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Kling vs Runway: Kling 3.0 against Gen-4.5

Both sell monthly credits and charge per second of video, so the plan price alone tells you little. This page works out what a 5 and a 10 second clip costs on every plan. It compares what each sells today: the Kling VIDEO 3.0 series against Runway's Gen-4.5 and Aleph 2.0. Kling 4.0 is announced for October 2026 and is not generally available yet. Runway's plans also include other labs' models, Kling 3.0 among them.

Reviewed against 24 sources. Prices, models, policies and terms change, so check the linked pages before you buy, build, publish or trade.

The short answer

For generating clips, pick Kling. A 5 second 1080p clip with sound costs 60 credits, about $0.80 on its Standard plan; Runway's Gen-4.5 charges 60 credits, $1.44 on its Standard plan, for a silent 720p clip. Pick Runway to edit footage you already have or to use several labs' models on one bill. The gap nearly closes at the top: $0.60 a clip on Runway Max against $0.61 on Kling Premier.

Choose Kling if

  • You want the lowest cost per clip: about $0.80 for 5 seconds at 1080p with sound on Standard, against $1.44 for a silent 720p Gen-4.5 clip on Runway Standard.
  • You need more than 10 seconds in one shot. Kling 3.0 generates 3 to 15 seconds; Gen-4.5 stops at 10.
  • You need 1080p, native 4K or sound from the model itself. Runway generates silent video at 720p and upscales it.

Choose Runway if

  • You edit more than you generate. Aleph 2.0 reworks clips of up to 30 seconds at 28 credits a second.
  • You want several labs' models on one bill: Gen-4.5, Kling 3.0, Veo 3.1, Seedance 2.5 and Wan 3.0.
  • You finish in Premiere Pro, After Effects or DaVinci Resolve. Runway has plugins for all three, and Max exports ProRes for 5 extra credits a second.

The facts, side by side

Each row shows the date it was checked and numbered links to the pages it was read from.

marks the side the facts favour on that row. Rows without one are a draw or a matter of fit.

Swipe the table sideways to see Runway.

Kling and Runway compared, fact by fact
ComparedKlingAI video generatorRunwayMulti-model video platform
Current video models521113Kling VIDEO 3.0, 3.0 Omni, 3.0 Turbo and 3.0 Motion Control. Kling 4.0 is announced for October 2026, with Kling 4.0 Flash in limited early access.Gen-4.5 for generation and Aleph 2.0 for editing. Plans also include third-party models: Kling 3.0, Veo 3.1, Seedance 2.5 and Wan 3.0 among them.
Clip length per generation414Advantage: 3 to 15 seconds on Kling 3.02 to 10 seconds on Gen-4.5
Output resolution4521415Advantage: 720p or 1080p, plus a native 4K mode. 1080p and 4K generation are member benefits.720p from Gen-4.5, which can then be upscaled to 4K
Sound4141113Advantage: Native audio with lip sync, and dialogue in Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean and SpanishNo audio setting on Gen-4.5. Sound comes from third-party models such as Veo 3.1 and Kling 3.0, or from the separate music, voice and sound effects tools.
Editing existing video516Kling 3.0 Omni edits clips of 3 to 15 seconds, with 4K input and outputAdvantage: Aleph 2.0 in Edit Studio edits clips of 2 to 30 seconds, with input up to 1080p and up to 10 cuts
Watermark271711Basic (free): Kling brand watermark, which its paid terms require non-members to keep. Standard and above: watermark removal.Free: a Runway watermark on every video. Standard and above: no watermarks.
Commercial use2761819Standard and above only. Basic is listed as not for commercial use.Advantage: Every plan, Free included. Runway's terms do not restrict commercial use of outputs.
Who owns the output61911You do. Kling keeps a royalty-free licence to use your inputs and outputs and may train its models on inputs; its terms let you withdraw that permission by email.You do. Runway keeps a perpetual licence to use inputs and outputs, including for model training. Enterprise lists no training on your data.
Credit expiry212Monthly credits last 31 days. Purchased credits last 2 years.Standard and Pro credits expire on the billing date. Max and Team roll over one month. Purchased credits do not expire.
Apps11121Web, iOS, Android, and desktop apps for macOS and WindowsWeb, iOS and Android, plus plugins for Premiere Pro, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve
Independent ranking23Advantage: Kling 3.0 1080p (Pro): Elo 1000, 14th on the Artificial Analysis silent text to video boardGen-4.5 (720p): Elo 923, 24th on the same board

Where each one is stronger

Kling AI video generator

  • Lower cost per clip on the entry and mid plans

    Kling Standard is $8.80 for 660 credits, 1.33 cents each. Runway Standard is $15 for 625, 2.4 cents each. Both flagship models charge 12 credits a second, so 5 seconds costs $0.80 on Kling and $1.44 on Runway. 241114

  • Longer, sharper clips with sound

    Kling 3.0 generates 3 to 15 seconds at up to 1080p with native audio, and its 4K mode costs 30 credits a second. Gen-4.5 generates 2 to 10 silent seconds at 720p, and 4K comes from upscaling. 451415

