Thanks to AI, there are no good excuses not to use videos to promote your brand today. AI makes video creation dramatically faster and easier, so GTM teams need to take advantage.
AI video generators can help you create videos in a variety of ways. While you used to need dedicated video experts, AI tools can help guide your planning and strategy. If your CEO doesn’t want to get on camera, you can experiment with AI avatars and digital cloning to replicate their tone for a training or announcement video. If your social team has a creative idea for a short video, AI can help you animate projects that would have otherwise taken time or resources your team didn’t have.
You can find a video generator for just about any video vision you have in mind, which can make the decision-making process tough. When AI video features are everywhere, how do you know which one to pick?
We’ve pulled together a list of the nine best AI video generators, with details on which use case each option is best for. Keep reading to learn about these tools’ strengths, weaknesses, pricing, and specialties so you can make the right call, no matter what video project you have in mind.
Key takeaways
- AI video generators typically fall into one of two categories: prompt-to-video or product-aware. Product-aware options are ideal for product launch videos and materials where you want to show off your product to potential customers.
- Each AI video generator specializes in a specific use case, like product-focused videos, short animations, or prompt-to-video creation, so teams should look for tools that match their needs.
- When you’re choosing the right AI video generator, the most important factors are your use case (which closely aligns with your idea for the video), budget, and planned frequency of creating and updating videos.
What is an AI video generator?
An AI video generator is a platform that uses large language models (LLMs) to help users create videos more efficiently.
As more video creation and editing platforms continue to add AI-powered features, “AI video generator” has become a much broader term that encompasses a wide range of tools. AI can offer a variety of functionality, from editing and voice generation to animation and avatar creation. The tool’s performance depends on its application of AI, the models it uses, and the prompts that the user provides to the tool.
Prompt-to-video vs. product-aware: The two types you need to know
Product marketing teams generally work with two types of AI video generators: prompt-to-video and product-aware.
- Prompt-to-video AI generators work like most forms of generative AI. Users provide a prompt, which could be an image, a text description of the desired visuals, or a script, and the tool generates a video for the user to review and edit. Some tools in this category also offer AI avatars or talking heads to present the content on screen. These tools can be helpful for teasers or explainer videos, but they typically don’t specialize in product-focused footage for product launches or demos.
- Product-aware AI video generators start with a recording of a software product's interface rather than templates, stock footage, or blank canvases. The user walks through specific workflows in their product, and the tool transforms that capture into polished video walkthroughs (or, in the case of Arcade’s Creator Studio, videos, interactive demos, visual assets, and more). Because the tool is oriented around a real product and not generic content, the output is grounded in actual UI, real flows, and authentic user journeys.
If you’re creating videos that promote existing or new products, you may use one or both of these types of generators. Before you can decide which tool you need to use, map the step-by-step journey the video will take the viewer through, so you have an idea of which features you’ll need in an AI video generator.
If you plan to feature your product, a product-aware video generator should be in your tech stack. But you can supplement with other prompt-to-video generators to add visual interest or create other short clips to support the launch, too. If it’s in your budget, purchase a second tool that specializes in the additional visual elements for your video, so you can feature your product and animations or avatars.
Quick comparison: 9 best AI video generators at a glance
The 9 best AI video generators by use case
Go-to-Market (GTM) teams now have a wide range of AI video generator options to choose from, with each solution better suited to some use cases than others. Here, we’ll break down when and why you might use each one, and the details you need to make an informed decision.
1. Arcade: AI-powered product video creation for GTM teams
Arcade is known for turning real software products into beautiful, on-brand interactive demos, videos, and visuals. Many of the top AI video generators rely on templates, stock footage, or avatars, but Arcade starts with your actual product UI.
If you’re a GTM team working on your next interactive demo or product video, Arcade is your go-to tool to keep your media on brand and your product in the spotlight.
What are Arcade’s key features?
- Brand-aware AI for product storytelling: Arcade’s context engine builds a living Brand Kit from your website and content, including typography, colors, layout patterns, voice, and visual style. Every video and visual is generated on-brand by default, without manual template tweaking.
