Credits charge you per clip; unlimited charges you per stretch of time. The real cost per AI video is the credits a clip burns times what a credit cost you. For a 5-second 720p clip that is three to four times the "cost per video" printed on plan cards, because the cards count the cheapest clip. A 7-day unlimited window beats buying credits once you make about three 10-second clips a day, and retries lower that threshold.
Last verified: November 12, 2026. Prices are in US dollars before tax, taken from the SeedVideo AI pricing page and generator on that date.
| Plan or pack | Price | Credits | Card "cost per video" | 5 s, 720p Seedance 2.5 clip | 10 s, 720p Seedance 2.5 clip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit pack (Creator) | $49.90 one time | 375, valid 365 days | $1.22 | 31 credits = $4.13 | 61 credits = $8.12 |
| Lite, monthly | $14.90/mo | 100/mo | $1.24 | 28 credits = $4.17 | 55 credits = $8.20 |
| Pro, monthly | $29/mo | 200/mo | $0.88 | 22 credits = $3.19 | 43 credits = $6.24 |
| Premium, monthly | $149/mo | 1,300/mo | $0.57 | 19 credits = $2.18 | 37 credits = $4.24 |
| Premium, yearly | $99/mo ($1,188/yr) | 1,300/mo | $0.38 | 19 credits = $1.45 | 37 credits = $2.82 |
| Premium 7-day window | Included with Premium | No credits used | n/a | $0 | $0 |
Dollar figures are credits per clip multiplied by the plan's price per credit. Plan figures use the rates listed on the pricing page, and the generator shows the exact credit price for your account next to the Generate button before anything is charged.
SeedVideo AI pricing page, November 12, 2026: (1) monthly billing selected, (2) the "cost per video" line on each card, (3) the Premium-only 7-day window, up to 720P and up to 10 seconds per video.
Quick Answer
Does unlimited AI video mean no limits at all? No. Every unlimited plan checked for this article limits the models, clip length, resolution or number of days, and some add a queue after heavy use.
Why is my real cost per video higher than the plan card says? Cards count the cheapest clip. They divide the plan price by a 4-second 480p video, and a 10-second 720p Seedance 2.5 clip uses about seven times as many credits.
Do retries matter for credits vs unlimited? Yes. Every take you throw away costs credits on a credit plan and nothing inside an unlimited window, so two takes per keeper halve the daily output you need for unlimited to pay off.
When should I keep buying credits? Whenever you make a handful of clips a month, need 1080p or clips longer than 10 seconds, or work on models the window does not cover.
The cost per video formula for AI video credits
Every credit plan reduces to two numbers: what one credit costs you and how many credits one clip uses. Multiply them and you have the cost per video.
Price per credit = plan price ÷ credits included. Credits per clip = seconds × the model's per-second rate at your resolution, minus your plan's discount. Cost per video = price per credit × credits per clip.
For Seedance 2.5 at 720p the rate is 6.1 credits per second, so a 10-second clip is 61 credits at the full rate. The pricing page lists plan discounts of 10% (Lite), 30% (Pro) and 40% (Premium), which is where the 55, 43 and 37 in the table come from. Credit packs spend at the full rate.
| Plan or pack | Price | Credits | Price per credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter pack | $29.90 | 200 (180 days) | $0.150 |
| Creator pack | $49.90 | 375 (365 days) | $0.133 |
| Studio pack | $79.90 | 600 (365 days) | $0.133 |
| Max pack | $199 | 1,500 (365 days) | $0.133 |
| Agency pack | $999 | 8,000 (365 days) | $0.125 |
| Lite, monthly / yearly | $14.90 / $13 per month | 100 a month | $0.149 / $0.130 |
| Pro, monthly / yearly | $29 / $14.50 per month | 200 a month | $0.145 / $0.073 |
| Premium, monthly / yearly | $149 / $99 per month | 1,300 a month | $0.115 / $0.076 |
Subscriptions only beat packs if you spend the credits: subscription credits expire after 30 days, while pack credits last 180 or 365 days. The card figures are also ceilings. The plan cards quote $1.24, $0.88 and $0.57 per video on monthly billing because they assume the shortest, lowest-resolution clip. Worked through the formula, a 5-second 720p Seedance 2.5 clip costs $4.17, $3.19 and $2.18 on the same plans.
Compare Plans table, November 12, 2026: (1) Seedance 2.5 at about $1.66, $1.16 and $0.81 per video, (2) Seedance 2.0 at $1.24, $0.88 and $0.57. Both rows count the shortest clip each model allows.
If you want the per-second rates for every Seedance model and resolution, Seedance credits explained lists them with clip counts for each plan.
What a 7-day unlimited AI video window is worth at 3, 8 and 15 clips a day
An unlimited window does not have a cost per video. It has a value: the credits you would have spent on the same clips. On Premium the window covers Seedance 2.5 and Seedance 2.0 clips (including 2.0 Fast and 2.0 Mini) up to 10 seconds at up to 720P, so the fairest unit is the clip it covers at its maximum, 10 seconds at 720p, which would cost 37 credits on Premium.
