Generative Media & Diffusion Pricing
Image & Video Generation API Pricing Matrix 2026
Generative diffusion APIs charge either per generated image (often differentiated by resolution like 1024x1024 vs HD) or per second of rendered video (Runway, Luma, Kling, Pika).
Text-to-Image Foundation Models Pricing
| Model Identifier | Provider / Host | Standard Resolution Price | HD / 2K Price | Inference Speed | Typography Fidelity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.1 [schnell] | BFL / Replicate / Together | $0.003 / image | $0.005 / image | 4 steps (0.4s) | High Text Clarity |
| FLUX.1 [dev] | BFL / Replicate / Together | $0.025 / image | $0.035 / image | 28 steps (2.2s) | Photorealistic State-of-the-Art |
| DALL-E 3 Standard | OpenAI | $0.040 / image | $0.080 / image (HD) | 15-20s | Good Prompt Adherence |
| Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large | Stability AI | $0.065 / image | $0.090 / image | 4.5s | High Artistic Dynamic Range |
| Recraft v3 | Recraft AI | $0.040 / image | $0.080 / vector SVG | 2.0s | Native SVG Vector Generation |
Text-to-Video & Image-to-Video Generation Rates
| Model Name | Provider | Price per Video Second | 5-Second Clip Cost | Max Resolution | Camera Motion Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runway Gen-3 Alpha | RunwayML API | $0.050 / second | $0.250 / video | 720p / 1080p | Director mode, pan, zoom, roll |
| Luma Dream Machine | Luma AI | $0.060 / second | $0.300 / video | 1080p | Physics-accurate fluid motion |
| Kling 1.5 | Kuaishou / Kling | $0.070 / second | $0.350 / video | 1080p HD | Complex human anatomical movement |
| Pika 2.0 | Pika Labs | $0.045 / second | $0.225 / video | 720p | Pikaffects (squish, melt, explode) |
Frequently Asked Technical Questions
Why is FLUX.1 schnell 10x cheaper than DALL-E 3?
FLUX.1 schnell is a distilled 4-step diffusion model that runs in under half a second on modern H100 GPUs, allowing hosters like Together AI and Replicate to price each generation at a fraction of a cent ($0.003/img).
Can I generate native SVG vectors using APIs?
Yes. Recraft v3 offers an API that produces true scalable SVG vector graphics (paths, fills, gradients) directly from text prompts, ideal for icon and illustration generation.
How do video generation APIs bill for failed generations?
Most top-tier video providers (Runway, Luma) only bill credits for successfully completed video renders. If generation fails due to safety filtering or timeout, credits are refunded automatically.