- Demo-to-video: Turn any existing Arcade demo into a polished, shareable video in minutes. Arcade uses your brand kit and the demo's existing flow to auto-generate headlines, voiceover, and background music — so your interactive walkthroughs double as video assets for campaigns, social, and sales outreach without any re-recording.
- Prompt-to-video: Describe what you want, and Arcade builds it. Type in a use case, campaign concept, or product scenario and Arcade generates a brand-consistent video from scratch, pulling from your brand kit to ensure the output looks and sounds like you, not like a generic AI template.
- One capture to multiple outputs: Record your product once using Arcade’s Chrome extension or desktop app, then transform that capture into polished videos with voiceover and music, interactive product demos, campaign visuals, and more.
- Studio-quality output by default: Arcade bakes design principles directly into generation, including smart defaults for layout, spacing, typography, and color balance. The result is designer-quality output without designers in the loop.
- Real-time iteration and variations: Teams can quickly generate multiple versions, adjust copy and visuals, and refine structure. Creation moves at the speed of iteration, not production schedules.
What are Arcade’s weaknesses?
- Arcade doesn’t offer AI avatars.
How much does it cost?
Arcade offers four plans to choose from:
- Free ($0/month): 200 AI credits per month for AI-generated videos. Also allows up to three published demos with basic recording tools and a watermark
- Pro ($38/month per user): 500 AI credits per month for AI-generated videos. Unlimited published demos, no watermark, basic video editing, GIF/MP4 export, and basic insights
- Growth ($350/month for 5 users): 800 AI credits per month for AI-generated videos. Includes all Pro features plus custom branding, HTML capture, advanced insights, advanced branching, translation AI, integrations, and more
- Enterprise (custom pricing): 100,000 AI credits per year for AI-generated videos. Adds enterprise-grade controls such as role-based access, SSO, version history, and dedicated support
Note: The Growth plan has a 14-day trial. Try it for free, and get a taste of Arcade’s full potential.
There's data behind why starting with your actual product matters. In Arcade's 2026 B2B Buyer Trust Survey of 600 software buyers, 48% said the #1 factor in their purchasing decision was whether the vendor understood their challenges, and 25% wanted hands-on product access before watching demos, reading case studies, or talking to sales. In short, buyers want to experience your product, not hear about how it's different.
2. Synthesia: AI avatar videos for training and communication
Synthesia is an AI avatar video platform, specializing in animated human avatars. Business leaders and individual users can create digital clones of themselves or choose from advanced, expressive stock avatar options to support explainer videos for companies of all sizes, from small start-ups to major enterprises.
What are Synthesia’s key features?
- AI avatar and voiceover: Voiceovers are available in 160+ languages for explainers or demos.
- AI screen recorder: Synthesia can capture screen recordings and enhance them with AI avatars for streamlined presentations.
- Material uploads or text prompt: Users can turn a document, presentation, or webpage into a marketing, sales, or training video.
- AI video assistant: Synthesia’s assistant transforms ideas, documents, or websites into structured video content using AI-driven templates.
What are Synthesia’s weaknesses?
- It is primarily focused on avatar voiceovers, which makes it more limited than other options.
- Users find avatar generation and quality to be inconsistent, with varying levels of realism. Users also cite AI limitations like pronunciation issues.
- Several users report negative experiences with moderation systems.
- Some users point to a sharp learning curve and the need for more support.
How much does it cost?
Synthesia offers three plans to choose from:
- Free ($0/month): Allows up to three video minutes per month
- Starter ($29/month): Allows up to 10 video minutes per month
- Creator ($89/month): Allows up to 30 video minutes per month
3. HeyGen: Lifelike AI avatars for product and marketing videos
HeyGen is an AI video generator that offers realistic AI avatars and translation capabilities. The platform aims to provide a human-first storytelling experience, with a text-based editor in its AI studio to simplify the creation process. Users can use text-to-video or image-to-video prompting to create lifelike avatar narration for product, marketing, and sales videos.
What are HeyGen’s key features?