  • Ahead in blind preference votes

    On Artificial Analysis's silent text to video board (AA-Video-T2V-Silent v2.0, Elo from pairwise human votes), Kling 3.0 1080p (Pro) is the 1000-point anchor in 14th place and Runway Gen-4.5 (720p) scores 923 in 24th. On the silent image to video board they are close: 1277 against 1265, with overlapping rank ranges. 2324

Runway Multi-model video platform

  • Other labs' models on the same plan

    Runway's credit table prices Kling 3.0, Veo 3.1, Seedance 2.5 and Wan 3.0 next to Gen-4.5. On the same Artificial Analysis board Wan 3.0 is first at 1129 and Seedance 2.5 fourth at 1105, above both Kling 3.0 and Gen-4.5. 1323

  • Built for editing footage

    Aleph 2.0 edits an uploaded clip of 2 to 30 seconds from one edited frame, at 28 credits a second. Runway also ships plugins for Premiere Pro, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve, and Max can export ProRes for 5 extra credits a second. 162114

  • Commercial use on every plan

    Runway's terms do not restrict commercial use of outputs on any plan, though Free videos carry a watermark. Kling reserves commercial use and watermark removal for paid members. 19181772

Which to pick, by job

  • Short clips of a character talking to camera

    Pick Kling

    Kling 3.0 generates voice and lip sync with the picture, in five languages, for 12 credits a second at 1080p. Gen-4.5 has no audio setting. 414

  • One continuous shot longer than 10 seconds

    Pick Kling

    Kling 3.0 goes to 15 seconds in one generation: 180 credits at 1080p with sound, about $2.40 on Standard. Gen-4.5 stops at 10 seconds. 4214

  • The most clips from about $35 a month

    Pick Kling

    Kling Pro is $32.56 for 3,000 credits: 50 five-second 1080p clips with sound, or 75 without. Runway Pro is $35 for 2,250 credits, which its pricing page counts as 37 Gen-4.5 clips. 2411

  • Changing a product or background in a 20 to 30 second ad you already shot

    Pick Runway

    Aleph 2.0 accepts clips up to 30 seconds; Kling 3.0 Omni editing stops at 15. At 28 credits a second a 30 second edit is 840 credits: more than a month of Standard, or $8.40 of credit on Max. 16511

  • Trying several labs' models before you commit to one

    Pick Runway

    One Runway balance pays for Gen-4.5, Kling 3.0, Veo 3.1, Seedance 2.5 and Wan 3.0, so you can run the same prompt through each before choosing. 1311

What it costs

Prices in US dollars from each vendor's own pages. Cost per clip is the monthly plan price divided by the plan's credits, times the credits a clip uses, so it assumes you spend the whole allowance. Kling prices are the renewal price: the first month is discounted once. Kling's per-second rates come from its VIDEO 3.0 guide, dated 6 February 2026; the app shows the charge before you generate.

marks the side the facts favour on that row. Rows without one are a draw or a matter of fit.

Swipe the table sideways to see Runway.

Kling and Runway prices
ComparedKlingAI video generatorRunwayMulti-model video platform
Free plan2111714Basic: $0. Free credits are claimed by logging in each month and last 31 days. Amount: Not published.Free: $0. 125 credits once, never refilled. Gen-4.5 needs Standard or higher.
Entry plan211Advantage: Standard: $8.80 a month after a $6.99 first month, or $79.20 a year. 660 credits a month.Standard: $15 a month, or $12 a month billed annually. 625 credits a month.
Mid plan211Advantage: Pro: $32.56 a month after a $25.99 first month, or $293.04 a year. 3,000 credits a month.Pro: $35 a month, or $28 a month billed annually. 2,250 credits a month.
Heavy-use plans211Premier: $80.96 a month, 8,000 credits. Ultra: $159.99 a month, 26,000 credits.Max: $95 a month, or $76 a month billed annually. 9,500 credits, with one month of rollover.
Team seat311$79 per seat a month, or $59 billed yearly. 10,000 credits per seat.$69 per seat a month, or $55 billed annually. 6,900 credits per seat, for 2 to 9 seats.
Credits per second451314Kling 3.0: 12 at 1080p with sound, 8 without. 9 and 6 at 720p. 30 in 4K.Gen-4.5: 12 (720p, silent). Aleph 2.0: 28. Gen-4 Turbo: 5.
A 5 second clip241114Advantage: 60 credits at 1080p with sound. Standard: $8.80 / 660 x 60 = $0.80. Pro: $0.65. Premier: $0.61. Ultra: $0.37.60 credits on Gen-4.5. Standard: $15 / 625 x 60 = $1.44. Pro: $0.93. Max: $0.60.
A 10 second clip241114Advantage: 120 credits at 1080p with sound. Standard: $1.60. Pro: $1.30. Premier: $1.21. Ultra: $0.74.120 credits on Gen-4.5. Standard: $2.88. Pro: $1.87. Max: $1.20.
Extra credits81112$1 buys 66 credits, about 1.5 cents each. Valid for 2 years.Sold from 1,000 credits on paid plans, and they do not expire. Price: Not published on the pricing page or in the credits guide.
API922Kling 3.0 at 1080p: 0.8 units a second without audio, 1.2 with. At the $0.14 list price per unit, 5 seconds is $0.56 or $0.84.Gen-4.5: 12 credits a second at $0.01 a credit. 5 seconds is $0.60 and 10 seconds is $1.20.

