Platforms
Direct apps, aggregators and APIs compared, with real markup examples and what "unlimited" actually covers.
Buy your main model in its own app. Use an aggregator only when you really need several models in one place, or when an "unlimited" window covers the exact model and resolution you need and you will use it inside that window. Use an API when you are a developer or make a lot of video, because you pay per second and nothing expires.
Three ways to pay
| Direct app | Aggregator | API | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examples | Dreamina (Seedance), Kling, Google Flow (Veo, Omni), Runway, Luma, Hailuo, Vidu, PixVerse | Higgsfield, Krea, OpenArt, Magnific (formerly Freepik), CapCut | BytePlus ModelArk, Alibaba Model Studio, Gemini API, Kling API, MiniMax, fal, OpenRouter |
| You pay | Monthly plan, credits | Monthly plan, credits shared across many models | Per second or per token, only for successful generations |
| Best for | One main model, lowest price per clip | Trying many models with one bill | Volume, automation, agents |
| Watch out | Credits expire, auto renew | Markup, credits expire, "unlimited" fine print | Needs code or a tool, no free tier on some APIs |
Markup examples
Seedance 2.5, one 8 second 720p clip. Most of these figures come from Higgsfield's own comparison table, so treat them as a vendor's framing.
| Where | Cost of one clip | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BytePlus ModelArk API (direct) | about 1.85 USD | Our estimate from the official 0.231 USD/s |
| Higgsfield | 2.55 USD | Higgsfield |
| Magnific | 3.52 USD, or about 1.80 to 2.39 EUR from Magnific's own credit table | Higgsfield, Magnific |
| Dreamina | 3.57 USD | Higgsfield |
| OpenArt | 3.64 USD | Higgsfield |
| Runway, 15 USD plan | 5.76 USD | Higgsfield |
Two more examples from official price lists:
- Veo 3.1 Fast with audio costs 0.15 USD/s through Runway's API, against 0.10 to 0.12 USD/s directly on the Gemini API.
- fal charges 0.30 USD/s for Seedance 2.x at 720p. Seedance 2.0 direct on BytePlus is about 0.15 USD/s.
A pricing review from Aug 2026 says resellers often charge 2 to 3 times the vendor rate. Krea, a competitor, claims it gives about 3 times more Seedance videos per dollar than Higgsfield. Check the per clip cost in each app before you buy.
Prices checked on 15 Oct 2026.
Aggregators at a glance
| Aggregator | Entry plan | Credit expiry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higgsfield | 15 or 19 USD (sources conflict) | Subscription credits expire at renewal, packs after 90 days | Most organic complaints on X: moved "unlimited" dates, refunds refused after trials |
| Krea | Free: 100 units a day, video concurrency not included. Pro: 35 USD, or 21 USD a month on yearly billing | Pro and Max units do not roll over, packs last 90 days | About 60 models, about 83 Seedance 2.0 videos on Pro (Krea's estimate) |
| OpenArt | Starter 14 USD (13 USD yearly), 4,000 credits | Not published | Commercial use starts at Plus (34 USD) |
| Magnific (Freepik) | Premium 15 EUR, or 10.50 EUR yearly | Credits valid 1 year | Commercial license on all plans, 30 day refund guarantee, billed in 4 second blocks |
| CapCut | Free editor, paid plans reported at 9.99 and 19.99 USD | Not published | Seedance 2.5 inside the editor for subscribers in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America |
Prices checked on 15 Oct 2026.
What "unlimited" means on Higgsfield
These limits come from Higgsfield's own help center, blog and changelog.
- Unlimited is per model and time boxed. Windows last 1, 7, 14 or 33 days (some plan models 365 days). The clock starts when you activate it and does not reset at renewal. Promo unlimited stops if your subscription lapses.
- Web app only. Unlimited applies only on higgsfield.ai. The API, MCP, CLI, Canvas, presets, apps and studios always cost credits.
- Capped quality. Seedance unlimited is 480p and 720p only. Seedance 2.0 on trial is capped at 720p and 8 s, Kling 3.0 and Wan 2.7 at 1080p and 8 s, Gemini Omni Flash at 7 s. 4K is excluded. The Wan 3.0 offer from 13 Oct is 7 days, Pro plan and up.
- One at a time. One concurrent generation per format.
- Slower queue. Unlimited jobs use the standard queue; credit jobs get priority. Peak hours are throttled.
- Fair use. Automation, scripts and sharing accounts are banned, and unusual use can be slowed or paused. No numeric cap is published.
APIs and developer options
| Provider | Models | Useful facts |
|---|---|---|
| BytePlus ModelArk | Seedance 2.5, 2.0, Fast, Mini | Failed and moderated generations are not charged. Output links last 24 hours |
| Alibaba Model Studio | Wan 3.0 | 30 seconds free in the Singapore region, valid 90 days |
| Gemini API | Veo 3.1, Gemini Omni Flash | No free tier for video, charged only on success, available in Vietnam |
| Kling API | Kling 3.0, Omni, Turbo | Failed generations not charged. Unused resource packages are cleared when they expire |
| MiniMax | H3, H3 Max, Hailuo | Failed or moderated videos not charged, no free credits |
| fal, OpenRouter | Many models behind one API | Convenient for developers and agents, usually above the vendor's own rate. Compare before you commit |
When an aggregator is worth it
Pay for one when you will try three or more models in the same month, when its unlimited window covers your exact model and resolution and you have shots ready to make that week, or when its plan bundles image and video tools you would otherwise buy separately. Otherwise the direct app is cheaper.
Sources
- Higgsfield: Seedance 2.5 pricing blog, All Unlimited blog, Unlimited help article, credits help, changelog.
- Krea, OpenArt, Magnific pricing pages; Krea blog on Higgsfield pricing; Novoads.
- API pages: BytePlus ModelArk, Alibaba Model Studio, Gemini API, kling.ai/dev, MiniMax, Runway API; fal Seedance guide; invideo pricing review (Aug 2026).
- Complaints and counterpoints: creator posts on X, Aug to Oct 2026. Full links in Sources.