8 Best Free AI Video Generators in 2026
You don't need to pay $200/month for Sora or $89/month for Synthesia. Here are 8 AI video generators with genuinely useful free tiers - tested and ranked.
Best Free Option: AIVeed
200 free credits (enough for 1-2 full videos) • No credit card required • No watermarks • Sign up with Google in 30 seconds
"Free" in AI video often comes with catches: watermarks, credit card requirements, severe limitations, or quality so low it's unusable. We tested every major platform's free tier to find the ones that actually let you create usable videos without paying.
What We Tested
For each platform, we evaluated:
- Actual free credits/generations: How many videos can you really make?
- Watermarks: Are free videos usable for professional work?
- Credit card requirement: Can you try without payment info?
- Quality: Is the free tier same quality as paid?
- Limitations: Resolution, length, features locked behind paywall
Quick Comparison: Free Tiers
| Platform | Free Amount | Credit Card? | Watermark? | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIVeed | 200 credits (1-2 videos) | No | No | Full quality |
| Luma Dream Machine | 30 gens/month | No | No | Lower than paid |
| Pika 2.0 | 250 credits | No | No | Full quality |
| Leonardo AI | 150 tokens/day | No | No | Limited video |
| Kling AI | 66 credits signup | No | Yes (free tier) | Good quality |
| HeyGen | 3 videos | Required | Yes | Full quality |
| Runway | 125 credits | Required | No | Full quality |
| Canva AI Video | Limited (Pro trial) | Required | No | Basic |
Detailed Reviews: Best Free AI Video Generators
#1: AIVeed
Free Tier Details
- • 200 free credits on signup (enough for 1-2 full videos)
- • No credit card required - sign up with Google in 30 seconds
- • No watermarks - free videos are commercial-ready
- • Full quality - same output as paid users
- • All features included - text-to-video, image-to-video, preview workflow
Why It's Best Free
- Preview before generating: Don't waste credits - see first frame FREE
- Fastest generation: Under 2 minutes vs 5-15 min elsewhere
- Referral bonus: Get 200 more free credits per friend referred
- After free: Just $0.60/video - cheapest in the market
Free Tier Limits
- 200 credits = 1-2 videos (120 credits each)
- Same as paid tier - no artificial limitations
Why AIVeed's Free Tier Wins
Most platforms give you just enough free credits to get frustrated. AIVeed's preview workflow means you can iterate on your first frame unlimited times before spending credits - so your free videos actually come out right. Plus, no watermarks means you can actually use them.
#2: Luma Dream Machine
Best for VolumeFree Tier Details
- • 30 free generations per month (renews monthly)
- • No credit card required
- • No watermarks
- • 5-second videos on free tier
Pros:
- • Most generous ongoing free tier
- • No account required to try
- • Simple, clean interface
Cons:
- • Lower quality than top platforms
- • Slow generation (5-10 minutes)
- • Limited to 5-second videos free
- • Motion can be inconsistent
After free: $29/month for 120 generations
#3: Pika 2.0
Best for ArtisticFree Tier Details
- • 250 free credits on signup
- • No credit card required
- • No watermarks
- • Full access to all features
Pros:
- • Great for stylized/artistic videos
- • Unique effects and transformations
- • Active community
Cons:
- • Less reliable for realistic content
- • 250 credits = ~5 videos
- • Discord-based workflow can be confusing
After free: $10/month for 700 monthly credits
#4: Leonardo AI
Best Image + VideoFree Tier Details
- • 150 tokens per day (renews daily)
- • No credit card required
- • No watermarks
- • Primarily an image generator with video features
Pros:
- • Daily tokens = sustained free access
- • Excellent image generation
- • Image-to-video animation
Cons:
- • Video features are limited vs pure video platforms
- • Tokens don't accumulate (use daily or lose)
- • Video generation costs many tokens
After free: $12/month for 8,500 monthly tokens
#5: Kling AI
Best for RealismFree Tier Details
- • 66 credits on signup + daily free credits
- • No credit card required
- • Watermark on free tier
- • Access to most features
Pros:
- • Excellent realistic human motion
- • Strong prompt adherence
- • Up to 2-minute videos
Cons:
- • Watermark on free videos
- • Based in China (privacy considerations)
- • Content restrictions
After free: ~$10/month for Pro tier
#6: HeyGen
CC Required + Watermark3 free avatar videos with watermark. Best for testing avatar/presenter videos only. Credit card required.
Verdict: Useful for testing avatar videos but watermark makes them unusable professionally.
#7: Runway
CC Required125 free credits on signup but credit card required. High quality but limited trial.
Verdict: Great quality but credit card requirement is a barrier. Best for serious creatives willing to commit.
#8: Canva AI Video
Pro Trial OnlyAI video features locked behind Canva Pro trial. Limited compared to dedicated platforms.
Verdict: Convenient if you already use Canva, but not competitive as a standalone video generator.
Platforms to Avoid for Free AI Video
No Meaningful Free Tier
- Sora 2 (OpenAI): Requires $200/month ChatGPT Pro subscription - no free tier
- Veo 3 (Google): API-only with pay-per-use pricing - no free credits
- Synthesia: Enterprise pricing starts at $89/month - no meaningful free trial
- D-ID: Free tier is extremely limited (20 seconds) and watermarked
How to Maximize Free AI Video Credits
1. Use Preview Workflows (AIVeed)
AIVeed's text-to-image preview lets you perfect your first frame unlimited times before spending credits. This alone can save 50-70% of wasted generations.
2. Write Better Prompts
Specific prompts get better results first try. Include: subject, action, camera movement, lighting, and style. See our prompting guide.
3. Refer Friends (AIVeed)
AIVeed gives both you and your friend 200 credits per referral. Refer 5 friends = 1,000 free credits.
4. Stack Free Tiers
Use AIVeed for your main videos (best quality per credit), Luma for experimentation (30 free/month), and Leonardo for image generation + simple animations.
Free AI Video FAQ
What's the best completely free AI video generator?
Luma Dream Machine offers 30 free generations per month indefinitely. For one-time free credits, AIVeed's 200 credits + referral bonuses give you the most usable, watermark-free videos.
Can I use free AI videos commercially?
Yes, if there's no watermark. AIVeed, Luma, and Pika free tiers have no watermarks. HeyGen and Kling's free tiers add watermarks that make commercial use impossible.
Do free AI video generators require credit cards?
AIVeed, Luma, Pika, Leonardo, and Kling don't require credit cards. Runway, HeyGen, and Canva require credit cards even for trials.
Is free AI video quality lower than paid?
Not always. AIVeed and Pika's free tiers give you the exact same quality as paid. Luma's free tier has lower resolution than paid. Always check the specific platform.
What's the cheapest option after free credits run out?
AIVeed at $0.60 per video is the cheapest pay-per-use option. For subscriptions, Pika at $10/month is affordable. Luma's $29/month is reasonable for high volume.
Final Verdict: Best Free AI Video Generator
Our Recommendation: AIVeed
For the best free AI video experience, start with AIVeed:
- 200 free credits with no credit card
- No watermarks - use your free videos commercially
- Preview workflow - don't waste credits on bad generations
- Under 2-minute generation - fastest in the market
- After free: just $0.60/video - cheapest paid option too
Start Creating AI Videos Free
Get 200 free credits - no credit card, no watermarks, no catches.
Get 200 Free CreditsSign up with Google in 30 seconds • Full quality • Commercial-ready