AI video tools are your secret sauce to creating video content without the hefty price tag. But with so many choices, how do you know which gives you the most bang for your buck? We’ll get into the details of AI video production costs and break down popular tools step by step.
What is AI video creation in marketing?
AI video creation uses artificial intelligence to automate parts of video production, from scripting to editing. An AI-powered video editor offers advanced features like automatic editing, voiceover generation, and real-time collaboration, enhancing efficiency and user experience. It’s the go-to solution for marketers and content creators to meet the growing demand for video content across social media.
Benefits of AI video creation
Lead generation
AI video tools can help you showcase your expertise and build trust with your audience. Thought leadership or case study videos can move potential customers further in their buyer’s journey. Plus, most AI video platforms require viewers to enter their email addresses to access content, so you get a list of quality leads for your sales team to follow up with. Creating videos with AI tools streamlines the production process, making it easier to produce high-quality content efficiently.
Cost-effectiveness
Let’s be real: traditional video production can be expensive, especially if you want high-quality content. AI video creation tools are a scalable solution with low production costs for time-poor small businesses. Instead of reaching one person through cold outreach, you can reach hundreds of potential customers through one AI-generated video.
Repurpose content
Catching your audience’s attention is more complex than ever. Most platforms are going video first, so reach and engagement go to those sharing short-form videos. AI video tools give you a library of content to repurpose without recording individual pieces. For example, you can use a video editor to clip a section of your AI-generated video, change the aspect ratio, add subtitles, and voila, you have content ready for TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts with minimal extra effort.
AI video creation process
AI video generation uses advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze vast images, videos, and text datasets. The process involves three steps:
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Data analysis
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Storyboard generation
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Video composition using AI-driven editing techniques
AI-driven techniques significantly enhance the process of editing video, offering script-based editing, traditional video editing capabilities, and specific AI functionalities that streamline and simplify the video production workflow.
Standard features of AI video tools:
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Automated editing
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Content personalization
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Performance optimization
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Interactive capabilities
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Advanced Analytics
These tools automate time-consuming tasks, personalize content, and give you valuable insights into viewer behavior.
Cost breakdown by AI tool
Now let’s get into the details of pricing for some popular AI video creation tools:
AI tools like Descript allow users to edit video by editing the transcription, making the process more efficient. This method lets users cut or modify video content just like editing a text document, significantly saving time in the video editing workflow.
Synthesia

Synthesia has various pricing plans:
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Free Plan. $0/month, 36 minutes of video/ year
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Starter Plan. $18/month, 120 minutes of video/ year
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Creator Plan. $64/month, 360 minutes of video/ year
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Enterprise Plan. Custom pricing, unlimited minutes of video
Synthesia’s ai video editor streamlines video creation processes, enhances user experience, and provides innovative editing features, allowing users to create engaging content with ease.
For a 1 minute video using the Creator Plan:
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Base subscription. $64/month
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Cost per minute. $64 / 30 ≈ $2.13
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No extra feature costs within the plan
Total cost for a 1-minute video: $2.13
This calculation assumes you’re using all 30 minutes of your monthly allowance. However, costs may vary based on your usage patterns and any extra features you might need from higher-tier plans.
Lumen5

Lumen5 has five plans:
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Community (Free). $0/month, basic features
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Basic. $19/month, no Lumen5 branding
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Starter. $59/month, 50M stock assets, 1080p resolution
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Professional. $149/month, 500M stock assets, advanced features
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Enterprise. Custom pricing, full features
For a 1 minute video using the Starter Plan:
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Monthly subscription: $59
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No extra stock media fees
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There is no extra charge for HD export or video length
The total cost for a 1-minute video is $59/month, regardless of the number of videos created within the plan.
If you create multiple videos a month, Lumen5’s Starter Plan can be relatively cost-effective as the cost per video decreases with higher usage.
Invideo

Invideo has three plans:
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Free. $0/month, watermarked videos
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Plus. $25/month, unlimited exports
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Max. $60/month, unlimited exports
For a 1 minute video using the Plus Plan:
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Monthly subscription: $25
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80 stocks/mo media items
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Full HD resolution included
Total cost for a 1-minute video: $25/month
This allows for multiple videos within the unlimited exports/month. The more videos you create, the lower your cost per video becomes. The Max plan, at $60/month for heavy users, might be more cost-effective with no export restrictions.
Pictory

Pictory has four plans:
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Free. $0/month, 15 video minutes
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Starter. $19/month, 200 video minutes/month
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Professional. $39/month, 600 video minutes/month
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Teams. $99/month, 1800 video minutes/month
For a 1 minute video using the Starter Plan:
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Monthly subscription: $19
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200 video minutes/month
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Premium videos and images
Total cost for a 1-minute video: $19/month
Pictory’s pricing allows multiple videos within the monthly export limit like the other tools. The more videos you create, the lower your cost per video becomes.
Crayo.ai

