HEAD TO HEAD
Veo 3.1 vs Gen-4.5: which is worth your budget?
Veo 3.1 — Google
Gen-4.5 — Runway
| Veo 3.1 | Gen-4.5 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ / second (base) | $0.40 | $0.25 |
| 10-second clip | $4.00 | $2.50 |
| 1 minute of output | $24.00 | $15.00 |
| Native audio | Yes | — |
| Max clip length | 8s | 10s |
Rates shown at each model's base tier, verified July 2026 from official vendor pricing pages and documentation. Vendors change prices without notice — see methodology.
The verdict
Both target professionals; the split is audio versus control. Veo 3.1 generates dialogue, sound effects and ambience natively at $0.40/s ($0.15 Fast). Gen-4.5 at $0.25/s is silent but leads visual benchmarks and offers far deeper creative control. Many teams draft in Veo Fast for timing with audio, then finish hero shots in Gen-4.5.
Whichever you pick, apply a retake multiplier before budgeting: the model that gets your specific shot right in fewer attempts is often the cheaper one in practice, regardless of sticker price. Full tier breakdowns: Veo 3.1 pricing and Gen-4.5 pricing.
Run your own numbers. The cost calculator applies your clip length, resolution and a realistic retake buffer across every model at once.