AI video generation has exploded in recent years. Tools like Google Veo, Runway, and OpenAI’s Sora are creating stunning videos from text prompts.
But there’s one problem: they’re expensive.
If you’re creating content regularly - especially pet content for social media - those costs add up fast. Let’s break down the real pricing and explore more affordable alternatives.
The True Cost of AI Video Generation
Here’s what you’re actually paying with popular AI video tools:
Google Veo
- ~$0.40 per second of generated video
- An 8-second video costs approximately $3.20
- High quality, but premium pricing
Runway
- $0.25-$0.50 per second depending on plan
- 10-second video: $2.50-$5.00
- Additional costs for higher resolutions
OpenAI Sora
- Currently limited access
- Expected to be $0.30-$0.50 per second at scale
- 8-second video: ~$2.40-$4.00
Pika Labs
- $0.20-$0.35 per second
- More affordable, but limited features
- 8-second video: $1.60-$2.80
The Problem with Pay-Per-Video Pricing
Let’s do some quick math.
If you want to post one AI video per day for a month:
- 30 videos × $3.20 (Veo) = $96/month
- 30 videos × $2.50 (Runway) = $75/month
And that’s assuming every video turns out perfect on the first try. In reality, you might need 2-3 generations to get the result you want.
For content creators and social media managers, this pricing model simply doesn’t scale.
WigglePet: A More Affordable Approach
WigglePet takes a different approach to AI video generation - especially for pet content.
Standard Pricing
- ~$2 per 8-second video on pay-as-you-go
- That’s 37% cheaper than Veo for the same video length
Pro and Premium Packages
This is where it gets interesting. WigglePet offers subscription plans with significantly lower per-video costs:
- Batch generation discounts through commercial agreements with major AI providers
- Bulk credits that reduce cost per video even further
- Unlimited image generation included in all plans
For regular content creators, the subscription model means you can create dozens of videos per month without watching your costs spiral.
Why Specialized Tools Can Offer Better Pricing
You might wonder: how can a specialized app offer lower prices than Google or OpenAI?
The answer: focus and optimization.
General-purpose AI video tools like Veo and Runway need to handle any type of video - from product ads to cinematic scenes to abstract art. That flexibility requires massive computing resources.
WigglePet is optimized specifically for pet content. This means:
- Optimized models trained specifically for pet imagery
- Efficient generation pipelines for common pet video scenarios
- Commercial partnerships with AI providers for batch processing
- Lower overhead passed on to users
When you know exactly what you’re generating, you can optimize for it.
Feature Comparison
It’s not just about price. Here’s how the features stack up:
| Feature | Veo / Runway / Sora | WigglePet |
|---|---|---|
| Pet-specific optimization | No | Yes |
| Full body animation | Yes | Yes |
| 9:16 social media format | Manual crop | Automatic |
| Consistent character (your pet) | Difficult | Built-in |
| Learning curve | Steep | Easy |
| Mobile app | Limited | Yes |
The biggest difference? Character consistency.
With general AI video tools, getting the same character to appear consistently across multiple videos is challenging. You need to carefully craft prompts, use reference images, and often still get inconsistent results.
With WigglePet, you upload your pet once, and every video features YOUR pet - with the same colors, features, and personality.
When to Use What
Let’s be practical. Different tools serve different purposes:
Use Veo/Runway/Sora when:
- You need cinematic, professional-grade video
- You’re creating one-off marketing content
- Budget isn’t a primary concern
- You need maximum creative flexibility
Use WigglePet when:
- You’re creating pet-focused content
- You need consistent, regular video output
- Budget matters (content creators, social media managers)
- You want social-ready 9:16 format automatically
- You need your specific pet in every video
The Bottom Line on AI Video Costs
AI video generation is getting more accessible, but costs vary dramatically:
| Tool | 8-Second Video Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Google Veo | ~$3.20 | High-end production |
| Runway | ~$2.50-4.00 | Professional creators |
| Sora | ~$2.40-4.00 | General AI video |
| Pika Labs | ~$1.60-2.80 | Budget general use |
| WigglePet | ~$2.00 (less with subscription) | Pet content creators |
If you’re specifically creating pet content for social media, specialized tools like WigglePet offer the best value - lower costs, better results for pets, and automatic social media formatting.
Try It Yourself
Want to see how much you could save? Download WigglePet and try creating your first AI pet video.
Your pet is already a star. Now you can share that with the world - without breaking the bank.
Pricing information based on publicly available data as of December 2025. Actual costs may vary based on specific plans and usage.