Swayclip runs several AI video models, and the fastest way to waste credits is to pick the wrong one for the job. This guide is a practical map: what each model is good at, what it takes as input, what it returns, where its cost sits, and when to reach for something else. Every model here is one you can run today on Swayclip — pick one, open the generator, and it's preselected for you.
If you only remember one rule: match the model to the task, not to the hype. Short social clips, product animations, and cinematic hero shots have different winners.
Veo 3.1 — the audio-native flagship
Best for: dialogue, sound, and reference-driven shots where you want the most polished result. Veo is a flagship family with a budget Lite tier for drafts and bulk variations, and a Quality tier for the one hero shot that has to look expensive.
- Input: text prompt, or an image to animate.
- Output: short clips, 720p up to 4K.
- Cost posture: the widest range here — Lite is the cheapest way to draft, Quality is the most premium per-clip option. See exact credits on the Veo model page and pricing before a Quality run.
- When not to use it: if you need dozens of rough drafts cheaply, stay on Lite or a per-second model below — Quality is not for volume.
Kling 3.0 — controllable motion, strong image-to-video
Best for: turning a product photo or portrait into motion, and shots where you want firm control over how the camera and subject move.
Kling bills per second, so a 5-second clip costs about half a 10-second one — short hooks stay cheap.
- Input: text, or an image (its image-to-video path is a strong default).
- Output: short clips, 720p/1080p, optional sound.
- Cost posture: mid-tier, and it scales with duration — keep clips short to keep cost down. Exact rate is on the Kling model page.
- When not to use it: sprawling, multi-shot sequences — generate short pieces and stitch them in post instead.
Seedance 2.0 — expressive, stylized motion
Best for: stylized, energetic motion with a strong visual signature.
Seedance sits at the higher end of per-second cost, so it earns its keep on the shots that need that look — not on throwaway drafts.
- Input: text, or an image to animate.
- Output: short clips, 480p/720p/1080p.
- Cost posture: per-second and on the higher side — reach for it deliberately. Rate and tiers are on the Seedance model page.
- When not to use it: when a calmer, photoreal result matters more than style — Veo or Kling will feel more grounded.
Happy Horse — text, image, and reference-to-video
Best for: a flexible mid-cost option with text, image, and reference-to-video modes — useful when you want to carry a reference frame's look into the motion. Happy Horse runs at 720p and 1080p.
- Input: text, image, or a reference frame.
- Output: short clips, 720p/1080p.
- Cost posture: mid-tier per second — a reasonable default before you commit to a premium run. Details on the Happy Horse model page.
- When not to use it: when you specifically need Veo's audio-native dialogue or Quality-tier polish.
Pick by use case
| You're making… | Start with | Run it in |
|---|---|---|
| A product or ad clip from a photo | Kling (image-to-video) | Image to Video |
| A fast 9:16 social short | Veo Lite or Kling | Text to Video |
| A cinematic hero shot | Veo Quality or Seedance | Text to Video |
| Animating an existing still | Kling or Happy Horse | Image to Video |
How to decide in 10 seconds
- Have a photo to animate? Go image-to-video with Kling or Happy Horse.
- Need dialogue or sound? Veo.
- One expensive hero shot? Veo Quality or Seedance.
- Lots of cheap drafts? Veo Lite, per second where it's short.
Cost is shown before every generation, and failed jobs are refunded automatically — so you can try a cheap draft, then commit credits to the model that fit. Open Text to Video or
Image to Video to start; the model you picked here will be ready to select.