Artlist vs Runway (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Artlist
From $11.99/mo against from $15/mo
Free plan
Tie
Neither has one
Higher rating
Runway
4.2 against 4.4
Same job?
Yes
Both are Video tools

Side by side

Compared on	Artlist	Runway
Our rating	4.2	4.4Better
Starts at	$11.99/moBetter	$15/mo
Free plan	No	No
Category	Video	Video
Plans	AI Starter$19.99/mo, or $11.99/mo billed yearly AI Core$39.99/mo, or $23.99/mo billed yearly AI Creator$69.99/mo, or $41.67/mo billed yearly Custom BusinessCustom pricing	From $15/mo
Key features	AI video, image, and voiceover generation under a shared credit system Royalty-free music and sound effects library built from the company's original catalog Stock footage library including footage up to 8K resolution 50+ video editing plugins for post-production workflows Video templates for faster asset assembly	Pioneered the modern generative-video category through Gen-1, Gen-2, and Gen-3 models Traditional AI-assisted VFX tools: green-screen removal, inpainting, motion tracking No free plan, paid access only Operating since 2018, among the category's founding brands Widely adopted specifically among professional and semi-professional filmmakers
Pros	Combines licensed asset libraries with generation tools in one subscription instead of two separate services Established company (founded 2016) with a large creator base and enterprise clients like Nike and Netflix Credit-based AI Suite gives flexibility to shift usage between video, image, and voice generation	Founding-era pioneer status with continuous model improvement since 2018 Combines generation with traditional AI-VFX tools most pure models lack Strong, established reputation specifically among filmmaking professionals
Cons	No free trial for any plan as of 2026, unlike several AI generation competitors Full AI Studio access requires the higher-priced Professional tier at $89.99 per month Credit limits on lower tiers can run out during heavier generation workloads	No free plan to test before committing Broader toolkit scope adds more to learn than a single-purpose generator Newer competitors sometimes lead on raw generation quality despite Runway's founding-era head start
Company	Artlist Ltd., founded 2016	Runway AI, Inc., founded 2018

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260718. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Artlist better than Runway?

In our reviews Artlist scores 4.2 and Runway scores 4.4. The better pick depends on the job. Artlist: Creative platform combining royalty-free music, footage, and an AI Suite for generating video, image, and voiceover content. Runway: The category's pioneer for filmmakers, with traditional AI-VFX tools beyond generation.

Which is cheaper, Artlist or Runway?

Artlist has the lower starting price: from $11.99/mo for Artlist and from $15/mo for Runway.

Do Artlist and Runway have free plans?

Neither lists a free plan.

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