Hailuo vs Kling (2026): Which AI Video Generator Wins?

Short answer: Kling wins on price and creative control, starting at $6.99 for the first month (then $8.80/month for 660 credits) with a model built for multi-shot, storyboard-driven clips. Hailuo wins for fast image-to-video work, starting at $10.50/month for the Standard plan (1,000 credits, 30% off a $14.99 list price) with 2K output priced from $0.081 per second. Both sell credits rather than unlimited generation, so the right pick depends on how many clips you need each month, not just the sticker price.

Hailuo vs Kling at a glance

Prices are billed monthly, checked live on each vendor's pricing page on September 24, 2026. Annual billing is cheaper on both and is covered below.

What Hailuo and Kling both do

Neither tool asks you to write a screenplay. You type a prompt or drop in a reference image, pick a duration and resolution, and the model returns a short clip a few minutes later. Both burn a credit allowance rather than metering by the minute, both offer image-to-video alongside text-to-video, and both are aimed at the same buyer: a solo creator or small marketing team producing social clips and product demos without hiring a video editor. If your only question is "can I get a usable 5-second clip for under $10 a month," either one clears that bar.

Where they split is what that clip is for. Kling is built around longer, more directed sequences: its own homepage describes "precise long-form storyboard control" and "complex multi-scene transitions" on the Kling 3.0 model, with native audio generated alongside the picture rather than bolted on after. Hailuo leans into speed and image animation: feed it a still photo and its H3 model turns it into motion, with audio handled by a separate MiniMax product rather than the video model itself. That difference decides more of this comparison than the raw prices do.

Dupple data: Toolradar, our software directory, tracks 15 AI video generation tools as of September 2026. Neither Hailuo nor Kling carries a meaningful aggregated review score there yet: Toolradar's own Kling profile shows just 3 G2 reviews at 4.7/5, and that thin sample is typical of prompt-to-footage tools bought by individuals on a personal card rather than through a purchasing process a review site can track.

Pricing compared, plan by plan

Kling AI (kling.ai, monthly billing, checked September 24, 2026)

Every Kling consumer tier carries a first-month discount (29 to 30% off) that reverts to the higher recurring price the next billing cycle. Yearly billing runs about 25% cheaper per month than paying monthly (e.g. Standard is $79.20/year, or $6.60/month, versus $8.80/month recurring), per the toggle on Kling's own membership page.

Hailuo (hailuoai.video/pricing, monthly billing, checked September 24, 2026)

Every paid Hailuo tier except Max carries a standing discount off a higher list price, shown on the same plan cards. Both vendors now publish a credit allowance for their cheapest paid tier, so you can compare cost per clip at entry level on either platform.

The two credit systems are not directly comparable. Kling's "$1.06 per 100 credits" and Hailuo's roughly $0.84 per 100 credits (Pro plan, $38 for 4,500 credits) look close on paper, but each platform burns credits at its own rate per second of footage and per resolution, so a credit on one tells you nothing about a credit on the other. Compare finished clips, not raw credit prices.

Round by round

Entry price: Kling wins. Kling's first-month rate and its recurring Standard price both undercut Hailuo's flat entry rate (see the pricing tables above). If you only want to test the model before committing, Kling is the cheaper door in.

Mid-tier credit value: close, edge to Hailuo. At Pro level, Hailuo's roughly $0.84 per 100 credits is slightly ahead of Kling's published $0.87. The gap is small enough that your actual cost per finished clip, not the credit rate, should decide this one.

Native audio and storyboard control: Kling wins. Kling 3.0 generates audio as part of the same model call and is built for multi-scene sequences. Hailuo's video model does not include audio generation; MiniMax sells that as a separate product.

Speed and image-to-video: Hailuo wins. Hailuo's H3 model publishes 2K output from $0.081 per second and is positioned around fast image animation, feeding it a still and getting motion back, which is the workflow it is built for rather than an afterthought.

Free access: tie. Hailuo gives new accounts one-time free trial credits. Kling gives every account 66 free credits a day that reset every 24 hours with no rollover. Hailuo's is bigger up front; Kling's is smaller but renews, which suits repeated testing over a week rather than a single session.

Top-tier price for heavy users: Kling wins. Kling's Ultra recurring rate for 26,000 credits (see the table above) comes in below Hailuo's Max at $216/month for a comparable 27,000 credits, making Kling the cheaper option once you are generating in volume.

Where Hailuo stands out

• 2K output priced by the second. The H3 model lists 2K generation from $0.081/sec, giving you a clear per-clip cost before you generate instead of guessing at credit math.
• Built for image-to-video. Turning a still photo into motion is the workflow the product is designed around, not a secondary mode.
• A simple, flat entry price. Hailuo's Standard rate (see the pricing table above) carries no first-month asterisk, which is easier to budget than a promo rate that jumps after 30 days.

