Pika

Pika is an AI video generator built for short, shareable clips. You type a description or upload an image, and it creates a few seconds of video. It is known for creative effects, such as the Pikaffects that squish, melt or inflate objects, alongside standard text-to-video and image-to-video. It runs on a credit system with a free tier.

Quick facts

• Made by: Pika, an AI video company founded in 2023
• Free plan: Yes, with about 80 monthly credits, 480p output and a watermark. Some sources report a higher number, so check after signup.
• Paid plans: Four paid credit tiers, from roughly 700 to 6,000 credits a month
• Works on: Web, with an API reported for earlier models
• Pricing last checked: October 2026, using several recent published sources. Plan names and prices are listed inconsistently between sources, so confirm on Pika’s official pricing page.

What Pika is best at

• Short social clips: quick videos for Reels, Shorts and TikTok-style posts.
• Creative effects: Pikaffects and scene tools that go beyond plain realism.
• Image-to-video: animate a still picture with a few words of direction.
• Low entry price: an inexpensive first paid tier compared with some rivals.
• Fast experimentation: cheap, quick tries at standard resolutions.

Plans and pricing

Pika lists paid plans by credit allowance. Sources agree on the credit amounts and roughly on the prices, but they label the tiers differently, so the table groups them by credits.

Cost per clip depends on length, resolution and effects. One source lists a 5-second text-to-video clip at about 12 credits at 480p, 20 at 720p and 40 at 1080p, so higher-quality clips use credits quickly. Credits do not roll over, though extra purchased credits can carry over. Higher tiers do not make credits cheaper per unit. Check which tier includes commercial rights before you use clips for clients, and confirm everything on Pika’s official page.

Best for

• Social creators who want playful, effects-driven short clips.
• People testing AI video on a small budget.
• Anyone who wants to animate images quickly.

Less suited to

• Long or cinematic videos, because clips are short and credits are limited.
• Client work that needs clear commercial rights on a low tier.
• Users who need very realistic motion, where Kling AI or Runway may suit better.

How to get started

1. Sign up for the free plan and try an image-to-video clip with a short instruction.
2. Note how many credits a clip uses at the resolution you want.
3. Try one effect, such as a Pikaffect, on a simple object.
4. Check the commercial and watermark rules for your tier before publishing.
5. Upgrade only when you know how many clips a month you actually make.

Prompt ideas to copy

A golden retriever runs through shallow ocean waves at sunrise, the camera following at ground level, soft warm light, five seconds.

Animate this product photo so the bottle slowly rotates on a marble surface while soft light sweeps across it.

A paper boat floats down a rain-filled street gutter, the camera tracking alongside, shallow depth of field, gentle motion.

A cartoon cat in a tiny chef hat flips a pancake in a bright kitchen, playful animation style, looping motion.

Limitations and things to watch

• Credits do not roll over, and higher resolutions and longer clips cost more.
• Free output is low resolution, watermarked and not for commercial use.
• Plan names, prices and rights are described differently across sources.
• Results vary, so expect several tries to get a usable clip.

Alternatives

Compare Kling AI, Runway, Leonardo AI for image-to-video, and HeyGen for avatar presenter videos.