What changed recently

  1. Scheduled: Runway moves remaining legacy Unlimited subscribers to Max, at the same $95 a month for monthly plans. 20

  2. Kling released a new version of its Terms of Paid Service, effective the same day. 7

  3. Kling announced Kling 4.0 for an October launch (3 to 30 seconds, up to 4K) and opened Kling 4.0 Flash to a limited group. 5

  4. Runway introduced the Team plan: 6,900 credits per seat a month in a shared pool. 21

  5. Kling released Kling 3.0 Turbo and extended Kling 3.0 Omni video editing to 15 seconds and 4K. 5

  6. Runway rolled out the Max plan (9,500 credits a month) and stopped selling the Unlimited plan. 20

  7. Runway released Aleph 2.0 and Edit Studio on paid plans. 21

  8. Kling added a native 4K mode to the VIDEO 3.0 series at 30 credits per second. 5

Questions people ask

Is Kling cheaper than Runway?

Yes, on the entry and mid plans. A credit costs 1.33 cents on Kling Standard ($8.80 for 660) and 2.4 cents on Runway Standard ($15 for 625). Kling 3.0 at 1080p with sound and Gen-4.5 both use 12 credits a second, so a 5 second clip is $0.80 against $1.44 and a 10 second clip $1.60 against $2.88. At the top the gap nearly closes: $0.61 on Kling Premier, $0.60 on Runway Max. 241114

How many videos do you get a month on each plan?

Counting 5 second clips at 60 credits, Kling Standard gives 11, Pro 50, Premier 133 and Ultra 433, at 1080p with sound. Runway's pricing page counts 10 Gen-4.5 clips on Standard, 37 on Pro and 158 on Max. Kling at 720p without sound is 30 credits a clip, which doubles its counts. 2411

Can I use Kling and Runway videos commercially?

On Runway, yes on every plan: its terms do not restrict commercial use of outputs, though Free videos carry a watermark. On Kling, only on a paid plan. Its membership page marks Basic as not for commercial use, and its terms require non-members to keep the Kling watermark. One Kling feature page says free output can be used commercially; the terms say otherwise, so treat Standard as the minimum for paid work. 19181726710

What is the longest video Kling and Runway can make?

Kling 3.0 generates 3 to 15 seconds in one pass and Runway Gen-4.5 generates 2 to 10. Runway's Aleph 2.0 edits existing clips of up to 30 seconds. Kling's release note for Kling 4.0 specifies 3 to 30 seconds. For resolution, Kling 3.0 outputs 720p, 1080p or native 4K; Runway generates at 720p and upscales to 4K. 45141615

Is Kling 4.0 available yet?

Not generally, as of 13 October 2026. Kling announced it on 28 September with launch set for October, and opened Kling 4.0 Flash (3 to 20 seconds, 720p) to a limited group; the membership page lists early access on the annual Ultra plan. Credit prices for 4.0 are not published, and the API packages do not cover it yet. Prices on this page are for Kling 3.0. 529

Can I use Kling inside Runway?

Yes. Runway's paid plans include Kling 3.0 Std, Pro and Turbo. They cost more there: 5 seconds of Kling 3.0 Std with audio is 65 credits, $1.56 on Runway Standard, and Pro with audio is 85 credits, $2.04. On Kling's own Standard plan a 5 second 1080p clip with sound is 60 credits, $0.80. 111324

Sources

Each page was read on the date beside it. The links open the current version, which may have changed since.

  1. 1Kling AI: home page
  2. 2Kling AI: membership plans
  3. 3Kling AI: team plan
  4. 4Kling AI: VIDEO 3.0 model user guide
  5. 5Kling AI: release notes
  6. 6Kling AI: terms of service
  7. 7Kling AI: terms of paid service
  8. 8Kling AI: credits policy
  9. 9Kling AI: API pricing
  10. 10Kling AI: image to video feature page
  11. 11Runway: pricing
  12. 12Runway: how do credits work
  13. 13Runway: credit costs by model
  14. 14Runway: creating with Gen-4.5
  15. 15Runway: can I generate videos in 4K
  16. 16Runway: creating with Edit Studio
  17. 17Runway: Free plan details
  18. 18Runway: commercial use of content made in Runway
  19. 19Runway: terms of use
  20. 20Runway: Unlimited plan is switching to Max
  21. 21Runway: changelog
  22. 22Runway: API pricing
  23. 23Artificial Analysis: text to video leaderboard, no audio
  24. 24Artificial Analysis: image to video leaderboard, no audio

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