Window value = 7 days × clips per day × credits per clip × your price per credit.
| Clips per day (10 s, 720p) | Clips in 7 days | Credits saved at 37 each | Share of Premium's 1,300 monthly credits | Value on monthly billing ($149 ÷ 1,300 per credit) | Value on yearly billing ($99 ÷ 1,300 per credit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 21 | 777 | 60% | $89 | $59 |
| 8 | 56 | 2,072 | 159% | $237 | $158 |
| 15 | 105 | 3,885 | 299% | $445 | $296 |
With 5-second clips at 19 credits, the same three rows are worth 399, 1,064 and 1,995 credits.
The other way to read it is against pay-as-you-go credits. Bought as a Creator pack, a 10-second 720p Seedance 2.5 clip costs $8.12. Divide Premium's $149 by that and the break-even is 18 clips in the week, about 2.6 a day. For 5-second clips ($4.13 each from a pack) it is 36 clips, about 5 a day. Below those numbers, credits are cheaper for that week; above them, the window is. That comparison ignores Premium's own 1,300 credits, so if you would use those anyway the window is a bonus rather than the reason to buy.
Can you actually make 15 clips a day in the window?
Often, but not on demand. Free generations run on a separate channel with one job running and one waiting per account. In our five-week sample of 289 free-channel jobs (September 11 to October 16, 2026), 82% started without queueing, and those finished in a median of 6.0 minutes. The other 18% were moved to a fair-use queue after heavy use. You can wait at no cost or spend credits to move a queued job to the standard channel. At a 6-minute median, 15 clips need about 90 minutes of back-to-back rendering, and 30 takes about three hours, so plan the heavy days around the queue rather than assuming a fixed hourly output. Credit generations are not limited to one at a time: Premium allows 8 concurrent jobs.
Video prompt: 10-second close-up at counter height. A barista in a sunlit corner cafe pours steamed milk into a white ceramic cup and a rosetta latte-art pattern forms on the espresso, thin steam rising, slow push-in, warm morning light from a side window, shallow depth of field, espresso machine and plants blurred behind, natural warm color grade.
A short social clip like this sits exactly inside the window: 10 seconds, 720p, one subject, one action. People often need several takes to get the pour right, and every extra take changes the math.
How retries change the credits vs unlimited math
The cost that matters is per kept clip, not per generation. On credits, every rejected take is paid for; failed generations are refunded, but a finished clip you do not like is not. Inside an unlimited window, a rejected take costs time and nothing else.
How many takes should you plan for? When we rendered the 12 full prompts from our Seedance 2.5 prompt guide once each on October 13, 2026, 11 of the 12 first takes had at least one visible miss, such as a skipped beat, a swapped character position or a drifting color. Three of them got a one-line revision and a second take; two of those fixed the targeted problem and one did not. That is not an average retry rate, but it is a clear sign that a first take is rarely the keeper. Planning on two takes per kept clip is a reasonable starting point.
| Takes per kept clip | Takes for 21 kept clips (3 a day for a week) | Credits at Premium's 37 per take | Pack cost at $8.12 per take | Inside the window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | 777 | $171 | $0 |
| 1.5 | 32 | 1,184 | $260 | $0 |
| 2 | 42 | 1,554 | $341 | $0 |
| 3 | 63 | 2,331 | $512 | $0 |
Retries move the break-even down. At two takes per keeper, the 18-take threshold is reached at nine kept 10-second clips in the week, a little over one a day. They also move the queue limit up: 3 kept clips a day becomes 6 generations a day, and 15 kept clips becomes 30.
Video prompt: 10-second low tracking shot at grass level. A golden retriever puppy leaps after floating soap bubbles on a backyard lawn at golden hour, ears flying, one bubble popping near its nose, warm backlight rimming the fur, garden lights as soft bokeh behind, natural colors, sharp focus on the face.
Fast animal motion and small objects popping are the kind of shot that needs several takes. Two ways to cut retries before they start: test at 480p, and name one subject, one action, the camera and the light in every prompt. Both prompts below follow that pattern and fit the window's 10-second, 720p limit.
10-second close-up at counter height. A barista in a sunlit corner cafe pours steamed milk into a white ceramic cup and a rosetta latte-art pattern forms on the espresso. Thin steam rises. Slow push-in, warm morning light from a side window, shallow depth of field, espresso machine blurred behind. No text, no logos.
10-second low tracking shot at grass level. A golden retriever puppy leaps after floating soap bubbles on a backyard lawn at golden hour, ears flying, one bubble popping near its nose. Warm backlight rims the fur, garden lights as soft bokeh. Keep the puppy's coat color and running direction consistent.
