Cheapest AI Video Tools for 60-Second Ads (Real Cost Per Second)
Short ads chew through credits fast. This guide helps you find the cheapest AI video tools for building 60-second spots by looking at real cost per second, not just vague “credits”.
If you are running paid campaigns or client work, a 60-second ad is often your core asset. The problem: most AI video platforms are priced around short clips (5–10 seconds), different model tiers, and confusing credit systems.
This guide focuses on value — how cheaply you can build a full 60-second ad while still getting usable quality for social, YouTube pre-rolls and basic brand work. For a deeper dive into how credits convert into real money, see The Beginner’s Guide to AI Video Credits (What They Really Cost).
How This Guide Works
Instead of chasing exact prices (which change constantly), this guide:
- Looks at typical pricing tiers and credit systems for major AI video tools.
- Focuses on what it costs to build roughly 60 seconds of ad-ready video, not just single 5–10s clips.
- Highlights where you can squeeze the most seconds out of each platform without dropping into unusable quality.
If you want the formulas for working out your own cost per second, pair this guide with the Credits explainer above.
Quick Rankings – Cheapest Options for 60-Second Ads
| Rank | Tool | Why it’s good for 60-second ads | Cost vibe* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pika (Standard / Pro) | Good quality, generous credit packs, ideal for social and performance ads. | Low–Medium |
| 2 | Kling 2.5 (Turbo tiers) | Strong cinematic quality with relatively cheap per-second costs on shorter clips. | Low–Medium |
| 3 | Luma Dream Machine | Great colour and motion; solid value if you batch multiple short shots into a single plan. | Medium |
| 4 | Runway Gen-4 Turbo | Higher-end look with Turbo pricing that can still work for small ads if you’re selective. | Medium–High |
| 5 | HailuoAI (free tier) | Very cheap for testing concepts thanks to a generous free tier, but watermarks limit final use. | Free / Very Low (test only) |
*Approximate “cost vibe” based on public pricing pages and typical credit allocations at the time of writing. Always double-check current pricing before committing.
For a broader look at quality, motion and use cases (not just cost), see Best AI Video Generators for 2025 (Ranked by Use Case).
1. Pika – Most Minutes Per Dollar for Short Social Ads
Pika’s credit system and lower-priced plans make it one of the best “workhorse” options if you are generating a lot of short clips for ads, reels, and performance creative.
Why it’s strong for 60-second ads
- Good balance of motion quality and speed for social-first ads.
- Reasonable credit pricing on paid plans, especially compared to ultra-premium tools.
- Easy to iterate: you can quickly regenerate variants of a scene without burning your entire budget.
How to keep costs low with Pika
- Standardise your “ad shot” – e.g. 6–8 second clips at 1080p – and reuse that structure across campaigns.
- Use cheaper / faster modes for background shots, and save higher-quality settings for hero frames and close-ups.
- Export multiple clips from Pika and stitch them in a traditional editor, rather than trying to do all timing inside the AI tool.
Best for:
- UGC-style ads, TikTok / Reels creative, and scroll-stopping hooks.
- Performance marketers who need lots of variations for A/B testing.
- Solo creators who want predictable spend across a month of campaigns.
2. Kling 2.5 – Cinematic Ads on a Budget
Kling 2.5 delivers some of the best motion and camera language currently available, but it can still be surprisingly affordable when you stay within shorter 5–10 second clips and plan your ad around them.
Why it’s strong for 60-second ads
- High-end cinematic feel makes even short shots look “expensive”.
- Fast generation is ideal when you are iterating on ad concepts quickly.
- Some platforms or promos offer very competitive credit pricing for 5–10s clips, making it possible to build a 60s spot from stitched micro-shots.
Cost-saving workflow for Kling
- Design your ad as 6–10 short beats (5–8 seconds each) rather than one continuous 60s shot.
- Use Kling for the most visible hero moments: openers, product reveals, key emotional beats.
- Fill “in-between” time with cheaper B-roll from other tools or stock, especially for logo holds or static shots.
Best for:
- Brand ads that need cinematic motion and clean product representation.
- Campaigns where 2–3 key hero shots carry most of the visual weight.
- Creators already comfortable working with short, stitched sequences.
For a detailed quality comparison with OpenAI’s model, see Kling 2.5 vs Sora 2: Full Comparison of Features, Motion, Quality and Cost.
3. Luma Dream Machine – Great Colour & Atmosphere for Mid-Range Budgets
Dream Machine is a strong option if your ads lean heavily on mood, colour and smooth motion rather than ultra-complex character work. Entry-level plans are relatively affordable if you batch your use.
Why it works for 60-second spots
- Excellent for atmospheric b-roll, establishing shots and transitions.
- Paid plans can be good value if you dedicate a block of time to generating multiple clips in one sitting.