- Stock AI avatar variety: HeyGen offers 500+ AI avatar options with custom video avatar creation.
- Voice and language options: Users can choose from AI voices in 175+ languages plus voice cloning.
- Translation capabilities: Video translation with lip-sync is available in multiple languages.
- Specialized templates: Template options serve various use cases, including marketing, training, and sales.
What are HeyGen’s weaknesses?
- Advanced features (Avatar IV, custom avatars, video translation) consume separate credits or require add-ons beyond the base subscription.
- Reviewers cite high costs, and some take issue with the pricing system.
- Customers note that avatar resolution is inconsistent.
- Some users on Reddit express frustration with long generation times.
How much does HeyGen cost?
HeyGen offers three plans to choose from:
- Free ($0/month): Up to three videos per month, videos up to three minutes, and 720p video export
- Creator ($29/month): Unlimited videos up to 30 minutes, plus 1080p video exports, faster video processing, watermark removal, and a brand kit
- Pro ($99/month): Everything in the Creator plan plus 4k video export, additional AI usage, and more advanced models
4. Invideo AI: Text-to-video for social and campaign content
Invideo AI turns single text prompts into videos, voiceovers, effects, and complete scenes. The platform supports the creation of generic marketing videos using stock footage or templates, with AI features to help with generating visuals and voiceover.
What are Invideo’s key features?
- Text-to-video: Use AI to generate scripts for text-to-video conversion from prompts or URLs.
- Royalty-free stock library: Users can access 16 million+ media assets, including photos, videos, and music.
- Magic Box: Streamline the editing process with text-based functionality.
- AI voice features: Enter your script into the voice generator and choose from several AI voiceover options.
What are Invideo’s weaknesses?
- The platform’s text-to-video focus isn’t built to showcase software products or user interfaces for product-focused videos.
- Some Reddit reviewers believe that the platform is too basic.
- Even on paid plans, Invideo offers limited editing options. Users express that there aren’t enough ways to make additional adjustments in the platform.
- Some reviewers say that the credit system is confusing and usage runs out quickly, even on affordable plans.
How much does Invideo cost?
Invideo offers four primary pricing tiers, plus enterprise pricing:
- Plus ($35/month): 10 AI credits, 50 video minutes, and 30 seconds of generative video
- Max ($60/month): 40 AI credits, 200 video minutes, and 120 seconds of generative video
- Generative ($120/month): 100 AI credits, 200 video minutes, and 300 seconds of generative video.
- Team ($999/month): 1,000 AI credits, 2,000 video minutes, and 50 minutes of generative video.
Users can also try Invideo for free, with 2 video minutes, 1 AI credit, and 4 exports per week with the Invideo watermark. The free tier doesn’t provide access to generative features.
5. Canva AI Video: Quick, branded social video creation
Canva made graphic design more accessible, and now the platform allows users to generate on-brand videos with AI. The Canva AI generator supports the creation of short video clips, AI avatars, and AI-driven visuals and effects.
What are Canva AI Video’s key features?
- AI video generator: Enter descriptive text to indicate what you want the video clip to include, and Canva will generate a response.
- Synchronized audio: Add dialogue or sound effects to any project.
- Digital cloning: Upload a photo or video of yourself to create an AI avatar that talks for you.
- Video editing tools: Canva AI video generator collaborates with the platform’s other editing tools, including converters, cropping, and background remover.
What are Canva AI Video’s weaknesses?
- Access to the AI-powered video generator is limited, even on paid plans. AI features across all Canva tools count toward credit totals, not just AI video credits.
- At most, users can only generate up to five video clips per month, and clips are limited to eight seconds in length.
- Users say that prompt adherence and output quality can vary.
- Canva’s text prompt field has a shorter character limit.
How much does Canva AI Video cost?
