconds, billed per second with sound included: 313 credits for 10 seconds at 720p, 937 for 30. At about $1.57 for 5 seconds, prove the motion on a cheaper model first and run the final take here. Seedance 2.0 is 108 for 5 seconds at 720p (48 at 480p), runs 4 to 15 seconds and also takes up to 9 reference images on the canvas.
If a reference shows a face in close-up, Seedance's filter may reject the run. In our August 2026 tests, the same person framed from the waist up went through (Seedance "flagged as sensitive" (E005)).
Hailuo H3 and Wan: 2K, and per-second pricing
Hailuo H3 renders 2K: 88 credits for 5 seconds, 176 for 10, 264 for 15, at any length from 5 to 15 seconds. It animates a start image (or works from text alone), follows the shape of your still, and has no sound setting on 8frame. Reach for it when the delivery needs more than 1080p, and judge how it moves your still on a 5-second take before you pay for 15.
Wan 3.0 bills per second at three resolutions: 24 credits for 5 seconds at 480p, 48 at 720p, 95 at 1080p, at any length from 2 to 30 seconds. The Wan tool opens on Wan 3.0 at 1080p (95), so switch the resolution to get the 24-credit price. On the canvas it animates one start image and has no sound setting. Wan 2.5 costs 102 at 1080p and makes 5-second clips only on 8frame, so Wan 3.0 is cheaper at the same length and resolution and goes longer. Wan 2.2 (50 credits for 5 seconds at 720p) needs a start image or a video, and its weights are published under Apache 2.0, so heavy users can run it on their own hardware. For b-roll from stills, mood boards in motion, and background plates where 480p is enough, Wan 3.0 is about $0.24 a clip; if the still has small text or a face, check those frames in that first take before you scale up.
Runway Gen-4 Turbo: pay per second, test cheaply
Runway Gen-4 Turbo prices at 8 credits per second, from 16 credits for 2 seconds up to 80 for 10. The tool opens at 5 seconds (40 credits), so set it to 2 for a test. It needs a start image (the prompt is optional) and has no sound setting. That makes it a cheap way to check whether a motion direction reads on your still at all: five 2-second tests cost 80 credits, under a dollar, before you commit a longer generation anywhere else. The same prompt can move differently on the model you finish on, so rerun the winner there before you scale up. Pruna p-video Draft is cheaper still per test, 4 credits for 5 seconds at 720p with an optional start image; it is new to 8frame, so we quote its price only.
The comparison table
Credits for one clip from a still, from the 8frame registry. "On by default" means the price with sound is what the tool charges unless you switch sound off.
| Model | Credits per clip (~$ at pack rate) | Length and resolution | Sound | What it takes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pruna p-video Draft | 4 for 5 s at 720p, 7 at 1080p (~$0.04 to $0.07) | 1 to 20 s, 720p or 1080p | Not confirmed on Draft | Optional start image |
| Runway Gen-4 Turbo | 8 per second, 16 to 80 ($0.16 to $0.80) | 2 to 10 s | No setting | Start image required, prompt optional |
| Wan 3.0 | 24 / 48 / 95 for 5 s at 480p / 720p / 1080p (~$0.24 to $0.95) | 2 to 30 s, up to 1080p | No setting | One start image |
| Kling 2.6 Pro | 47 silent, 95 with sound, for 5 s (~$0.47 to $0.95) | 5 or 10 s, 1080p | On by default | Start image, no end frame |
| Veo 3.1 Lite | 54 with sound, 33 silent (~$0.33 to $0.54) | 8 s from a still, 720p | On by default | Start image |
| Kling v3 Standard | 86 with sound, 57 silent, for 5 s (~$0.57 to $0.86) | 3 to 15 s, 720p | On by default | Start image required, no end frame |
| Hailuo H3 | 88 for 5 s, 264 for 15 s (~$0.88 to $2.64) | 5 to 15 s, 2K | No setting | Start image |
| Wan 2.5 | 102 (~$1.02) | 5 s only, 1080p | No setting | Start image |
| Seedance 2.5 | 157 for 5 s at 720p, 70 at 480p (~$0.70 to $1.57) | 4 to 30 s, 480p or 720p | On by default, in the price | Start image or up to 9 reference images, plus 1 video and 1 audio track |
| Veo 3.1 Fast (Veo tool default) | 168 with sound, 112 silent (~$1.12 to $1.68) | 8 s from a still, 1080p | On by default | Start and end frame |
| Veo 3.1 Standard | 448 with sound, 224 silent (~$2.24 to $4.48) | 8 s from a still, 1080p | On by default | Start and end frame; multi-reference mode up to 3 images |
How to run this as a workflow
The models aren't competitors in practice, they're stages. Generate or fix your still, test motion directions cheap on Runway (16 credits for 2 seconds) or Pruna p-video Draft (4 for 5 seconds), produce the real clip on Kling 2.6 Pro or Veo 3.1, and move to Seedance 2.5 when the shot needs reference images of the product or character. Worked out: five 2-second Runway tests (80 credits) and two silent Kling 2.6 Pro takes (94) come to 174 credits, about $1.74. The full chain, from source image to final clip, is laid out in the image to video workflow chain, and the broader model rankings live in best AI video generator 2026.
