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HayNo vs Runway

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors. HayNo starts at $20, Runway at $12. Only Runway has a free tier. Only Runway ships a public API.

HayNoConverts an uploaded song plus a described vibe into a storyboarded, edited music video.RunwayVideo, image and audio generation studio built around the Gen-4.5 model, with mobile apps and a developer API

Side by side

FactHayNoRunway
CategoryText-to-Video GeneratorsText-to-Video Generators
Pricing modelPaidFreemium
Starts at$20 month$12 month
Public APINoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android, API
CompanyHayNoRunway AI, Inc.
Launched—2018
Last verifiedSep 1, 2026Sep 6, 2026

What our research says

HayNo

HayNo's pitch is structured video generation, storyboard first, then shots, then edit, aimed at musicians who want a usable music video without a production budget. Pricing is credit-based rather than a flat per-video price, so the real cost per finished video depends on resolution and length choices during generation. It's worth trying at the entry tier before committing to the pricier Studio or Creator plans, since credit consumption per project isn't fully transparent up front.

Pros

  • structured pipeline: storyboard, first-frame, clips, then edit, rather than one raw generation
  • supports multiple underlying video models
  • one-time credit packs available for occasional use outside a subscription
  • 1080p output and commercial usage rights included on paid plans

Cons

  • credit-based pricing makes true cost per video hard to predict in advance
  • no visible free tier to test output quality first
  • company name and country beyond the HayNo brand aren't disclosed

Runway

One of the few AI video vendors with a full pipeline — generation, editing, upscaling, API — rather than a single model demo, and its film-industry adoption is real. The catch is credit economics: high-resolution generations drain a month's allowance quickly, so the advertised entry price rarely reflects working costs.

Pros

  • Gen-4.5 delivers strong motion consistency and prompt adherence
  • Studio, mobile apps and API cover creation through delivery
  • Max tier exports ProRes and 16-bit HDR for professional finishing
  • Long operating history (since 2018) compared with newer video startups

Cons

  • Credit-metered pricing makes real monthly cost hard to predict
  • Premium models and formats sit behind the more expensive tiers
  • The free plan is effectively a one-time demo

Which one fits

Choose HayNo if you need

  • independent musicians releasing a single or EP without a video budget
  • content creators wanting a stylized video built from an existing track

Choose Runway if you need

  • Filmmakers and studios prototyping shots and VFX before committing budget
  • Marketing and social teams producing short generated clips at volume
  • Developers who want a video-generation API from an established vendor

More comparisons

All Runway alternatives →Browse all Text-to-Video Generators →