Crayo.ai has three plans:
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Hobby. $19/month, 40 minutes of export
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Clipper. $39/month, 2 hours of export
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Pro. $79/month, 3 hours of export
For a 1 minute video using the Hobby Plan:
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Monthly subscription: $19
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40 minutes of export
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There is no extra charge for script generation or voiceover
Total cost for a 1-minute video: $19/month
It allows for multiple videos within the 40-minute monthly export limit. Like the other tools, the cost per video decreases with higher usage.
Comparative Analysis
AI-powered tools allow you to edit videos with great flexibility and efficiency, offering features like real-time collaboration and drag-and-drop editing. Now, to help you make an informed decision, let’s briefly break down the costs and features of each tool side by side:
Cost Comparison
Pictory and Crayo.ai are the best value for budget options at $19 per minute of video. If you want more features and are willing to pay more, Synthesia might be for you.
Regarding features, Invideo and Lumen5 have the most templates and stock media. If you’re more interested in AI and script generation, Pictory and Crayo.ai might be for you.
Additional costs and considerations
Before you sign up and choose an AI video creation tool, here are a few things to consider:
Time to learn and use the tools.
Each AI video creation tool has its own interface and features, so you’ll need to invest some time in learning how to use it. Some tools, like Crayo.ai, are more user-friendly, while others, like Synthesia, have a steeper learning curve due to their advanced features.
Don’t forget to factor in time for:
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Watching tutorials
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Practicing with the tool
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Getting to know all the features
As you get more comfortable, you should explore more advanced features that will impact your productivity.
Extra costs for editing or refinement.
While AI tools can produce excellent videos, you may need to edit them to get that professional look. It could mean:
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Using external software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro (which have their costs)
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Hiring freelance editors or agencies for refinement (which can be expensive)
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Buying more stock media if you go over your plan limits
You may also need features not included in your current plan, like higher-resolution exports or more templates. Upgrading to higher plans will increase your monthly cost.
Subscription vs Pay-Per-Use: Long-term cost implications
Most of the tools we’ve looked at, like Pictory and Synthesia, are subscription-based. These offer monthly costs and unlimited access to features within plan limits, which is great for regular users with consistent video output but not so good for occasional users.
Pay-per-use models are less common among the tools we’ve analyzed. They can be more cost-effective for infrequent users, but they can be expensive if you need to create multiple videos quickly.
When deciding between the two, consider your long-term content creation needs. Subscriptions are better for businesses or creators who need to produce content regularly, while pay-per-use is better for individuals or small businesses with occasional needs.
Cost Comparison: AI tools vs Traditional methods
To understand the value of AI video creation tools, let’s compare them to traditional video production methods:
Traditional 1-minute video production costs
Traditional video production costs vary greatly depending on project complexity, location, talent, and equipment. Here’s a rough breakdown:
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Simple corporate videos. $800 to $1,000 per minute.
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Complex projects with special effects or high-profile talent. It can be over $10,000 per minute.
These costs include:
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Scriptwriting
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Crew hiring (camera operators, directors)
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Equipment rental
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Location fees
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Post-production editing
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Graphics or animations
Stock footage alone can cost $100 to $250 per clip, so a one-minute video with multiple clips could cost $2,000 or more.
When AI tools are more cost-effective
AI tools are great in:
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High volume production. If you’re a business that needs video content for social media, AI tools like Synthesia, Invideo, and Pictory can help you create multiple-minute videos for $19 to $89 per month.
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Limited budget. Tools like Crayo.ai offer affordable plans for startups or small businesses to produce high-quality content without high overhead costs.
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Time-sensitive projects. AI tools can produce videos much faster than traditional methods, which is essential for marketing campaigns or announcements.
When traditional methods might be more cost-effective
Despite the benefits of AI tools, traditional methods still have their use:
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High production quality. Investing in commercials or corporate branding videos that require high quality, professional equipment, and skilled personnel might be worth it.
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Custom content. Projects that require highly customized content or complex emotional tones benefit from the storytelling and visual style that human creativity can bring.
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Long-term investment in skills. Companies investing in staff training for video production might find it more cost-effective to reduce their reliance on external production teams in the long run.
The value of human expertise
While AI video editing offers significant cost and speed benefits, they have some limitations:
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Lack of emotional nuance. AI can’t convey complex emotions and storytelling subtleties, resulting in videos that feel flat or lack emotional depth during the editing process.
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Generic content. Using templates and stock footage can result in videos that look similar or generic, diluting your brand.
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They need more creative flexibility. AI won’t adapt to unique creative visions or last-minute changes, while human editors have critical and creative thinking skills.
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Quality control. AI video clips may need additional oversight to meet quality standards, often requiring human intervention to refine.
That’s where professional editing can help AI content:
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Refine content. Editors can adjust pacing, transitions, and overall flow to produce a polished finish.
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Customization and branding. Human editors can tailor videos to brand guidelines, add custom graphics, color grade, and add brand elements.
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Creative input. Editors bring experience and creativity to turn introductory AI-generated videos into stories.
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Quality control. Editors check before content goes to market to ensure quality standards are met.
Fractional video editing: A cost-effective solution
If you want to balance AI and human expertise, fractional video editing services like Vidpros might be the answer. This way, you can:
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Get professional editing talent without the cost of full-time staff.
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Scale your video production according to demand.
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Boost engagement and brand perception and potentially better ROI from your video marketing.
By balancing AI and human expertise, you can optimize your video production for quality and cost.
Capping off
AI video creation tools are a cost-effective solution for businesses that need to produce video content regularly. By understanding the pricing models, hidden costs, and limitations, you can make an informed decision that balances your budget with your quality requirements.
The key to video marketing isn’t just producing content fast and cheap—it’s about producing content that resonates with your audience and drives results for your business.
Whether you use AI video editing tools, traditional methods, or a combination of both, the most important thing is that your videos communicate your message and achieve your marketing goals.