Hailuo AI vs Vidu AI vs Pika

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-09-15
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At a glance

DimensionHailuo AIVidu AIPika
PricingFreemium (daily free credits)Freemium (unlimited free off-peak)
Core Video FeaturesStart/end frame control, themed creative packs, AI AgentText/Image/Reference to video, multi-character consistency, Story Grid
Audio GenerationAudio generation from text promptsAI Sound Effect Generator (auto audio from video)
Image FeaturesAI image generation, Light Studio image editingAI Image Generator (text-to-image), Image to Video with frame control
Best ForSocial media creators, artists, marketers, studentsContent creators, anime artists, marketers, storyboard artists
Not ForHigh-resolution output (no 4K), API access, transparent pricing, detailed docsHyper-realistic live-action, unlimited free anytime, long-form video

If you need consistent character-driven videos, anime transformation, or fast multi-shot productions with audio, Vidu AI is the stronger pick with unlimited free off-peak generation. For casual social media content with themed packs and simple frame control, Hailuo AI is adequate but limited by daily credits and lower resolution. Choose Vidu for reliability and features; choose Hailuo only if you want quick, themed fun without commitment.

Hailuo AI
Hailuo AI

Create videos, images, and audio with MiniMax H3 multimodal AI on Hailuo AI

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Vidu AI
Vidu AI

Vidu AI generates character-consistent AI video from text, images, and reference clips in as fast as 10 seconds.

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Pika
Pika

Pika: fast, playful AI video generation for viral short-form clips with Pika 2.5 effects and agents.

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Pricing
Freemium
Freemium
Freemium
Plans
$0/mo
$0/mo
$7.99/mo
$19.99/mo
$59.99/mo
$0/mo (billed yearly)
$8/mo (billed yearly)
$28/mo (billed yearly)
$76/mo (billed yearly)
Popularity
4.0k views
5.0k views
3.3k views
Skill Level
Beginner-friendly
Beginner-friendly
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
Web
WebAPI
WebAPI
Categories
🎞️ AI Video Generation🎨 Image Generation🎚️ Audio Editing & Production
🎞️ AI Video Generation🌸 Anime, Manga & Comics
🎞️ AI Video Generation📱 Short-Form & Faceless Video
Features
MiniMax H3 native multimodal generation across video, image, and audio
Precise multimodal editing for refining individual elements
Start/end frame control to define first and last frames of a video
Omni Reference: one reference input to guide generation
Text-to-video generation with MiniMax H3
Text-to-image generation with MiniMax H3
Text-to-audio generation with MiniMax H3
Light Studio for image editing
Hailuo Agent for guided creative workflows
Trending creative packs: LoveFrame, PetPal, BabyForm, PlayFun
Trending creative packs: SnapMorph, Style Switch, CineScope, ASMR
Daily free credits on the free tier
Browser-based web platform, no install required
Ads-free creative experience
Creator Partnership Program and Affiliate Program ($1000 relighting challenge)
Text to Video generation
Image to Video with first/last frame control
Reference to Video with up to 7 images for character consistency
AI Sound Effect Generator that scores clips with audio automatically
AI Image Generator for text-to-image assets
Anime and 2D animation generation with smooth motion
Story Grid for coherent multi-shot productions
Templates for viral content like kissing and hugging
My References to save recurring characters, props, and scenes
Off-Peak Mode for unlimited off-peak generation
10-second video generation speed
1080p output resolution
Vertical video output for TikTok and Reels
Vidu Q3 model for higher realism and consistency
Vidu S1 streaming model for real-time interactive generation
Text-to-video generation with Pika 2.5
Image-to-video and video-to-video transformation
Pikaffects: squish, melt, cake-ify transformations
Pikascenes: scene-based video editing
Pikaswaps: replace elements in videos
Pikadditions: add elements to videos
Pikatwists: apply twist effects
Pikaframes: frame interpolation for extended clips up to 25 seconds
Pikaformance: audio-synced video up to 30 seconds
Pika Agent: conversational AI collaborator
Pika MCP: integrate creative skills into external agents
AI Trendmaker: star in viral video trends with a selfie
Turbo and Pro model options
Credit-based generation system
Commercial use on all paid tiers

Who should pick which

  • Anime artist
    Pick: Vidu AI

    Vidu AI offers superior anime art to video with fluid motion and multi-character consistency, which Hailuo lacks.

