Guide · Updated September 13, 2026 · 13 models compared
Best AI Image to Video Tools in 2026 (Free to Try)
The best AI image-to-video tools right now are Kling 3 (most controllable motion with native audio), Seedance 2.5 (longest clips, up to 30 seconds), Veo 3.1 (best sound and realism) and Grok Imagine Video 1.5 (cheapest per second). All 13 models below run in Bolly.AI with one credit balance, so you can test the same photo on each and keep the winner.
Image-to-video models animate a still photo into a short clip. In 2026 the gap between them is no longer "does it move" but how well the motion follows your prompt, whether the model generates audio, how long a clip can be, and what a 5-second clip costs.
We host every model on this list, so the credit prices below are what you actually pay on Bolly at each model's default settings, measured against the same benchmark: a 5-second clip at the model's default resolution. Prices are in Bolly credits (1 credit ≈ $0.05).
Quick comparison
| # | Model | Best for | Max length | Max res | Audio | Credits / 5s clip | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kling 3Kuaishou | Creators who need the motion to follow the prompt exactly | 15s | — | 34 | Starter | |
| 2 | Seedance 2.5ByteDance | Longer narrative shots and product demos | 30s | 1080P | 95 | Plus | |
| 3 | Veo 3.1Google DeepMind | Realistic footage with dialogue and ambience | 8s | 4K | 80 | Plus | |
| 4 | Grok Imagine Video 1.5xAI | High-volume social clips and quick tests | 15s | 1080P | 28 | Starter | |
| 5 | Minimax H3MiniMax | High-resolution product and fashion shots | 15s | 4K | 26 | Starter | |
| 6 | H3 MaxMiniMax | Storyboards and previsualization | 15s | 768P | 16 | Starter | |
| 7 | Wan 3.0Alibaba | Long 1080p clips on a budget | 30s | 1080P | 40 | Starter | |
| 8 | LTX 2.5Lightricks | Smooth, high-frame-rate motion | 10s | 1080P | 34 | Starter | |
| 9 | Luma Ray 3.2Luma AI | VFX pipelines that need HDR/EXR | 10s | 1080P | 6 | Starter | |
| 10 | PixVerse V6PixVerse | Anime and stylized social content | 15s | 1080P | optional | 12 | Starter |
| 11 | Vidu Q3Shengshu | Transitions between two keyframes | 16s | 1080P | 31 | Starter | |
| 12 | Gemini OmniGoogle | Quick drafts that may need a 4K final | 10s | 4K | 20 | Starter | |
| 13 | Flux 3Black Forest Labs | Painterly, composed shots | 20s | 1080P | 34 | Plus |
Credits are Bolly prices at each model's default settings; 1 credit ≈ $0.05. Cheapest on this list: Luma Ray 3.2 at 6 credits per 5s clip.
How we ranked them
- Prompt adherence — does the motion match what you asked for, not just camera drift?
- Identity preservation — does the subject in your photo stay recognizable?
- Clip length and resolution ceilings.
- Native audio (dialogue, ambience) or silent output.
- Price for a 5-second clip at default settings, and whether a free/Starter plan can run it.
The 13 best ai image to video tools, ranked
1.Kling 3by Kuaishou
34 credits / 5s clip · Starter planThe best all-rounder: precise motion control, native audio and multi-shot prompts up to 15 seconds.
Best for: Creators who need the motion to follow the prompt exactly. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try Kling 3- Excellent prompt adherence and camera language
- Native audio with optional voice control
- Start and end frame support
- Pro tier pricing — one of the pricier 5-second clips
- Aspect ratio limited to 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1
2.Seedance 2.5by ByteDance
95 credits / 5s clip · Plus planThe only model here that shoots native 30-second single takes with coherent identity from first frame to last.
Best for: Longer narrative shots and product demos. Modes: Text to video, Image to video, Reference to video.
Try Seedance 2.5- 4–30 second clips
- Reference-to-video mode (multiple images, video and audio references)
- Synchronized audio
- Needs the Plus plan
- 1080p is expensive per second
3.Veo 3.1by Google DeepMind
80 credits / 5s clip · Plus planGoogle's model still wins on realism and sound design; Veo 3.1 Fast makes it affordable.
Best for: Realistic footage with dialogue and ambience. Modes: Text to video, Fast, Image to video.
Try Veo 3.1- Best-in-class audio
- 720p, 1080p and 4K
- Fast variant at roughly a third of the price
- Fixed 4/6/8 second durations
- Plus plan required
4.Grok Imagine Video 1.5by xAI
28 credits / 5s clip · Starter planThe cheapest way to animate a photo — 1 to 15 seconds at 480p–1080p for a fraction of the others.
