Pika

Pika is an AI video generator from the young American company Pika Labs. It turns text or an image into an animated video clip, with a deliberately simple interface aimed at creators and social media.

What is Pika for?

You describe a scene, or start from an image, and Pika generates a short video. The tool leans on creative effects and an accessible interface rather than the ultra-realistic rendering of heavier models. It's used for social content, short animations, and visual experiments. The free plan lets you test it, but with a watermark and no commercial use.

Pika or Sora?

Compared with Sora or Veo, which are more cinematic and expensive, Pika plays the accessibility and low-price card. Compared with Runway, which is very production-focused, it stays lighter and more consumer-friendly. To try AI video without breaking the bank, it's a good entry point, but for a professional result, the higher-end models pull ahead.

How much does Pika cost?

Plans are billed annually. The free plan gives 80 credits per month at 480p, image-to-video only, with a watermark and no commercial rights. The Standard plan costs $8/month (700 credits, all resolutions, commercial use), Pro is $28/month (2,300 credits), and Fancy is $76/month (6,000 credits).