Canva offers four pricing plans. AI access and credits scale up with the cost of the plan:
- Free ($0/month): Very limited access to Canva’s AI features — users cannot create video clips in Canva AI on this plan
- Pro ($18/month per user): Access to AI features, including Canva AI video
- Business ($25/month per user): Access to AI features, including Canva AI video
- Enterprise (Custom): Additional security and controls, brand kits, and higher AI access and storage
6. Runway: Cinematic text-to-video for creative teams
Runway offers a creative toolkit for AI image and video generation, with a full suite of tools to help enterprises generate production-ready footage. Along with its cutting-edge Gen-4.5 video model, Runway has dozens of features to enhance and edit static images or turn them into short animations. Major media companies have used Runway for visual effects and advertising use cases, driving attention to the platform for enterprise businesses as well.
What are Runway’s key features?
- Native audio generation: Record audio to generate novel videos that match, starring realistic or animated avatars.
- Real-time avatars: Runway’s audio-driven video generation model simulates natural human motion and expression for photorealistic or stylized characters.
- Image-inspired videos: Build animations from static images or prompt the Runway model with a photo of objects and textures to spark similar generations.
- Advanced 3-D modeling: Explore endless possibilities like trying on clothing or testing furniture or decor in a photo of a physical space in seconds.
What are Runway’s weaknesses?
- Some customers express that prompt adherence is inconsistent and that outputs stray from the original design.
- Reddit conversations note that Runway is one of the more expensive video AI generators and that the tool’s generation limits have decreased, providing less value even for higher-priced plans.
- Reviewers note that generations can feel too polished at times.
How much does Runway cost?
Runway offers five pricing plans:
- Free ($0 per editor/month): 125 one-time credits (equating to 25 seconds of video generated with Gen-4 Turbo or Gen-3 Alpha Turbo); users can test generative video, images, or audio across three editor projects and 5GB of storage
- Standard ($15 per user per month): Everything in the free tier, plus 625 monthly credits, improved resolution, watermark removal, 100GB asset storage, and unlimited projects
- Pro ($35 per user per month): Everything in the Standard plan, plus 2,250 monthly credits, custom voices for lip sync and text to speech, and 500GB asset storage
- Unlimited ($95 per user per month): Everything in the Pro plan, plus access to Explore Mode with unlimited generations in multiple AI models
- Enterprise (custom): Additional features like single sign-on, custom credit amounts, flexible security, and company-wide onboarding
7. Google Veo: High-fidelity generative video from Google
Veo is Google’s AI model for video generation, known for creating high-fidelity, cinematic videos. The latest model boasts native audio generation, industry-leading realism, and flexible options for both casual users and developers with more technical requirements.
What are Google Veo’s key features?
- Advanced prompt adherence: Veo offers text-to-video and image-to-video generation with industry-leading realism and quality.
- Synchronized audio: Native audio generation pairs audio with visual context, including dialogue, sound effects, and background music.
- High realism: Users can generate consistent characters across scenes with high fidelity.
- High-quality generations: Veo creates up to eight seconds per generation with 1080p HD output.
- Flexible sizing: Multiple options for aspect ratios, including 16:9 for cinematic landscapes and 9:16 for social media.
What are Google Veo’s weaknesses?
- Each generation is limited to eight-second clips. Users must generate multiple times for longer videos.
- Model access is limited, and pricing plans are vague about what’s included with each tier.
- Some Reddit users say that the model is ideal for experimental projects but currently impractical for marketing videos.
How much does Google Veo cost?
Google offers two distinct pricing options for Veo. More basic users can choose a free or paid Gemini plan with varying access to Veo. These plans also include access to a range of other AI features from Gemini:
- Free ($0/month): Some access to Google’s AI filmmaking tool to create cinematic scenes and stories, including limited access to Veo 3.1; users can also generate and animate images with Veo 3
- Google AI Plus ($7.99/month): “More access” to image-to-video creation with Veo 3 and to their AI filmmaking tool to create cinematic scenes and stories, including limited access to Veo 3.1
- Google AI Pro ($19.99/month): “Higher access” to image-to-video creation with Veo 3 and to their AI filmmaking tool to create cinematic scenes and stories, including limited access to Veo 3.1
- Google AI Ultra ($249.99/month): “Highest access” to image-to-video creation with Veo 3 and to their AI filmmaking tool to create cinematic scenes and stories, including limited access to Veo 3.1
Google also offers developer pricing for the Gemini API, which lets technical teams use Veo with access to the latest models, higher rate limits for production deployments, and advanced controls and security. Google offers free, paid, and enterprise pricing plans for the API.
