Hailuo
Hailuo is the right pick for social creators and marketers who need high volumes of short, stylized clips at a lower per-video cost than Runway or Sora. The catch is a credit system that delivers far fewer usable videos per month than the plan names suggest, and data is processed by a Chinese company under different privacy rules than the US or EU.
What it is
Hailuo AI, built by MiniMax, generates 1080p video clips up to 10 seconds long from text prompts or still images. Its Hailuo 2.3 model (February 2026) is notable for physics simulation accuracy, character animation, and style versatility across anime, illustration, and photorealistic output. The free tier exists but is limited to trial credits and watermarked output. Credit costs at 1080p are steep relative to what plans appear to offer on paper.
Key features
- ●Text-to-video generation up to 1080p and 10 seconds
- ●Image-to-video animation from a single still photo
- ●Hailuo 2.3 model with improved micro-expressions, body movement, and art style range
- ●Director model for natural language cinematic camera control
- ●Subject Reference (S2V-01) for cross-scene character consistency
- ●Media Agent: input a scene brief and it auto-matches models and generates a multi-modal result
- ●I2V-01-Live variant for animating existing artwork and illustration
- ●API access with additional parameters (seed, CFG scale, negative prompts) not exposed in the web UI
Pros and cons
Pros
- +Generation speed of 30 to 90 seconds per clip is among the fastest in the category
- +Ranked first for physics simulation on WorldModelBench
- +Hailuo 2.3 handles anime, illustration, ink wash, and game CG styles better than most Western competitors
- +Director mode gives natural language camera control (pan, tilt, zoom, tracking) without complex prompts
- +Subject Reference mode maintains consistent character appearance across separate generations
- +Available on web, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
- +Media Agent feature automates multi-modal creation from a single text input
- +he Max tier undercuts competitors significantly by offering unlimited access to native Hailuo models.
Cons
- –The $7.99 Standard plan provides 1,000 monthly credits, limiting users to a maximum of 83 videos per month
- –Failed or rejected generations may not be refunded, burning credits with nothing to show
- –Clips are capped at 10 seconds; no tool for longer-form video production
- –Free tier provides zero ongoing monthly credits and limits access to native Hailuo models
- –User reviews cite billing and refund difficulties, with a 1.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot as of mid-2026
- –Data is processed in China under different privacy regulations than the US or EU
- –Active copyright litigation from major studios adds legal uncertainty for commercial users
- –No native audio or voice customization within the video output
Who it's for
- ●Social media managers turning static images or copy into short video clips
- ●Anime and illustration creators producing stylized character animations
- ●Marketers generating product demo videos and A/B test variations at scale
- ●YouTubers and educators creating AI-generated B-roll without a camera
- ●E-commerce sellers animating product photos into promotional clips
- ●Developers building video generation into apps via the MiniMax API
Categories
Good for
YouTubers, Streamers
Frequently asked questions
Does Hailuo AI have a free plan, and what does it include?
Yes. Free accounts receive a small daily pool of trial credits, enough for roughly 2 to 3 videos per day at 768p. Free output includes a watermark, no commercial rights, and slower queue priority than paid subscribers.
How much does Hailuo AI cost per month?
Paid plans range from $7.99 to $199.99 per month when billed annually, with credit pools from 1,000 to 20,000. Month to month billing is higher, so verify exact tier rates before subscribing.
How many videos can I actually make on the Standard plan?
The Standard plan gives 1,000 credits, allowing up to 83 video generations per month. Using resource-heavy external models or high resolutions will burn through your pool faster than native generations.
Can I use Hailuo AI videos commercially?
All paid plans remove the watermark and grant commercial usage rights. The free tier does not include commercial rights. Note that active copyright litigation involving MiniMax from major studios is a factor worth considering for commercial projects.
How does Hailuo compare to Runway or Sora?
Hailuo is the volume and budget option: more generations per dollar and stronger character animation and stylized output, but shorter clips (10 seconds max) and lower overall photorealism. Runway suits creators who need longer clips and integrated editing tools; Sora suits those prioritising cinematic quality.
Is my data private when using Hailuo AI?
MiniMax is a Beijing-based company, so data is processed and may be stored in China under Chinese data protection regulations, which differ materially from US or EU frameworks. Creators with sensitive content or enterprise privacy requirements should evaluate this before subscribing.