We Tested 5 of the Hottest AI Video Generators, These Were Our Results
Lights, camera…AI?
Forget Hollywood budgets and film crews; anyone can make good video content using generative AI. Yes, that includes small business owners like you!
Of course, there’s still a learning curve. Writing good text prompts is a skill, and AI video makers vary widely in features, style, usability, and price.
Navigating this world can seem daunting if you’re not a creative professional. That’s why we decided to compile an accessible guide.
Stick with us for the next few minutes to learn about the benefits of AI-generated video, and find out how we rank the best AI video generators in 2024.
You ready, Spielberg? Let’s dive in!
How Small Businesses Can Benefit From AI Video Generation
One of the biggest challenges for small businesses is being seen. While multinationals can throw millions at content and ads, smaller brands have to find cost-efficient ways to stand out.
In some ways, AI video tools are helping to close the gap.
With relatively little investment, business owners and marketers can now —
- Turn text prompts into short video clips: Text-to-video AI models can magic up content based on your written requests, meaning you don’t need the help of creative professionals to produce simple videos.
- Convert images into videos: Adding motion to an existing photo is a great way to catch the eye of potential customers.
- Extend and edit existing videos: Many AI tools can extend an existing clip or assist you with intelligent video editing. In both cases, you’re likely to save time.
- Build AI avatars: Don’t have time to record an endless list of videos in front of a camera? With some AI video creation tools, you can build a controllable avatar by uploading one short clip. It’s kinda like turning yourself into a game character!
Put together, these AI features open up a wide range of use cases. Here are some examples of video content you can create using AI:
- Product demos: Showcase your products in action, with engaging visuals and snappy descriptions.
- Explainer videos: Simplify complex concepts or services with easy-to-understand animations and voiceovers.
- Video tutorials: Guide your audience through a process, like using your product or troubleshooting a common issue.
- Promotional videos: Highlight special offers, discounts, or new product launches to drive sales.
- Social media content: Create short, eye-catching videos optimized for different platforms like TikTok or Instagram.
- Training videos: Onboard new employees or educate customers with concise and informative video guides.
- Video content for ads: Create compelling video ads for various platforms, capturing attention and driving conversions.
The benefits of using AI to generate videos like these are pretty obvious. Hiring an experienced employee or an agency to produce video can be costly for most small business owners. And spending hours learning video editing yourself requires time — let’s be honest — you don’t have. With AI, you can simply type in a few words and watch the magic happen.
And because you can produce more content in less time, you’re likely to see a positive effect on your marketing efforts. In one recent survey, 87% of marketers said video has directly contributed to increased sales and leads. That’s a big number you can’t ignore!
Choosing the Right AI Video Creator
The hardest part of the video creation process with AI is knowing which tool to use.
Right now, we’re seeing an explosion of video models entering the market. Each offers something a little different, so it’s essential to find a platform that matches your specific needs.
Here are the key ingredients to look for as a small business owner:
- Usability: While most AI video makers are designed to be user-friendly, some hit this mark better than others.
- Style: Every AI model is trained on different data, so you can expect different video outputs. For instance, some models are better at photorealistic videos, while others are better at animation.
- Features: While traditional video editors share the same basic set of tools, AI studios all offer something a little different. For this reason, you might need to switch between apps for different video projects.
- Speed: Creating AI videos from scratch can last seconds, minutes, or hours, depending on the model you’re using, and the length of the clip you’re trying to create.
- Price: Generating video with AI takes plenty of computing power, so it does come at a cost. It’s worth taking a closer look at how much usage you get with each tool.
Test Driving the Best AI Video Generators
To help narrow down the field, we decided to take the top five AI video generators for a test drive.
Our testing method was to identify key use cases for small businesses, and try them out on each platform. You can see some of the best outputs under each app.
Let’s see what these hotrods can do!
1. Klingai
Billed as a general-purpose video generation model, Klingai is a creative tool that focuses on text-to-video.
The app is relatively simple, with a dark interface that’s easy to navigate.
You can choose between two models: Kling 1.5 is the newer version, aimed at delivering cinematic results; and while the older Kling 1.0 might be rougher around the edges, it has a Motion Brush feature that allows you to draw a path for characters and objects to follow across the frame.
In both cases, you can enter text, set your preference between creativity and relevance, and create prompts to exclude elements. You can also choose between three aspect ratios, and even take manual control of camera movement.
In terms of real-world use cases, Klingai is better suited to creating eye-catching clips rather than detailed tutorials and explainer videos. From our testing, it produces better results with detailed, prescriptive prompts.
Highlights:
- Simple interface.
- Motion Brush tool for creative control.
- Free to try and cheap upgrades.
Best for: Eye-catching social media and promo videos.
Pricing: Free to try. Paid plans start at $120 a year, which covers 66 standard videos per month.
2. Runway
Runway is considered one of the leading lights in AI video. This platform offers a suite of tools that have caught the attention of content creators and businesses alike.
The latest addition to the Runway toolbox is Act-One, a model that can convert a simple video from a camera into an animated short. It’s essentially like creating a Pixar version of yourself, although it doesn’t necessarily have to be cartoon-like — Runway has some very realistic avatars to choose from. The results are impressive.
You can also generate videos from text, although Runway encourages you to upload some reference imagery as a starting point. In addition, the platform provides a library of example prompts to give you a sense of what’s possible.
The AI video generation interface is slick and clean, with a limited array of controls to keep things simple. Once you’ve created your first cut, you can open your videos in Runway’s full video editing suite.