8. OpenAI Sora: Powerful text-to-video with storyboard controls
OpenAI’s video generation model promises to let users turn their ideas into hyperreal motion and sound. After launching, Sora went viral for its shockingly realistic videos based on the user’s likeness or putting well-known characters into surprising situations. Now, Sora users can pay to use the model for short AI-animated narrative videos of themselves or to promote their business.
What are OpenAI Sora’s key features?
- Text or image prompts: Users can start with an image or text prompt to generate hyperreal video imagery.
- Flexible styles: Choose from realism in four styles: cinematic, animated, photorealistic, or surreal.
- Characters: Sora lets you turn yourself and your friends (and even animals and objects) into characters in AI-generated videos.
- Likeness protection: OpenAI promises full control over who can generate videos using your likeness, and you can customize instructions for how your character appears.
- Remix functionality: Prompt Sora with another video and provide instructions on how you’d like to change the original clip.
What are OpenAI Sora’s weaknesses?
- OpenAI doesn’t offer access to Sora with any of its free plans, so users have to pay to test the model.
- Sora 2 has faced challenges, including overly stringent moderation and copyright infringement, upsetting users at both ends of the spectrum.
- Some testers believe that Sora has limited functionality beyond creating memes or “cameo” style videos.
How much does OpenAI Sora cost?
ChatGPT paid users on the Plus ($20/month) and Pro ($200/month) plans can produce and share videos using Sora.
OpenAI also offers API pricing for Sora video generation, which depends on the model being used versus the video sizing:
- Videos generated with Sora 2 (720 x 1280) are priced at $0.10 per second
- Videos generated with Sora 2 Pro are $0.30 per second for 720 x 1280
- Videos generated with Sora 2 Pro are $0.30 per second for 1024 x 1792
9. Loom: Async video communication with AI editing
Loom is a screen recorder and video platform designed to help teams collaborate more efficiently and with fewer meetings. Its AI features boost productivity by automating documentation, simplifying editing, and turning videos into documents like bug reports.
What are Loom’s key features?
- Screen recording: Loom’s user-friendly screen recorder makes it easy to share a message or walk through a document or platform. This feature also includes quick editing, drawing tools, and easy sharing.
- AI-powered documentation: Turn a Loom video into a document, bug report, or workflow.
- Audio refinement: Remove pauses or filler words using Loom AI.
- Team sharing library: Create a shared, secure library of Loom videos that your entire team or organization can access for easy collaboration and quick reference.
What are Loom’s weaknesses?
- Reviewers point to lag and performance issues with longer videos.
- Loom’s free plan is rather limited, offering only five-minute recordings.
- Loom specializes in very specific use cases (communication and collaboration), but it doesn’t support more advanced editing scenarios, and the AI features are limited.
How much does Loom cost?
Loom offers four primary plans for users:
- Starter ($0/month): Up to 25 videos, five-minute screen recordings, and unlimited meeting length
- Business ($18/month): Everything in the Starter plan, plus unlimited videos and recording time, and removal of Loom branding
- Business+AI ($24/month): Everything in the Business plan, plus advanced editing, auto-video enhancement, and video-to-text automation
- Enterprise (custom): Everything in Business+AI, as well as advanced security, advanced content privacy, a Salesforce integration, and custom data retention policies
How to choose the right AI video generator for your team
To pick the right AI video generator for your project and team, zero in on these three key factors: your use case, budget, and planned frequency — these specs help you rule out solutions that are a poor fit or too expensive. Then choose a tool that meets your ongoing needs.
- Use case. Envision what visuals and audio you plan to include in your video as you weigh tool options. If you want an avatar to explain concepts, Synthesia or HeyGen might be good options to consider. If you plan to include animated clips, you should research Veo, Sora, and Runway. If your focus is on showing off your software product, Arcade is your best bet.