- Footage often grades nicely with more traditional footage in an editor.
How to get value from Dream Machine
- Use it primarily for backgrounds, transitions and scenic moments in your 60-second ad.
- Keep individual clips short (5–8s) and reuse them across multiple cuts or formats.
- Combine Dream Machine shots with text overlays, VO and simpler cuts to stretch your seconds further.
Best for:
- Ads that rely on vibe, location, or cinematic b-roll.
- Trailers, teasers and mood pieces.
- Creators comfortable colour-grading or compositing in a traditional NLE.
4. Runway Gen-4 Turbo – Premium Look, Carefully Rationed
Runway’s Gen-3 / Gen-4 models sit at the higher-end of the market, but the Turbo tiers can still be used strategically inside a 60-second ad if you limit them to your most important shots.
Strengths
- Very strong realism and camera motion, especially in newer models.
- Good tooling around editing, masking and in-platform refinement.
- Flexible plans that let you buy more credits when you genuinely need them.
When Runway makes sense for “cheap” ads
- You only need a handful of hero shots to sell the idea.
- You are happy to build the rest of the 60-second runtime from cheaper tools or existing footage.
- You want a premium look for the client-facing pieces, but can do exploration on lower-cost platforms first.
Best for:
- Client campaigns where quality matters more than raw volume.
- Portfolio pieces and flagship brand work.
- Teams that already use Runway for other tasks (editing, masking, exports).
5. HailuoAI – Free(ish) Playground for Concepts
HailuoAI has become popular partly because of its robust free tier and the ability to experiment with different camera controls and looks without paying up front. It’s rarely a full solution for finished 60-second ads, but it can be extremely cost-effective for testing ideas.
Where it fits in
- Use free credits to prototype the storyboard and pacing of your ad.
- Identify which shots justify being rebuilt later in a higher-quality tool.
- Experiment with camera moves and framing before you spend money elsewhere.
Limitations
- Free outputs are usually watermarked and not ideal for paid campaigns.
- Quality and control are good for the price (free), but below premium tools.
- More suited to mood tests and rough cuts than final delivery.
Best for:
- Pre-visualisation and concept testing.
- Creators on very tight budgets learning what works before upgrading.
- Early experimentation before you commit to a paid stack.
How to Build a Cheap 60-Second Ad (Regardless of Platform)
Whatever tools you use, the cheapest 60-second ads usually follow similar patterns.
1. Design your ad as modular shots
- Plan your runtime as 8–12 short clips instead of one continuous 60s shot.
- Give each clip a clear job: hook, product reveal, benefit, proof, CTA, etc.
- Reuse clips across different versions (15s, 30s, 60s) to maximise value.
2. Separate “hero” shots from “support” shots
- Use your best / most expensive model on 2–4 hero shots where viewers really notice quality.
- Use cheaper settings or even stock footage for background, texture, and logo holds.
- Remember: viewers mainly remember moments, not every frame.
3. Lock your maths in a simple sheet
If you haven’t already, create a tiny spreadsheet (or borrow the one from your credits workflow) with:
- Your current plan price and credits per month.
- Credits per clip for your “standard ad shot”.
- Automatic calculation of cost per clip and cost per second.
Once you know “a typical 8-second hero shot costs about X dollars”, budgeting a 60-second ad becomes much less mysterious.
Example Budget Setups for 60-Second Ads
Scenario A – Ultra-lean performance ads
- Prototype the storyboard with a free tool (e.g. HailuoAI) to test hooks and pacing.
- Rebuild only the best-performing hooks and CTAs in Pika or Kling at lower-cost tiers.
- Use static overlays, simple typography and VO to carry more of the message.
Scenario B – Client campaign on a mid-range budget
- Use Dream Machine or Pika for most b-roll and scenic shots.
- Reserve Runway or Kling for 2–3 truly premium hero frames.
- Deliver multiple cut-downs (15s, 30s, 60s) built from the same pool of clips.
Scenario C – Creator brand channel
- Pick one main platform (Pika, Dream Machine or Kling) and live there for a month.
- Standardise your outputs (same duration, resolution, aspect ratio) to keep maths simple.
- Track which ads perform best, then slowly upgrade individual shots in higher-end tools only when it clearly pays off.
Key Takeaways
- There is no single “cheapest” AI video tool – cost depends on your duration, resolution and model choices.
- For 60-second ads, think in clusters of short clips and build your runtime from stitched sequences.
- Use premium models sparingly for hero shots; rely on cheaper tools and smart editing for everything else.
- A tiny spreadsheet that tracks cost per second will save you more money than endlessly swapping tools.
- If you’re unsure where to start, combine this guide with:
Used together, those guides will help you choose a tool, understand its credit system, and keep your 60-second ads financially sane.