This area offers an impressive selection of tools. 3D Object Capture allows you to create dynamic scenes based on the real world; Super-Slow Motion can turn any video into a smooth action replay; and Motion Tracking allows you to add graphics that stick to any element within an existing video.
Because Runway is a complete video production studio rather than a standalone AI tool, the platform is well suited to creating polished video content for professional use cases. It can handle AI image generation, as well.
Highlights:
- High-quality output.
- Extensive suite of creative tools.
- Strong community and learning resources.
Best for: Using AI content as part of professional video production.
Pricing: Free tier available. Pro plans start at $15/month for individuals, with team and enterprise options available for larger operations.
3. Luma Labs Dream Machine
Some of the most viral AI-made clips on social media were created with Luma Labs Dream Machine. This platform definitely leans into the creative side of video production, with a model that morphs characters and creates dreamy transitions.
Creating a video using the Dream Machine is very simple because there’s only one control: a text box. Here is where you type in your prompts and use commands to take control of camera motion.
Compared with some other AI tools, the Dream Machine can produce good results with very little input. Just a one-line prompt is enough to deliver something you would consider sharing on social media. If you like what you see, you can also extend videos with a tap.
As an overall theme, Luma Labs has opted for simplicity and ease of use over manual control. For busy marketers and business owners, that might make it an attractive option.
Highlights:
- Very easy to use.
- Delivers good videos from short prompts.
- Camera motion commands.
Best for: Creating social media content, product launch previews, and fun introductions.
Pricing: Free to try, although your tasks may end up on a waitlist. Paid plans are based on credits, starting at $7.99 per month for up to 70 videos.
4. Pika
Looking for something whimsical and creative? Time to check out Pika.
This platform is based around fun visual effects, like eyes popping out and objects being crushed under a vice. You can apply these templates to your own creations using text prompts.
After a brief wait, Pika spits out short, colorful clips with audio to match.
With an emphasis on fun and creativity, Pika isn’t loaded with controls. The idea is to create videos from text, without spending too much time tweaking settings.
That said, you have six different aspect ratios to choose from. You can also keep unwanted ideas at bay using negative prompts.
While the outputs are not always faithful to the original prompt, Pika produces really good-looking videos. We didn’t come across any weird morphing or glitches in our testing.
Highlights:
- Built-in templates with fun visual effects.
- Six different aspect ratios.
- Quick to generate AI videos.
Best for: Quirky, attention-grabbing social media posts and video ads.
Pricing: Generous free AI video generator plan with 10 videos per month. Paid plans start at $8 per month for 150 videos.
5. Synthesia
And now for something completely different.
Synthesia is an AI video generator that was specifically built for business. Instead of asking you to dream up ideas to fill an empty canvas, this platform has pre-built workflows for creating business-related videos. These videos are based around AI avatars, speaking to the camera.
You start by picking which type of content you want to make — a product launch video, sales training, a case study, and so on. Synthesia then asks you to explain what the video is about; you can paste in any URL or file as a reference here. The platform also asks you to name the areas of focus for your video.
Next, you get a preview, which includes an AI-generated script. This is usually pretty good off the bat, but you can wade in to make adjustments if you want. Equally, Synthesia’s editor allows you to tweak any part of the video — from the on-screen text to the placement of the avatar.
The output videos are polished, and Synthesia supports much longer runtimes than most other AI models. For easy sharing, the platform also provides video hosting and embedding.
Highlights:
- Over 230 AI avatars.
- Guided workflow for creating videos.
- Large range of editable video templates.
Best for: Sales, training, customer support, and marketing videos.
Pricing: Free AI video plans with limited avatars and video generation. Paid plans start from $18 per month, providing up to 10 minutes of video.
The Verdict: Which AI Video Generator Is Right for You?
Choosing the right AI video generator depends on your specific needs and priorities. Here’s a quick rundown to help you decide:
- If you need short, engaging videos with minimal effort: Luma Labs Dream Machine is your best bet. The simple interface and quick generation times make it ideal for busy marketers. Klingai is also a strong contender in this category, especially if you want control over character and object movement. If quirky and fun is your style, Pika is another low-effort option.
- For polished, cinematic video production: Runway stands out with its editing tools and high-quality output. While more focused on business applications, Synthesia also delivers polished results thanks to the AI avatar generator.
- If you’re primarily creating business-related videos like training, sales presentations, or customer support content: Synthesia is the one. The guided workflows really help to streamline the process of creating professional videos.
- For experimenting with ideas and getting creative: Runway and Luma Labs Dream Machine offer the most creative flexibility. Runway’s advanced features allow you to go wild with pro-level motion graphics, while Luma Labs Dream Machine excels at generating dreamy, visually captivating content.
- On a budget? All five platforms offer free trials or free tiers. Klingai and Pika offer particularly generous free plans, making them great options for budget-conscious users.
Start Harnessing AI Today
The latest wave of AI video generators can produce some pretty impressive content. You probably won’t get it right at the first attempt — prompting is a skill that takes time to master. But with a little time (and effort) investment, you should soon be knocking out new videos like Scorsese on steroids.
Just remember, video isn’t the only arena where AI can help your business. For instance, DreamHost Liftoff is a new AI tool that can build a design for your WordPress website in just 60 seconds! Our customers also get free access to the AI Business Advisor, which can help you plan ahead and perform everyday marketing tasks.
Sign up with one of our hosting plans today to try these tools for yourself!