  • Social media casual creator
    Pick: Hailuo AI

    The themed creative packs and AI Agent make it easy to produce quick, fun videos without deep complexity.

  • Marketer needing rapid ads
    Pick: Vidu AI

    Vidu's templates, Story Grid, and fast generation with audio enable efficient viral content creation.

  • Student with limited budget
    Pick: Vidu AI

    Unlimited free off-peak generation provides more value than Hailuo's daily credits for school projects.

  • Storyboard artist
    Pick: Vidu AI

    Multi-shot consistency and multi-reference support are key for prototyping scenes, which Hailuo doesn't offer.

Benchmarks

MetricHailuo AIVidu AIPika
Max output resolution1080p nativeHailuo 02 Pro tier1080p nativevidu.com Premium and Ultimate1080p nativePika Pro and Fancy tiers (free capped at 480p)
Max video length per generation10 secondsHailuo 02 generation cap8 secondsper Vidu pricing FAQ10 secondsPikascenes extension
Free tier monthly videos~90-150 videos/mo (3-5/day, 720p, watermarked)daily bonus credits3 watermarked 8s clips80 credits/mo free plan~10-15 480p clips80 credits/mo Basic plan
API price per 6-second 1080p clip$0.48 USDfal.ai Hailuo 02 Pro $0.08/sec~$0.40 USDplatform.vidu.com docsN/A limited public APIpartner access only
Video Arena Elo (artificialanalysis.ai)~1,208 Elo, rank #6Video Arena Apr 2026top 5 image-to-video arenaImage-to-Video Arena Feb 2026mid-tier EloVideo Arena leaderboard
Typical generation queue time30-90 seconds (paid tier)observed Apr 202640-120 seconds (Premium)observed Apr 202615-60 seconds (Turbo)observed Apr 2026
Reference-video / style transferNo image-to-video onlyHailuo product docsYes up to 7 referencesVidu reference-to-video product pagePartial Pikascenes accepts image refsPika 2.5 docs

Frequently Asked Questions

Hailuo AI vs Vidu AI vs Pika: which should you choose?

If you need consistent character-driven videos, anime transformation, or fast multi-shot productions with audio, Vidu AI is the stronger pick with unlimited free off-peak generation. For casual social media content with themed packs and simple frame control, Hailuo AI is adequate but limited by daily credits and lower resolution. Choose Vidu for reliability and features; choose Hailuo only if you want quick, themed fun without commitment.

Can I generate audio from video with Hailuo AI?

No, Hailuo generates audio from text prompts, not from video. Vidu AI has an AI Sound Effect Generator that auto-creates audio from video.

Does either tool offer an API?

Vidu AI mentions an API platform for enterprises; Hailuo AI does not mention API access in the provided data.

Which one is better for anime-style videos?

Vidu AI is specifically noted for superior anime generation with fluid motion, while Hailuo AI lacks specific anime features.

How long can videos be?

The data does not specify maximum duration for Vidu AI, but Hailuo AI outputs are limited to 6-10 seconds. Vidu may support longer clips via Story Grid.

Is there a free trial for paid plans?

Both tools operate on freemium models; no paid plan details are provided, so free usage is as described (unlimited off-peak vs daily credits).

Can I control the start and end frames of a video?

Both support start/end frame control: Vidu via Image to Video with first/last frame, Hailuo as a core video feature.

Which tool has better image editing?

Hailuo AI includes a Light Studio for image editing; Vidu AI focuses on AI Image Generation and Image to Video, not editing.

Are there community programs?

Hailuo AI has a Creator Partnership Program and Affiliate Program (with $1000 relighting challenge). Vidu AI does not mention such programs.

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Last reviewed: July 30, 2026