Credits vs unlimited on other AI video platforms
The same two billing styles exist elsewhere, with different rules. The table lists only what each platform's own pricing page showed on November 12, 2026, at monthly list prices. It does not compare output quality or queue speed.
| Platform | Credit side | Unlimited side | Best for | Not for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeedVideo AI | Lite $14.90 (100 credits), Pro $29 (200), Premium $149 (1,300); packs from $29.90 for 200 | Premium only: one 7-day window, Seedance 2.5 and 2.0, up to 10 s, up to 720P; one running plus one waiting | A planned week of short Seedance clips | 1080p, clips over 10 s, other models in the window |
| Higgsfield | Starter $19 (270 credits), Plus $59 (1,200), Ultra $129 (3,000) | On monthly billing, Plus: 7 days of unlimited Seedance 2.5, up to 20 s at 480p. Ultra: 14 days, up to 20 s at 720p. Unlimited works only on higgsfield.ai, not through MCP, CLI or Canvas | Longer free Seedance 2.5 clips | Unlimited 720p on the $59 plan |
| Kling | Standard 660 credits, Pro 3,000, Premier 18,000; $8.80, $32.56 and $181.99 a month after a discounted first month | None. "Queue unlimited tasks" means you can queue jobs; each still uses credits | Paying per clip for Kling models | Anyone looking for unlimited generation |
| Runway | Standard $15 (625 credits), Pro $35 (2,250), Max $95 (9,500, rolls over one month); Gen-4.5 uses 12 credits per second | None for generation. Pro and Max include unlimited 4K upscaling | Credit access to Runway's editing tools | Unlimited generation |
Promotions were live on several of these pages on November 12, including an 11.11 sale on Higgsfield and first-month discounts on Kling, so check the page on the day you buy. For how each platform's unlimited offer is structured in more detail, see our comparison of the best unlimited AI video generators in 2026, and for credit prices across more tools, the AI video tool price comparison.
Credits, unlimited or both: a decision tree for AI video buyers
Count kept clips first, multiply by your takes per keeper, then follow the first rule that fits. The numbers below use 10-second 720p Seedance 2.5 clips; halve the credit figures for 5-second clips.
| If your month looks like this | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 5 generations, no deadline | A credit pack | Pack credits last 180 to 365 days, so none expire unused |
| A steady 4 ten-second or 9 five-second generations a month | Pro | 200 credits cover four 10-second clips at 43 credits each, and Pro unlocks 1080p |
| One heavy week of 18 or more short generations | Premium, timed to that week | The 7-day window covers those clips, and the 1,300 credits cover everything else |
| Daily short clips plus 1080p or long takes | Premium plus packs | Window for the short 720p clips, credits for what it excludes |
| Mostly clips over 10 seconds, 1080p or other models | Credits only | The window would not apply to your work |
On SeedVideo AI, "unlimited" means one 7-day window per account, starting when the Premium payment succeeds, and it needs an active subscription for the whole week. On November 12, 2026 the pricing page listed it as a limited-time offer. Every price in this article can be checked on the SeedVideo AI pricing page, which also has a calculator that adds up a month of clips across models. The full rules for the window, including what happens if you cancel mid-week, are in Seedance Unlimited Explained.
FAQ
Do AI video credits expire?
On SeedVideo AI, yes. Subscription credits are valid for 30 days on every plan, monthly or yearly, and do not roll over. Credit packs last 180 days (Starter) or 365 days (Creator, Studio, Max and Agency). Runway's Max plan is an exception elsewhere: it rolls unused credits over for one month.
Do clips made in the unlimited window use credits?
No, as long as they fit the window: Seedance 2.5 or the Seedance 2.0 family, up to 10 seconds, up to 720P. Anything else, such as a 15-second clip, 1080p, reference-video tasks, editing or another model, uses credits at your plan's rate.
How do yearly plans change the cost per video?
Yearly billing lowers the price per credit, not the credits per clip. Premium yearly is $99 a month for the same 1,300 credits, so a 10-second 720p Seedance 2.5 clip falls from $4.24 to $2.82. Pro yearly ($14.50) brings the same clip to $3.12. Each month's credits still expire after 30 days.
Can I get a refund on credits or the unlimited window?
New purchases can be refunded within 3 days if none of that purchase's credits were used, minus processing fees of up to 4% plus $1.50. Automatic renewals are non-refundable. If any video was generated in Premium's unlimited mode, the order is not eligible, even though no credits were deducted.
How is 1080p charged?
Always in credits. Seedance 2.5 at 1080p uses 18 credits per second, so a 5-second clip is 90 credits at the full rate, 63 on Pro and 54 on Premium. Lite renders Seedance at up to 720p, and the unlimited window stops at 720P.
Price your own month before you pay
The fastest check is to price one real clip. Open the AI text-to-video generator, choose the model, duration and resolution you actually use, and read the credit price next to the generate button; if you start from a photo, the AI image-to-video generator charges the same. Multiply by your takes per keeper and your clips per week, then compare the total with the window. The Seedance 2.5 model page lists the lengths and resolutions to plan around, and more cost tables are collected in the pricing and benchmarks category.