The catch: Standard's $10.50/month is already a standing 30% discount off Hailuo's $14.99 list price, not a promotional teaser rate that could later disappear. Audio is a separate MiniMax product, not part of the video model, which adds a step if you want sound baked into the clip itself.

Where Kling stands out

• The cheapest way in. Kling's first-month Standard rate is the lowest entry price of the two, and its recurring rate still undercuts Hailuo's flat Standard price.
• Native audio and multi-scene sequences. Kling 3.0 is built for longer, directed clips with sound generated alongside the picture, which is a heavier creative lift than a single animated still.
• A daily free allowance. 66 free credits every 24 hours (per Toolradar's Kling profile) means you can keep testing the model over several days instead of spending a one-time grant in one sitting.

The catch: every Kling consumer tier's headline price is a first-month promotion. Budget for the recurring rate in the pricing table above, not the number on the sign-up screen, or your second invoice will surprise you.

Who should pick which

• Testing the category for under $10 with no plan on renewing → Kling. Its first-month Standard rate is the cheapest way to see what either model can do.
• Animating existing photos or product stills → Hailuo. Image-to-video is its core workflow, not an add-on.
• Multi-shot sequences with audio baked in → Kling. Its 3.0 model is built around storyboard control and native sound.
• Heaviest use, lowest monthly recurring cost → Kling. Ultra's recurring rate beats Hailuo Max's $216 for a similar credit allowance.
• A flat rate with no first-month discount to forget about → Hailuo. Standard renews at the same rate every month, no promotional asterisk.

If you are weighing AI video tools more broadly, our guide to the best AI video generators covers Veo, Runway and seven other tools alongside Hailuo and Kling, and our free AI video generator roundup breaks down what each vendor's free tier actually produces before you pay. Toolradar's own profiles for Hailuo AI and Kling AI carry the fuller feature and pricing breakdown behind the numbers above.

Methodology

Every price above was read from each vendor's own pricing page on September 24, 2026: Hailuo's pricing and Kling's membership page. Review and free-tier figures for Kling come from Toolradar's own tool profile; Hailuo's rating comes from Dupple's own Hailuo AI review. No paid placement: this comparison ranks on published pricing and features only, and neither vendor is a Dupple advertiser. We recheck vendor pricing pages before republishing; the "checked" date above is the one to trust over any number you see elsewhere.

Cite this: Dupple, "Hailuo vs Kling (2026): Which AI Video Generator Wins?", Sep 2026.

FAQ: Hailuo vs Kling

Is Hailuo or Kling cheaper?

Kling is cheaper to start: $6.99 for the first month versus Hailuo's flat $10.50/month. Kling's price then rises to $8.80/month recurring, which is still below Hailuo's entry rate. At the top tier, Kling's Ultra ($159.99/month recurring) also beats Hailuo's Max ($216/month) for a similar credit allowance.

Does Kling or Hailuo have a free plan?

Both offer free access rather than a full free plan. Kling gives every account 66 free credits a day that reset every 24 hours with no rollover, so you can keep testing across several sessions. Hailuo gives new accounts one-time free trial credits that do not renew.

Which is faster, Hailuo or Kling?

Hailuo's H3 model is built specifically for fast image-to-video work, feeding it a still image and getting motion back, which is its core use case rather than a secondary feature. Neither vendor publishes a generation-time benchmark on its pricing page, so treat "faster" as workflow fit (stills in, motion out) rather than a verified speed number.

Does Kling have native audio?

Yes. Kling 3.0 generates audio as part of the same model call, alongside multi-scene storyboard control, per Kling's own product page. Hailuo's video model does not include audio generation; MiniMax sells audio as a separate product from the video tool.

What companies make Hailuo and Kling?

Hailuo is made by MiniMax. Kling is made by Kuaishou, the short-video platform. Both are Chinese AI labs that ship consumer-facing video generation products alongside API access for developers.

Which is better for beginners, Hailuo or Kling?

For a quick, low-cost first test, Kling's discounted first month and daily-refilling free credits make it easier to keep experimenting without committing to a full-price plan right away. If your first project is animating a photo rather than building a multi-shot scene, Hailuo's flat monthly rate and image-to-video focus is the simpler starting point.

Related guides

• The Best AI Video Generators in 2026 (Tested and Ranked)
• Best Free AI Video Generators in 2026
• The 8 Best AI Video Editors in 2026 (Tested and Ranked)
• Dupple X tracks new AI tool launches, including video model updates, every week.
• Browse the best content creation tools

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