How much does AI video cost in 2026?
AI video is priced by the second of video made. On Yuumeh, one 15-second take at 720p with sound costs from 120 credits (about £0.90) on MiniMax H3 to 945 credits (about £7.08) on Seedance 2.5. A finished film costs more than one take, and this guide shows how to work it out.
What sets the price of a take
- Length. Every model charges by the second.
- The model. Prices differ several times over between the cheapest and the dearest.
- Size. 1080p costs more than 720p; 4K costs more again.
- Sound. On models where sound can be switched off, a silent take costs less.
- Video going in. Using a clip as a reference usually adds its length to the bill.
Price of one take, by model
| Video model | Size, with sound | Credits a second | 5 seconds | 10 seconds | 15 seconds | 15 seconds in money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.0 | 720p | 41 | 205 credits | 410 credits | 615 credits | £3.77 to £4.61 |
| Seedance 2.5 | 720p | 63 | 315 credits | 630 credits | 945 credits | £5.79 to £7.08 |
| Kling 4.0 Flash | 720p | 17 | 85 credits | 170 credits | 255 credits | £1.56 to £1.91 |
| Kling O3 | 720p | 20.2 | 101 credits | 202 credits | 303 credits | £1.86 to £2.27 |
| MiniMax H3 | 768p | 8 | 40 credits | 80 credits | 120 credits | £0.74 to £0.90 |
| Vidu Q4 | 720p | 15.2 | 76 credits | 152 credits | 228 credits | £1.40 to £1.71 |
| Wan 3.0 Video Prime | 720p | 25.2 | 126 credits | 252 credits | 378 credits | £2.32 to £2.83 |
The money column turns credits into pounds at Yuumeh's plan prices: £6.13 per 1,000 credits on the Pro plan, up to £7.50 on Basic. The models page has each model's full price range.
From a take to a finished film
Nobody keeps every take. A film is cut from several shots, and most shots need more than one go. So the useful number is seconds generated, not seconds in the final cut.
Worked example: a 30-second advert
Say the advert is six shots of five seconds, and you make two takes of each shot before you're happy. That's 60 seconds of video generated.
| Part | How it's worked out | Cheapest model | Dearest model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video | 60 seconds at 720p with sound | 480 credits (£3.60) | 3,780 credits (£28.33) |
| Pictures | 12 pictures for characters, places and first frames on Seedream 5.0 Flash | 39 credits | 39 credits |
| Voice | About 400 characters of spoken lines | 6.4 credits | 6.4 credits |
| Music | A 30-second track | 15 credits | 15 credits |
Video is most of the cost. Pictures, voices and music together are a small part of it.
How to spend less
- Plan before you generate. A shot plan you've agreed costs nothing and saves the takes you'd have thrown away.
- Get the picture right first. Make the first frame as a picture, for a few credits, before you spend video seconds on it.
- Test small. Try a shot at a smaller size or on a cheaper model, then make the keeper at full quality.
- Generate the length you need. A five-second shot shouldn't be cut out of a fifteen-second take.
- Look at the quote. On Yuumeh every card and every plan shows its price before it runs, and a failed take isn't charged.
Questions
- How much does it cost to make a 1-minute AI video?
- At 720p with sound, 60 seconds of generated video costs from about £3.60 to £28.33 on Yuumeh, depending on the model. For a finished one-minute film, budget two or three times its length in generated seconds.
- Why are some models so much dearer?
- Model makers set their own prices. Larger sizes, longer takes and newer models cost more to run.
- Is AI video cheaper than filming?
- For many short films, yes by a wide margin, because there's no crew, location or kit. The cost that remains is the time of the person directing it.
Reviewed 11 November 2026 Prices read from Yuumeh's own price list on 15 November 2026.