Community ratings, features, pricing and free plans: the complete head-to-head between Pika and RunwayML to find the right tool for your needs.
VerifiedPika is an innovative AI-powered video creation platform that allows users to generate dynamic videos from text, images, or existing videos. It offers a wide range of creative tools, including text-to-video, image-to-video, and video editing features, making video production accessible to content creators, marketers, and educators.
VerifiedRunway has established itself as the AI video creation studio of choice for professionals, with credits that extend all the way to Hollywood productions. Its flagship Gen-4.5 model turns text or an image into cinematic video footage, while Aleph edits an existing shot from a simple written instruction. The toolkit also covers automatic green screen, slow motion and plenty of other magic touch-ups.
| Criterion | Pika | RunwayML |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Number of reviews | 235 | 302 |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Plans | Free Basic Plan - $0, Standard Plan - $10/month, Unlimited Plan - $35/month, Pro Plan - $70/month | Basic, Standard, Pro |
| Categories | Text to Video, Video Editor, Photo & Image Editor, Photo & Image Generator | Text to Video, Video Editor |
| Last updated | October 1, 2024 | July 8, 2026 |
See all tools in these categories: Text to Video, Video Editor
Pika or RunwayML?
Pika (4.6/5) and RunwayML (4.5/5) earn very similar ratings from our community: the choice mostly comes down to your use case.
Budget-wise, Pika offers a free plan to get started, while RunwayML does not appear to offer one.
Pika also covers Photo & Image Editor and Photo & Image Generator, ground that RunwayML does not directly address.
Free Basic Plan - $0
Standard Plan - $10/month
Unlimited Plan - $35/month
Pro Plan - $70/month
Basic
Standard
Pro
Prices are indicative and may change — check the official sites for up-to-date pricing.
Both tools share the Text to Video and Video Editor space, but Pika also covers Photo & Image Editor and Photo & Image Generator.
The two tools are neck and neck: Pika shows 4.6/5 (235 reviews) and RunwayML 4.5/5 (302 reviews).
Pika offers a free plan, and RunwayML does not offer a free plan as far as we know.