Best Free AI Video Tools in 2024

Runway ML Free Tier

Runway ML offers 125 free credits monthly, which is enough for testing and small projects. You get access to their industry-leading Gen-2 video generation model.

Free tier limitations: Videos are watermarked, and you have lower priority in the generation queue. Credit limits reset monthly.

Best for: Testing the platform, creating proof-of-concept videos, learning AI video generation, and occasional personal projects.

The quality is identical to paid tiers, so you can create professional-looking videos even on the free plan.

Pika Labs Free Tier

Pika Labs provides limited credits but full access to features on their free tier. It's one of the most generous free offerings in the AI video space.

You can create text-to-video and image-to-video content with the same quality as paid users. The main limitation is the number of videos you can generate.

Perfect for beginners who want to experiment with AI video generation without financial commitment.

The community is very active, so you can learn from other users and get inspiration for your projects.

D-ID Trial

D-ID offers 20 free credits to create talking head videos from photos. This is perfect for creating AI avatar videos or bringing still images to life.

The free trial includes access to all features, including custom avatar creation and multiple voice options.

Ideal for: Creating personalized video messages, educational content with presenters, or testing AI avatar technology.

While limited, 20 credits can produce several short videos, enough to evaluate if the platform meets your needs.

Descript Free Plan

Descript provides 1 hour of transcription monthly plus basic editing features on their free plan. This is incredibly valuable for podcast and video editing.

Free tier includes: Text-based editing, basic audio cleanup, and screen recording. Exports are watermarked.

Best for: Podcast editing, interview editing, and anyone who wants to try text-based video editing.

The free plan is feature-rich enough for many users to create complete projects without upgrading.

ElevenLabs Free Tier

ElevenLabs offers 10,000 characters per month of AI voice generation for free. That's roughly 10-15 minutes of audio, depending on speaking pace.

You get access to all voices and standard quality output. The free tier is perfect for adding voice-overs to videos or creating audiobook samples.

Limitations: No commercial use on free tier, and you can't download in the highest quality format.

For personal projects, YouTube videos, or testing voice options, the free tier is more than sufficient.

Making the Most of Free Tiers

Plan your projects carefully to maximize free credits. Batch your work to use credits efficiently.

Combine multiple free tools. Use Pika Labs for video generation, ElevenLabs for voice-over, and Descript for editing - all without spending money.

Learn before you commit. Free tiers are perfect for developing skills and understanding which tools fit your workflow before investing in paid plans.

Upgrade strategically. Once you know which tool you use most, upgrade that one first. You don't need to pay for everything at once.

Remember that free tiers have limitations, but they're perfect for learning, testing, and creating occasional content. As your needs grow, you can upgrade to paid plans for more features and higher limits.