Runway

runwayml.com
AI & Machine Learning
Weekend Project

Building AI to Simulate the World

How to Replace Runway

Overview

Runway is an AI platform that provides generative video, image, and audio tools for media and entertainment, robotics, and world simulation. It leverages advanced General World Models (GWM) to enable users to create, edit, and simulate visual content with state-of-the-art AI capabilities.

Features

35 features across 19 categories

Access Mode(1)

Explore ModeAIPremium

Unlimited generations of Aleph, Gen-4.5, Gen-4 Turbo, Gen-4, Act-Two, and Gen-3 Alpha Turbo in Explore mode at relaxed rate

Analytics(1)

Workspace AnalyticsPremium

Analytics and insights into workspace usage and team activity

Also in: Hugging Face, Notion, Smartsheet

Automation(1)

WorkflowsAIPremium

Ability to run and create custom workflows

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Billing(1)

Credits System

Monthly or one-time credits for AI generation usage

Also in: Insightly, Airtable, Obsidian

Conversational AI(1)

GWM AvatarsAIPremium

Real-time Video Agents - fully autonomous and real-time virtual video agents capable of natural conversation and contextual awareness

Generative AI(2)

Gemini 2.5AIPremium

Generative AI model

Gemini 3 ProAIPremium

Advanced generative model integration

Generative Audio(4)

Audio AppsAIPremium

Collection of AI-powered audio applications

Custom VoicesAIPremium

Create custom voices for lip sync and text-to-speech applications

Generative AudioAIPremium

AI-powered audio generation capabilities

Text to SpeechAIPremium

Convert text to speech with AI generation

Generative Image(2)

Gen-4AIPremium

Text-to-image and reference-based image generation model

Image AppsAIPremium

Collection of AI-powered image manipulation and generation applications

Generative Video(5)

Gen-3 Alpha TurboAIPremium

Generative video model with optimized performance

Gen-4 TurboAIPremium

Image-to-video generation tool with improved speed and performance

Gen-4.5AIPremium

The world's best video model featuring state-of-the-art motion quality, prompt adherence and visual fidelity for text-to-video generation

Veo 3AIPremium

Video generation model

Veo 3.1AIPremium

Video generation model

Integration(1)

Integration with Internal ToolsPremium

Ability to integrate Runway with internal business tools

Project Management(1)

Video Editor Projects

Cloud-based video editor workspace with project management

Robotics(1)

GWM RoboticsAIPremium

General World Models for simulating physical interactions and robotic behaviors through learned world models

Security(2)

Advanced Security and CompliancePremium

Enterprise-level security features and compliance options

Single Sign-OnPremium

SSO authentication for enterprise accounts

Storage(1)

Asset Storage

Cloud storage for project assets and media files

Support(3)

Enterprise OnboardingPremium

Dedicated onboarding program for enterprise teams

Ongoing Success ProgramPremium

Dedicated success program for enterprise customers

Priority SupportPremium

Priority customer support for enterprise customers

Team Management(1)

Configurable Organization and Team SpacesPremium

Organize users and assets with customizable team and organization structures

Video Editing(4)

Act-TwoAIPremium

Performance capture tool for video generation and editing

AlephAIPremium

Video editing application with AI capabilities

Remove WatermarksPremium

Remove watermarks from all video models

Video AppsAIPremium

Collection of AI-powered video editing and generation applications

Video Enhancement(1)

Upscale ResolutionAIPremium

Upscale video resolution for all video models

World Simulation(2)

GWM WorldsAIPremium

Interactive and explorable world models for building infinite explorable realities in real-time

GWM-1AIPremium

State-of-the-art General World Model built to simulate reality in real-time, interactive and controllable

Pricing

Free

Free
  • 125 credits (one time)
  • Generative Video Gen-4 Turbo (Image to Video)
  • Generative Image Gen-4 (Text to Image, References)
  • Gemini 3 Pro
  • Gemini 2.5
  • Image Apps
  • Generative Audio
  • Text to Speech
  • Audio Apps
  • 3 video editor projects
  • 5GB asset storage
  • No Gen-4 Video

Standard

$12/mo billed annually
  • 625 credits monthly
  • Access to all Apps
  • Ability to run Workflows
  • Generative Video Aleph (Video Editing)
  • Gen-4.5 (Text to Video)
  • Gen-4 (Image to Video)
  • Act-Two (Performance Capture)
  • Veo 3.1
  • Veo 3
  • Video Apps
  • Upscale resolution All video models
  • Remove watermarks All video models
  • Credits refresh monthly
  • No rate restrictions
  • Buy more credits
  • 100GB asset storage
  • Unlimited video editor projects
  • Technical support via Runway dashboard
  • Max. 5 users per workspace

Pro

$28/mo billed annually
  • 2250 credits monthly
  • Everything in Standard and...
  • Create Custom Voices for Lip Sync and Text to Speech
  • 500GB asset storage
  • Unlimited All the access of the pro plan
  • Max. 10 users per workspace

Unlimited

$76/mo billed annually
  • 2250 credits monthly
  • Everything in Pro and...
  • Explore Mode
  • Unlimited generations of Aleph, Gen-4.5, Gen-4 Turbo, Gen-4 (Image and Video), Act-Two, Gen-3 Alpha Turbo, in Explore mode at relaxed rate
  • Max. 10 users per workspace

Enterprise

Custom
  • All Pro Plan features
  • Single sign-on
  • Custom credit amounts
  • Configurable organization and team spaces to organize users and assets
  • Advanced security and compliance
  • Enterprise-wide onboarding
  • Ongoing success program
  • Priority support
  • Integration with internal tools
  • Workspace Analytics

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Runway

Monthly$12/mo
Yearly$144/yr
5-Year Total$720

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~3 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyVery Easy

Total Cost Comparison

1 Year
SaaS
$144
DIY
$240
3 Years
SaaS
$432
DIY
$720
5 Years
SaaS
$720
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 35 features at very easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Runway alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 35 features.

Buy Runway

Better Value
Monthly cost$120/mo
3-year total$4,320
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Runway saves ~$32,640 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 35 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

1 known integrations

NVIDIA Vera Rubin Architecture