Gen-3 by Runway
by Runway AI, Inc.
Gen-3 retired; Gen-4.5 powers Runway video now.
Score
Score
Our verdict
Gen-3 by Runway was a milestone text/image-to-video model, but it’s now retired (Gen-3 Alpha on July 8, 2026; Turbo on July 30, 2026). In practice, Runway’s modern stack—Gen-4.5 for Text/Image-to-Video, Animate Frames for keyframing, and Edit Studio (Aleph 2.0) for Video-to-Video—fully replaces it. Pricing is plan-based and credit-driven: Standard $15/mo ($12 billed yearly) with 625 credits, Pro $35/$28 with 2,250 credits, and Max $95/$76 with 9,500 credits plus one-month rollover. Strengths include strong video fidelity, practical editing workflows, and 4K upscaling on paid tiers. Weaknesses are the discontinuation of the old Unlimited plan and the learning curve of managing credits across models. For creators and teams seeking current Runway capabilities, the Pro plan offers a solid balance of cost and capacity, while Max suits heavier production needs.
Overview
Score breakdown
Overall score
Scores are editorial assessments by the Compare Best AI team on a 0–10 scale.
Expert review
CBAI Editorial Team
Compare Best AI · Editorial Team
## Overview
How we tested
Days tested
7 days
Tasks evaluated
- ·Generate text-to-video clips with Gen-4.5
- ·Animate keyframed transitions with Animate Frames
- ·Replace objects and restyle shots in Edit Studio
- ·Upscale final outputs to 4K
Method
Compared against Pika and Luma Dream Machine using identical inputs
Reviewer
CBAI Editorial Team
Plans & pricing
Free
Trying Runway’s tools
- Includes 125 credits (one time)
- A selection of generative creative models
- 5GB asset storage
Standard
Creators trying AI video
- 625 credits monthly
- All AI image & video models (e.g., Gen-4.5, Aleph, Veo 3.1)
- 4K Upscaling
- No watermarks
Pro
Active creators upgrading output
- Everything in Standard
- 2,250 credits monthly
- Create Custom Voices for Lip Sync & TTS
- 500GB asset storage
- Access to best models
Max
Heavy usage with rollover
- Everything in Pro
- 9,500 credits monthly
- 1-month credit rollover
- First access to newest models
- Highest generation volume
Enterprise
Large teams scaling production
- Everything in Max
- Custom credits
- Single sign-on
- Workspace Analytics
- Configurable teamspaces
- Enterprise-wide onboarding
- Priority support
Pricing may vary by region. Always verify on the vendor's website.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Gen-3 by Runway | Pika | Luma Dream Machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation | |||
| Text to video | |||
| Image to video | |||
| Editing/Control | |||
| Video-to-video editing | |||
| Output | |||
| 4K upscaling | |||
| Access | |||
| Credit-based pricing | |||
| Enterprise | |||
| Single Sign-On (SSO) | |||
Is it right for you?
Good fit for
Solo creators
Straightforward access to modern Runway video models with 625–2,250 monthly credits on affordable plans.
Content teams
Rapid iterations using Text/Image-to-Video and Edit Studio for product shots, social clips, and ad variants.
VFX/film previsualization
Keyframed shots via Animate Frames and object replacements in Edit Studio accelerate previz and concepting.
Less suited for
Users needing Gen-3 specifically
Gen-3 Alpha was retired July 8, 2026 (Turbo on July 30, 2026); only successor tools are available now.
Unlimited, fixed-price generation
Runway phased out Unlimited in 2026; Max uses credits with rollover instead of unlimited generations.
User reviews
Editorial score
Distribution is estimated from our editorial score. Verified user reviews coming soon.
Use cases
Typical ways teams rely on this tool — from everyday tasks to specialized workflows.
- Text-to-Video shorts
- Image-to-Video animations
- VFX shot design
- Video-to-Video object/scene edits
Integrations
Reported connectors
Apps and services commonly connected out of the box or via official connectors.
- Topaz AI Upscale
- Runway API
- Enterprise SSO
Privacy & compliance
Security & data practices
Highlights we track from the vendor's documentation. Always confirm current terms, subprocessors, and regional policies on their official site.
- SOC 2 Type II
- GDPR-ready
- CCPA/CPRA controls
Details
Category
Price
- Free
- Standard $15/mo ($12/mo billed yearly)
- Pro $35/mo ($28/mo billed yearly)
- Max $95/mo ($76/mo billed yearly)
- Enterprise custom
Free version
Best for
- Text-to-video and image-to-video with Gen-4.5
- Video-to-video edits and object replacement in Edit Studio
- Keyframed shots via Animate Frames
- 4K upscaling for finished outputs.
Frequently asked questions
Gen-3 by Runway
Video Generation
Ready to get started?
Visit the Gen-3 by Runway website to explore plans and start your free trial.
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