How much does it cost to make a video with AI?
A short (15–60s) promo/social/explainer video without filming or an editor.
Do it yourself with AI — step by step
- 1
Choose the format first: cinematic b-roll / product motion (text-to-video), or a talking spokesperson (AI avatar).
- 2
Write a tight script + shot list (8–15s scenes) with Claude/ChatGPT — one clear action per clip.
- 3
Cinematic/product clips: Google Veo 3.1 (native audio, 720p–4K) or Runway Gen-4.5 — strong motion and realism.
- 4
On a budget / stylized multi-shot: Kling 3.0 (~$0.075–$0.10/sec). (Note: OpenAI Sora 2 is being sunset — don't build on it.)
- 5
Talking presenter without filming: HeyGen (realistic, great lip-sync/translation) or Synthesia (simple corporate).
- 6
Add an AI voiceover (ElevenLabs) and lay it under the b-roll or let the avatar lip-sync it.
- 7
Assemble, trim, add captions/music + logo/CTA in CapCut or Descript; export 9:16 and 16:9; QA for artifacts and audio sync.
Best AI tools for this
Updated 2026-06-29 — generative-media tools move fast.
Text-to-video with native audio, best realism
$19.99/mo (Flow) or ~$0.15–$0.40/sec
Cinematic multi-shot, strong value/sec
~$0.075–$0.10/sec; apps ~$8–$10/mo
Pro creative control + editing tools
~$12–$15/mo
Realistic spokesperson/avatar + translation
$29–$49/mo
Where AI ends and you (or a pro) begins
Generating clips, voiceover, avatars, auto-captions, rough cuts.
Storyboard/pacing, catch artifacts (morphing logos, extra fingers), audio sync, brand/legal accuracy, final polish + CTA.
When you need precise brand storytelling, real on-screen product/people, licensed music, or a polished hero ad — AI clips wobble on continuity and text.
Find a pro on Fiverr ($50–$500) →Compare every AI model, estimate your build cost, and get a model recommendation.