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Cheapest AI Video & Image Generation — Cost Rankings
Budget matters, especially when you are generating dozens or hundreds of assets per month. We ranked all seven AI models available through agent-media CLI by cost per generation so you can maximize output without blowing through your credits. Image models start at just $0.08 per image, and the most affordable video model comes in at $0.50 per 5-second clip.
Complete Cost Rankings
Costs are based on typical generation parameters. Video costs assume a standard 5-second clip for equal comparison. Credits are converted at the Pro plan rate ($69 for 5,000 credits = $0.0138/credit).
| Rank | Model | Type | Cost / Gen | Credits | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Flux 2 Flex | Image | ~$0.08 | 25-50 | Good |
| #2 | Flux 2 Pro | Image | ~$0.15 | 50-100 | Excellent |
| #3 | Grok Imagine | Image | ~$0.15 | 50-100 | Excellent |
| #4 | Kling 3.0 Pro | Video | ~$0.50 | 200-400 | Excellent |
| #5 | Seedance 1.0 Pro | Video | ~$0.50 | 200-400 | Excellent |
| #6 | Sora 2 Pro | Video | ~$0.65 | 250-600 | Excellent |
| #7 | Veo 3.1 | Video | ~$1.60 | 300-500 | Premium |
Monthly Plan Value — What Your Credits Buy
Here is what each plan gets you across different model types. The Pro plan at $69/mo offers the best per-credit value for serious creators.
| Plan | Credits | Flux Flex Images | Kling Videos | Veo Videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter ($19/mo) | 1,000 | ~20-40 | ~2-5 | ~2-3 |
| Creator ($39/mo) | 2,500 | ~50-100 | ~6-12 | ~5-8 |
| Pro ($69/mo) | 5,000 | ~100-200 | ~12-25 | ~10-16 |
| Pro Plus ($119/mo) | 10,000 | ~200-400 | ~25-50 | ~20-33 |
Cost Breakdown by Model
Flux 2 Flex — Best Budget Pick (~$0.08/image)
At just 25-50 credits per image, Flux 2 Flex is the most economical model by a wide margin. A single Pro plan month buys you 100 to 200 images. Quality is slightly below Flux 2 Pro, but for thumbnail generation, social media batches, and concept exploration, it delivers excellent value. This is the model to use when volume matters more than pixel-perfect output.
Flux 2 Pro & Grok Imagine — Tied at ~$0.15/image
Both premium image models cost the same per generation. The choice between them is purely aesthetic — Flux Pro for photorealism and text rendering, Grok Imagine for artistic style and complex compositions. At this price point, you can generate roughly 50 to 100 images per month on the Pro plan with either model.
Kling 3.0 Pro & Seedance 1.0 Pro — Best Video Value (~$0.50/clip)
Kling and Seedance are tied as the most affordable video models. Both cost 200-400 credits per clip depending on duration, translating to roughly $0.50 for a 5-second video. Compare that to Sora at $0.65 or Veo at $1.60 — if budget is your primary constraint, these two give you the most video footage per dollar. Kling covers general-purpose content while Seedance specializes in human motion.
Sora 2 Pro — Mid-Range Creative (~$0.65/clip)
Sora sits in the middle of the video cost spectrum. It costs 30% more than Kling per generation but offers longer maximum durations (12 seconds vs 10 seconds) and a distinctive creative style. The extra cost is justified when you need Sora's specific artistic interpretation or longer clip lengths that reduce the number of separate generations needed for a project.
Veo 3.1 — Premium Cinematic (~$1.60/clip)
Veo is the most expensive model at roughly 3x the cost of Kling per generation. The premium buys you 4K resolution, built-in audio generation, lip sync, and the fastest video generation speed (~90 seconds). For professional content where quality and turnaround time justify the cost, Veo offers capabilities that cheaper models simply cannot match. Use it for hero content; use Kling or Seedance for supporting footage.
Best Value Strategy
For maximum volume: Use Flux 2 Flex for images ($0.08) and Kling 3.0 Pro for video ($0.50). This combination stretches your credits the furthest while maintaining strong output quality. For premium projects: Use Flux 2 Pro for polished images and mix Veo 3.1 (hero shots) with Kling (supporting clips) for video. This tiered approach gives you cinematic quality where it matters most without spending Veo-level credits on every clip.
Quick Start — Try the Most Affordable Models
# Cheapest image — Flux 2 Flex, ~$0.08
$ agent-media generate flux2-flex -p "Vintage polaroid photo of a mountain cabin in autumn" --sync
# Cheapest video — Kling 3.0 Pro, ~$0.50
$ agent-media generate kling3 -p "Timelapse of storm clouds rolling over a wheat field" -d 5 --sync
# Check your credit balance
$ agent-media credits