Veo 3.1 Fast vs Runway Gen-4.5: price
Runway Gen-4.5 is $0.48 per 4s clip and Veo 3.1 Fast is $0.60 with audio. The extra $0.12 gets you sound and a 0.3-point higher average score.
| Clips (4s, 720p) | Runway Gen-4.5 | Veo 3.1 Fast (audio) | Veo 3.1 Fast (no audio) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $4.80 | $6.00 | $4.00 |
| 50 | $24.00 | $30.00 | $20.00 |
| 100 | $48.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| 500 | $240.00 | $300.00 | $200.00 |
Rates: Gen-4.5 12 credits/s; Veo 3.1 Fast 15 credits/s with audio, 10 without; $0.01/credit (Runway Dev API pricing, checked October 2026). We tested Veo with audio on. The no-audio column is calculated from list price, not tested.
What the extra money buys
- Higher visual quality: 7.8 vs 7.5
- Better prompt adherence: 7.4 vs 6.9
- Prompt wins: 5 vs 2. Veo led on faces and crowds, Runway on the milk pour and the dragon reveal.
- Audio (Gen-4.5 has none)
More: Runway vs Veo (side by side) · AI video cost per second explained · Veo review · Runway review
FAQ
Is Veo 3.1 Fast more expensive than Runway Gen-4.5?
Yes. Through the Runway Dev API, Veo 3.1 Fast with audio is 15 credits/s ($0.15/s) and Gen-4.5 is 12 credits/s ($0.12/s). For our 4s clips that's $0.60 vs $0.48. Veo with audio off is 10 credits/s ($0.10/s), which is cheaper than Gen-4.5.
Is the extra cost worth it?
Veo scored 7.2 vs 6.9 in October 2026, won 5 prompts to Runway's 2, and includes audio. That works out to 11.9 vs 14.4 score points per dollar, so Runway gives more quality per dollar while Veo gives higher quality.
Does Gen-4.5 generate audio?
No. Gen-4.5 outputs silent video, so add music or sound effects in your editor.