- Budget. Video is an investment to help promote your business and drive product sales or sign-ups. You shouldn’t purchase a solution that’s beyond your budget, but the cheapest option often isn’t the best one, either. Look closely at what each pricing plan includes and which use case you're solving for, and then match that to how many videos you will create, how many minutes of footage you plan to export, and the advanced features you’ll use.
- Brand. AI-generated content has a sameness problem. Generic tools produce generic output, visuals that look like everyone else's, copy that reads like a template, and on-screen product footage that doesn't match your company's look and feel. If staying on-brand matters to your team, pay close attention to how each tool handles brand consistency. Most AI video generators treat brand as an afterthought: you can upload a logo and pick a color, but the output still feels disconnected from your identity. On the other hand, Arcade’s Creator Studio ingests your brand URL and builds a brand kit to detect your voice, tone, imagery style, and visual patterns, so every video it generates reflects your brand, not a generic AI approximation of it.
Once you’ve clearly defined your use case, established your budget, and made a plan for your ideal AI video frequency, you can begin testing and researching. Try out the free tier of the generators that most closely match your requirements (when possible) or review other users’ experiences and outputs from the generators you’re interested in. Your firsthand experience or others’ should guide you to the right decision.
Create product videos that actually show your product with Arcade
If you can envision the video you want to create, there’s an AI video generator that can help you execute it, from cinematic teasers to avatar explainers to product walkthroughs. But the capabilities of your tool need to match your ambitions for the video and your creative needs over time.
Lots of AI video generators start with templates, stock footage, or basic text prompts, which means your product takes a back seat to someone else's visuals. Arcade flips that model. It starts with a recording of your real product, then uses AI to turn that single capture into polished videos, interactive demos, campaign assets, and more. Plus, you can always use text prompts to make meaningful changes and create the video that hits the exact mark you’re looking for. This means you get the speed of AI without sacrificing quality or brand accuracy.
Ready to create on-brand product videos in minutes? Sign up for free today to get started.
FAQs
How is AI video generation different from traditional video editing software?
Traditional video editing software relies heavily on manual editing by the user. The user imports or uploads footage into the software and then cuts, rearranges, or adds effects to the existing footage. Video editing software can typically help users add new content like text-based slides or captions, but it has historically lacked the ability to create completely new graphics from scratch.
AI video generators have advanced capabilities to turn inputs like a text prompt, image, or short clip into a completely new graphic. Some of these tools also let users edit the AI-generated outputs with varying degrees of technical advancement.
If you have existing footage that you need to rearrange or enhance straightforwardly, video editing software may be sufficient. But if you need to create the imagery, audio, or avatar, or want to update the video using text prompts, an AI video generator would be better.
How are AI video generators priced?
Each solution approaches pricing differently, but most brands offer tiered plans that package a certain number of:
- AI-generated minutes
- Total videos
- AI “credits,” which vary across solutions
- Additional or advanced features
We’ve provided a high-level overview of the pricing tiers for each of the generators discussed in this article. When budgeting for such tools, keep in mind your team’s planned AI-powered video creation each month to determine the right plan.
Do I need a large budget or video experts to use AI video generators?
No, you don’t need a large budget or an in-house video expert to use AI video generators. Many of these platforms are designed to make AI models accessible with a variety of pricing packages and advanced technical capabilities to help even small and busy teams create high-quality video.
For example, Arcade allows product marketing and GTM teams to create on-brand and high-quality demos and visuals without specializing in video creation. Meanwhile, AI video generators like Sora and Veo let teams create short animated clips without the advanced resources historically needed for such projects.
What are the limitations of AI video generators?
The biggest limitation of AI video generators is that no tool can do everything — most solutions are highly specialized and built for particular use cases. That’s why it’s important to let your video goals, specs, and subject matter guide the tool or tools that you choose.
If you want to use text to prompt the tool to create visuals, Invideo might be a good place to start. If you want avatar-based explainer videos, you should experiment with HeyGen or Synthesia. If you need to create videos based on actual product footage, Arcade is right for your needs.
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