Hailuo AI vs Kling AI
Two text to video tools side by side: pricing, free plans, features and who each one suits.
Unranked in Text to video
MiniMax's AI video app, built on its own open-weight MiniMax H3 model with 2K output, native audio and up to 12 references, plus Hailuo 2.3, templates and an agent
Best for: Creators who want a capable, low-cost video model from a major lab, with references, native audio and fun templates in one app, and developers who want cheap per-second API pricing.
Unranked in Text to video
Kuaishou's AI video studio, home of Kling 4.0 with native 30-second clips, stereo audio and up to 15 reference assets, plus 4K output, Motion Control and an API
Best for: Filmmakers, ad makers and social creators who want one of the leading video models direct from its maker, with long native clips, sound and fine control over references and keyframes.
Hailuo AI or Kling AI?
Both are Chinese labs that sell their own models direct, and both put sound in the same pass. Kling is the safer pick for most creators: its prices are public, its clips run longer and it outputs native 4K. Hailuo is the pick for developers on a budget and for creators who want templates as well as a serious model.
What each one is built for
Hailuo runs MiniMax H3, one model that handles generation, up to 12 references and editing of an existing clip. Output tops out at 2K and 15 seconds. MiniMax has released H3 as open weights, and its app adds one-tap effect templates for social posts.
Kling is built for directing a shot. Kling 4.0 reaches 30 seconds per generation, accepts up to 15 references, and adds keyframes, Motion Control and native 4K on paid plans. Kling’s pricing page is busy but public. Hailuo’s full plan table only shows after you sign in.
What it costs at typical use
Say you want 10 short 1080p clips a month.
- Hailuo Standard: a third-party review reports $14.99 a month, or $7.99 on a promotion that later reverts, for 1,000 credits. Hailuo’s homepage says “from $9.99,” and that gap is not explained. On Hailuo 2.3, a 6-second 1080p clip is reported at 80 credits, so ten clips use 800. H3 per-clip credits are not published.
- Kling Standard: $6.99 the first month, then $8.80, for 660 credits. A third-party figure from Kling’s guide puts a 5-second 1080p Kling 3.0 clip with audio at 60 credits, so ten clips use 600.
Both fit, and Kling is cheaper once promotions end. Hailuo’s clips are a second longer, and it leaves more spare credits. Note that Hailuo does not offer refunds, per the same review.
For developers the order flips. MiniMax lists H3 at $0.13 a second at 2K with no stated minimum. Kling’s API packs start at $700.
Which to pick
- Pick Hailuo if you build on an API, want open weights, or like templates next to a capable model. See the Hailuo review.
- Pick Kling if you want clear pricing, 30-second takes, native 4K and fine control over each shot. See the Kling review.
Specs side by side
| Hailuo AI | Kling AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $9.99/mo | From $8.8/mo |
| Free tier | ||
| Pricing | Free credits for new users, with watermarked output. Paid plans from $9.99/mo per Hailuo's homepage; full plan details sit behind sign-in. | Free Basic plan with daily free credits and a watermark. Paid plans from $8.80/mo ($6.99 first month) for 660 credits. |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, API |
| Best for | Creators who want a capable, low-cost video model from a major lab, with references, native audio and fun templates in one app, and developers who want cheap per-second API pricing. | Filmmakers, ad makers and social creators who want one of the leading video models direct from its maker, with long native clips, sound and fine control over references and keyframes. |
| Last checked | 2026-10-22 | 2026-10-22 |
Pricing
Hailuo AI
Free credits for new users, with watermarked output. Paid plans from $9.99/mo per Hailuo's homepage; full plan details sit behind sign-in.
- FreeFree
- Standard$14.99/mo regular, $7.99 promo (reported)
- Pro$54.99/mo regular, $24.99 promo (reported)
- Master$94.99/mo regular, $63.99 promo (reported)
- Ultra$124.99/mo (reported)
- Max$199.99/mo (reported)
- MiniMax API$0.08/s at 768p
Kling AI
Free Basic plan with daily free credits and a watermark. Paid plans from $8.80/mo ($6.99 first month) for 660 credits.
