Our verdict
Being tested. An editor is using Runway hands-on; the verdict and score appear here once they sign it off.
What it does
Runway makes video with AI. You describe a shot in words, or start from a photo or an existing clip, and it generates new footage or changes what is there. Its own Gen-4.5 model sits alongside models from other companies, and Runway Agent can plan, generate and assemble a short video from a conversation.
It suits creators, marketers and film-makers who want eye-catching clips, ad ideas or mood films. Each generated shot lasts seconds rather than minutes, so longer videos are built up from many shots.
Why use it
- Turn a written description or a single image into a moving shot.
- Change existing footage by describing what you want to be different.
- Runway Agent plans the shots, generates them and puts the video together from a chat.
- You keep ownership of what you make, and Runway places no non-commercial limits on it.
How it works
- Sign up on the website or in the iPhone or Android app.
- Choose a model, then describe the shot or upload a starting image.
- Generate a few versions and keep the best one.
- Refine the shot with a new prompt until it looks right.
- Download your clips, or let Runway Agent assemble them into one video.
How hard is it to use?
Intermediate Some set-up, or a little practice, to get good results.
You can make a first clip in minutes, but getting the exact shot you want takes practice with prompts, models and settings, which is why we rate it Intermediate.
What it costs
Paid plans; one-off free credits. A free plan gives a one-off allowance of credits that never refreshes, and its videos carry a Runway watermark. Paid plans (Standard, Pro and Max) add monthly credits, remove the watermark and unlock more models; Team and Enterprise plans add shared workspaces and admin controls.
Prices change often, so check Runway’s own site before you pay.
Watch out for
- Credits go quickly, and unused monthly credits on the Standard and Pro plans expire each month.
- Only use photos, footage or likenesses of real people that you have permission to use.
- You must be 13 or over, and under-18s need a parent’s or guardian’s permission.
Your data
Runway’s terms say it may use what you upload and generate to train its AI models, and we found no setting to turn this off, so keep confidential material out. It says other companies’ models on its platform are contractually barred from training on your content, and your uploads stay private unless you share them.
We haven’t confirmed that Runway can keep your data in the UK, so check where it keeps your data before you share anything private or about other people.