Runway vs Topaz Video AI (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
Runway
From $15/mo against from $59/mo
Free plan
Tie
Neither has one
Higher rating
Tie
4.4 against 4.4
Same job?
Yes
Both are Video tools

Side by side

Compared on	Runway	Topaz Video AI
Our rating	4.4	4.4
Starts at	$15/moBetter	$59/mo
Free plan	No	No
Category	Video	Video
Plans	From $15/mo	From $59/mo
Key features	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	Video upscaling, frame-rate interpolation, and denoising Stabilization for shaky or poor-quality footage Hybrid local and cloud-based rendering Operating since 2022 Multiple specialized AI models for different enhancement tasks
Pros	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	Enhancement and restoration focus fills a genuinely different need than generation tools Hybrid local-and-cloud rendering offers processing flexibility Multiple specialized models suit different specific enhancement tasks
Cons	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	Doesn't generate new video content, a fundamentally different category than most tools here No free plan to test before committing Local rendering requires adequate hardware for heavier restoration jobs
Company	Runway AI, Inc., founded 2018	Topaz Labs, founded 2022

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260703. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Runway better than Topaz Video AI?

In our reviews Runway scores 4.4 and Topaz Video AI scores 4.4. The better pick depends on the job. Runway: The category's pioneer for filmmakers, with traditional AI-VFX tools beyond generation. Topaz Video AI: Upscales and restores existing footage, rather than generating new video.

Which is cheaper, Runway or Topaz Video AI?

Runway has the lower starting price: from $15/mo for Runway and from $59/mo for Topaz Video AI.

Do Runway and Topaz Video AI have free plans?

Neither lists a free plan.

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