FAQ
What is the best image to video AI in 2026?
There is no single best one; it depends on the shot. Start on Kling 2.6 Pro at 47 credits (about $0.47) for a silent 5-second clip at 1080p, cheap enough to iterate. Use Veo 3.1 when you want sound generated in the same pass (168 credits on Fast, the Veo tool's default, or 448 on Standard, always 8 seconds from a still), Seedance 2.5 when you want to give the model up to 9 reference images, and Hailuo H3 when the delivery needs 2K. Run the same still on two of them before you commit.
Which image to video AI keeps my product looking identical?
No model guarantees it, and we have not measured drift across models, so test on your own still. Seedance 2.5 is the model on this list that takes the most to work from: up to 9 reference images on the canvas, which its provider describes as being for character consistency. Give it the product from more than one angle, run one 480p take at 70 credits, and check the label and logo on the last frame before you pay 157 for 720p. If a reference shows a face in close-up, Seedance's filter may reject it, so frame people from the waist up.
How much does image to video AI cost per clip?
On 8frame, from 4 credits (about $0.04) for a 5-second Pruna p-video Draft clip up to 448 credits (about $4.48) for an 8-second Veo 3.1 Standard clip with sound. The Veo tool opens on Veo 3.1 Fast at 168, and Seedance 2.5 is 157 for 5 seconds at 720p. Five 2-second Runway tests plus two silent Kling 2.6 Pro takes come to 174 credits, about $1.74. Plans start at $19 a month for 1,000 credits.
Every model above runs side by side on the 8frame canvas: drop in one still, fan it out to three models, and see which motion wins. Plans start at $19 a month, watermark-free on every tier: 8frame.co/pricing.
Sources
- 8frame prices, lengths, resolutions, sound settings, tool defaults and inputs per model (start image, end frame, reference-image caps, Veo's 8-second lock from a still, Wan 2.5's 5-second clips): 8frame tool registry credit functions and tool configuration, read 2026-10-02
- Output resolution of Kling 2.6 Pro (1080p) and Kling v3 Standard (720p): files generated on 8frame, read-only, 2026-09-30
- Seedance 2.5 reference images (up to 30 at the provider, "for character consistency, style guidance, and scene composition", named
[Image1],[Image2]in the prompt) and sound on by default: Replicate's Seedance 2.5 API schema, checked 2026-10-02 - Close-up face references rejected by Seedance, waist-up framing passed: 8frame tests on Seedance 2.0 and 2.5 at 480p, August 2026
- Wan 2.2 weights under Apache 2.0: Wan2.2-I2V-A14B model card on Hugging Face, checked 2026-10-02
- Sora 2 end of provider access, 2026-09-24: OpenAI's deprecations page, checked 2026-10-02
Related
- Best free AI image to video generators: what free tiers restrict and the first-frame rule
- AI video aspect ratio guide: choose the ratio before you generate
- Best free AI b-roll generators
- Which AI model for which shot
Try it without signing up: the 8frame canvas opens on a real board. The canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.