Can you really generate an AI video for free?
Yes, but with limits worth knowing before you start. Video is the most expensive content for an AI to generate: a few seconds need far more computing than an image. Free offers do exist, but they are almost always limited in number of videos, length, quality or watermark. This guide gives an honest overview of what is free, what is not, and how to spend as little as possible to get professional-quality videos.
The options to generate an AI video without paying
| Option | What is free | Limits to know |
|---|---|---|
| Free trials of video tools (Kling, Runway, Hailuo…) | A few credits or videos on sign-up, sometimes a daily quota | Short videos, frequent watermark, queues, commercial use sometimes restricted |
| Open-source models (Wan, for example) | The model itself, with no usage limit | Needs a very powerful graphics card and a technical setup |
| iafetch | 10 free credits to try images, voices, copy and prompts | Video generation is available to subscribers, from €19 a month |
Free-plan conditions change often: check them on each tool's website before starting a project.
The most economical strategy
A successful AI video is prepared upstream. The clearer your idea before generating, the less you spend on failed attempts.
- Prepare the starting image for free: with the free credits, generate the image that will be your video's first frame (character, product, setting). A clip that starts from a well-framed image succeeds much more often than one generated from text alone.
- Write the prompt with AI: the iafetch Prompts module writes a precise video prompt from your idea.
- Test with the cheapest model: Wan 2.2 Fast costs 5 credits for a short clip; validate the motion and framing first.
- Finish with the right model: Hailuo for a polished look at a low price, Kling for people, Veo for the most demanding shots.
The video models available on iafetch
| Model | Credits (short / 10 s) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Wan 2.2 Fast | 5 / 8 | Quick tests, animated storyboards |
| Hailuo 2.3 | 6 / 10 | Polished Reels and TikToks, moods |
| Seedance 2.0 Fast | 8 / 14 | Creative, stylised renders |
| Kling 2.5 Turbo | 10 / 16 | Realistic people, lifestyle, products |
| Veo 3.1 Fast | 12 / 20 | Complex scenes, hero shots |
Clips last 5 or 10 seconds (6 or 10 seconds for Hailuo). For a longer video, chain several clips in your edit.
How much does an AI video really cost?
With the Creator plan (€19 a month, 100 credits), you can for example produce about twenty Wan tests, around fifteen short Hailuo clips or about ten Kling clips. With the Pro plan (€49 a month, 300 credits), count three times as many. Credits never expire: whatever you do not use in a month stays available, and packs without a subscription cover busy months.
By comparison, a 10-second video shot by a videographer, with equipment and editing, usually costs several hundred euros.
Write a video prompt that works
The most reliable structure:
[Subject] + [Action] + [Framing] + [Style] + [Mood] + [Camera movement]Example: "An entrepreneur in a bright café types on her laptop, medium shot, premium ad style, natural golden light, slow tracking shot to the right".
Mistakes that cost credits
- A prompt that is too short: "a car driving" gives a generic result
- Several actions in one clip: keep one main movement per video
- No style specified: always say "realistic", "cinematic" or "animation"
- An over-ambitious camera move: a slow tracking shot succeeds more often than a complex move
The right settings
- Format: 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts; 16:9 for YouTube and the web; 1:1 for a feed
- Length: 5 seconds are enough for a social media shot; keep 10 seconds for shots that tell something
- Starting image: add one whenever you can, it is the best way to stay in control of the result
Add a voice-over
A video with a voice-over holds attention better. On iafetch, the Voice module generates a natural ElevenLabs voice in 29 languages, from 2 credits for a short text. Write about 15 words for 5 seconds of video, then put voice and clip together in your editor (CapCut, Premiere, DaVinci Resolve).
Action plan: your first AI videos
- Create your iafetch account: 10 free credits, no credit card
- Generate your video's starting image for free in the Images module
- Move to the Creator plan to unlock video
- Test with Wan, finish with Hailuo or Kling
- Add a voice-over and publish in 9:16
Frequently asked questions
Can AI videos be used commercially?
Yes. On iafetch, the videos you generate belong to you and can be used in your ads and for your clients, within the models' terms of use. On other tools' free plans, check the licence: commercial use is sometimes excluded.
Do iafetch videos have a watermark?
No, videos come without a watermark.
Do platforms penalise AI videos?
No, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube accept AI videos. Some platforms ask you to label realistic AI-generated content; what matters most is quality and engagement.
Read next: the video model comparison · the TikTok and Reels guide · iafetch vs Runway · pricing