Start from the material you already have
Two questions separate these five tools: do you start from a written idea or from existing images and storyboards, and does the output need native audio? With text only, Runway, Google Veo, and Kling AI offer more direct text-to-video; with product photos or keyframes, Luma AI's image-to-video and camera control make direction easier to control; for native synchronized audio, Google Veo is the one flagged for it in these cards; and for fast social clips, Hailuo AI's template effects are quicker to start with.
- Written idea onlyStart with text-to-video in Runway, Google Veo, or Kling AI.
- Existing images or storyboardsUse Luma AI's image-to-video and keyframe control.
- Native synchronized audioGoogle Veo is the one flagged for it in these cards.
- Fast social short-formHailuo AI's templates are quicker to start with.
Also remember that generation is not the finished video. Among these five, only Runway covers generation and editing together, so voiceover, subtitles, music, and multi-shot assembly usually still belong to an editing workflow.
Text-driven and image-driven work use different tools
A different starting point leads to a different tool. From a single written idea, text-to-video in Runway, Google Veo, or Kling AI is the most direct route; with existing product photos, storyboards, or character sheets, Luma AI's image-to-video and keyframe control let you steer the shot more precisely. Either way, complex motion and long shots usually need several takes, so treating “generate a few, then pick one” as the normal process is more realistic than expecting a first-try result.
Generation is a middle step; the finished video needs editing
Among these five, only Runway covers generation and editing together; the others lean toward generation, so voiceover, subtitles, music, and multi-shot assembly usually happen in an editing tool. Before you start, sketch the finished structure — how many shots, how long each runs, where the audio comes from — and choose the generator accordingly.
Check credits, watermarks, and licensing separately
These three are often mixed together, but they come from different rules. The cards note that available models, clip length, and resolution usually depend on the subscription plan; some tools have limited free credits and queues affect generation speed; while commercial terms, acceptable content, and watermarking differ by platform and change over time. Before publishing, check each vendor's current terms and confirm whether people, brands, or music in the output need separate clearance.