- BasicFree
- Standard$6.99 first month, then $8.80/mo (list $10)
- Pro$25.99 first month, then $32.56/mo (list $37)
- Premier$135 first month, then $181.99/mo (list $207)
- Ultra+$402 first month, then $544.99/mo (list $619)
- API packsFrom $700
Key features
Hailuo AI
- MiniMax H3 (Hailuo 3.0), MiniMax's own video model with 2K output and native stereo audio
- Omni Reference with up to 12 references in one generation
- Text, image, video and audio inputs in one prompt, with editing in the same model, per MiniMax
- Clips up to 15 seconds and native multi-shot generation, per MiniMax
- Older Hailuo 2.3, 2.3-Fast, 02 and 01 models still in the app
- Third-party Wan 3.0 model available alongside MiniMax's own
- Hailuo Agent for building videos through conversation
- Image and audio generation in the same app
- Template gallery with one-tap effects such as PetPal, Style Switch and ASMR
- Wide aspect ratios up to 21:9
- Open-weight H3 release, per MiniMax
- MiniMax API with per-second H3 pricing
- iOS and Android apps
Kling AI
- Kling 4.0, with native clips up to 30 seconds and two-channel stereo audio
- Omni Reference with up to 15 combined images, videos and subject references per generation
- Up to 10 keyframes plus start and end frames to steer a shot
- Kling 3.0 and 3.0 Omni with multi-shot storyboarding of up to five connected shots
- Native dialogue and sound, with Kling 4.0 dialogue in 9 languages per Kling
- 720p, 1080p and native 4K output on paid plans
- Motion Control to copy movement and facial expression from a reference
- Canvas, a node workspace with an Agent that writes scripts and generates storyboards
- Kling Image 3.0 for stills, with native 4K and image series
- Digital Human, Restyle and lip sync tools
- Team workspaces with roles and shared assets
- MCP and CLI access for agents, plus a developer API
- Web, iOS, Android, macOS and Windows apps
Strengths and weaknesses
Hailuo AI
- MiniMax trains its own models, so new versions land here first
- H3 combines generation, references and editing in one model
- 2K output with native audio
- Up to 12 references in a single generation
- Very low API prices, from $0.05 a second on H3-Max
- Templates make it easy for casual creators
- Public affiliate program with published commission tiers
- The full plan table is only visible after sign-in
- The credit cost of an H3 clip is not on any public page we found
- Third-party reports disagree on prices, and promo prices revert to regular
- Hailuo does not support refunds, per AI Academy's reading of its terms
- Free output carries a watermark
- Template gallery leans toward novelty effects rather than production tools
Kling AI
- Sold direct by Kuaishou, the company that trains the models
- Native 30-second clips on Kling 4.0, longer than most rivals per generation
- Deep control with references, keyframes, Motion Control and multi-shot prompts
- Native audio, including dialogue, in the same generation
- Apps for every major platform, including desktop
- Public API with a per-second price list
- Credits get cheaper per 100 on bigger plans, from $1.33 down to $0.96 at renewal prices
- The plan page does not list how many credits a clip costs, so you only see it in the app
- Headline prices are first-month discounts; renewals cost more
- Free Basic plan has a watermark, no 1080p and no commercial use
- Premier and Ultra+ jump to $135 and $402 for the first month
- API packs start at $700, too much for casual developers
- So many models, modes and tools that newcomers can get lost
Try Hailuo AI
Free credits for new users, with watermarked output. Paid plans from $9.99/mo per Hailuo's homepage; full plan details sit behind sign-in.
Try Kling AI
Free Basic plan with daily free credits and a watermark. Paid plans from $8.80/mo ($6.99 first month) for 660 credits.