Best for: High-volume social clips and quick tests. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try Grok Imagine Video 1.5- Lowest price per second on this list
- Any length from 1 to 15 seconds
- Fast generation
- Less cinematic than Kling or Veo
- No native audio
5.Minimax H3by MiniMax
26 credits / 5s clip · Starter planHailuo's H3 pushes resolution to 2K and 4K while keeping motion stable.
Best for: High-resolution product and fashion shots. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try Minimax H3- Up to 4K output
- 5–15 second clips
- End-frame control
- 4K clips get expensive
- Prompt expansion can drift from short prompts
6.H3 Maxby MiniMax
16 credits / 5s clip · Starter planThe budget Hailuo: 480p/768p clips for the price of an image.
Best for: Storyboards and previsualization. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try H3 Max- Very cheap
- Same motion engine as H3
- Capped at 768p
7.Wan 3.0by Alibaba
40 credits / 5s clip · Starter planAlibaba's Wan 3.0 is the best value at 1080p, with 2–30 second clips and audio.
Best for: Long 1080p clips on a budget. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try Wan 3.0- Up to 30 seconds
- 1080p at a low per-second price
- Audio included
- Occasional texture flicker on fast motion
8.LTX 2.5by Lightricks
34 credits / 5s clip · Starter planLightricks' LTX 2.5 gives you camera-motion presets and up to 50 fps, with a fast tier that reaches 4K.
Best for: Smooth, high-frame-rate motion. Modes: Text to video, Image to video, Fast.
Try LTX 2.5- Camera motion presets (dolly, jib, static)
- 24/25/50 fps
- Fast tier up to 4K
- 16:9 and 9:16 only
9.Luma Ray 3.2by Luma AI
6 credits / 5s clip · Starter planLuma's Dream Machine model is cheap at 540p and unique in offering HDR and EXR export.
Best for: VFX pipelines that need HDR/EXR. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try Luma Ray 3.2- HDR and EXR export
- Loop mode
- Cheap 540p tier
- Image-to-video capped at 5 seconds
- 1080p is pricey
10.PixVerse V6by PixVerse
12 credits / 5s clip · Starter planPixVerse V6 is the stylized pick — anime, 3D animation, clay, comic and cyberpunk looks built in.
Best for: Anime and stylized social content. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try PixVerse V6- Five style presets
- 1–15 seconds
- Very low price at 360p–540p
- Photoreal output trails Kling and Veo
11.Vidu Q3by Shengshu
31 credits / 5s clip · Starter planVidu Q3 offers 1–16 second clips with audio and start/end frames at a mid-range price.
Best for: Transitions between two keyframes. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try Vidu Q3- Start and end frame
- Audio on by default
- Up to 16 seconds
- 720p and 1080p cost 2.2x the lower tiers
12.Gemini Omniby Google
20 credits / 5s clip · Starter planGoogle's Gemini Omni Flash is a fast, inexpensive 360p–4K generator with end-frame control.
Best for: Quick drafts that may need a 4K final. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try Gemini Omni- 360p drafts are almost free
- Up to 4K
- 3–10 seconds
- Two aspect ratios only
13.Flux 3by Black Forest Labs
34 credits / 5s clip · Plus planBlack Forest Labs' first video model: strong composition, 5–20 second clips with audio.
Best for: Painterly, composed shots. Modes: Text to video, Image to video.
Try Flux 3- Up to 20 seconds
- Audio
- Eight aspect ratios
- Plus plan required
- Newer model — fewer community prompts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free AI image to video tool?
Bolly's free plan covers image models; image-to-video needs the Starter plan ($19/month, 300 credits). On Starter, Grok Imagine Video 1.5 and Hailuo H3 Max are the cheapest ways to animate a photo — roughly 10 to 28 credits for a 5-second clip — so 300 credits stretches to dozens of clips.
Which AI image to video model has the best quality?
For prompt-following motion, Kling 3; for realism and sound, Veo 3.1; for long single takes, Seedance 2.5. Quality is prompt-dependent, which is why running the same image through two or three models is the fastest way to pick.
How much does AI image to video cost?
On Bolly a 5-second clip costs between about 6 credits (Luma Ray 3.2 at 540p) and 95 credits (Seedance 2.5 at 720p), where 1 credit ≈ $0.05. The composer shows the exact price before you generate and refunds failed runs.
Can I add audio to an AI-generated video?
Kling 3, Seedance 2.5, Veo 3.1, Wan 3.0, LTX 2.5, Vidu Q3 and Flux 3 generate synchronized audio natively. For silent models, run the clip through an audio model such as Mirelo SFX or ElevenLabs SFX and merge the tracks.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Every model runs in the browser on Bolly. Upload a photo, describe the motion, pick duration and resolution, and download the MP4 from your library.
