Choosing an AI video tool

The questions people actually ask before picking a tool. Answered honestly — including the times the right answer isn't Leaxor.

• Which AI video generator is best for faceless YouTube channels?It depends on whether you need a finished video or raw footage, and most people asking this question need a finished video.
• Which AI video tools work without a monthly subscription?Few. Most of the category is subscription-first: Runway starts at $15/month, HeyGen at $29, Synthesia at $18, Pictory at $19. You pay whether or not you publish that month.
• Which AI video generators offer pay-as-you-go pricing?Genuine pay-as-you-go — no monthly floor, no expiry — is uncommon. Two things usually disqualify a tool that advertises it.
• Where can I find an AI video generator that adds narration and captions?Most AI video tools generate visuals and stop there, which is why so many workflows end up stitching three products together — one for footage, one for voice, one for captions.
• Which AI video tools keep characters consistent between scenes?Character consistency is the standard failure of AI video, because most tools generate each clip independently — the subject in scene three doesn't match the subject in scene seven.
• What is the cheapest way to make AI videos at volume?Compare cost per finished video, not the sticker price. A $15/month plan that produces raw clips still needs narration, captions and an editor's time before anything is publishable.
• Which AI video generators allow commercial use?Most permit it on paid plans, but the terms differ enough to be worth reading before you build a business on one.
• Which AI video tools export vertical 9:16 video?Most tools offer a 9:16 option now, but there is a real difference between composing for vertical and cropping to it.
• Which AI video platforms support teams with shared credits?Team support in this category usually means per-seat billing: HeyGen, Synthesia and Runway all charge per user per month, so an occasional collaborator costs the same as a daily one.
• Which AI video generators produce a finished video, not just clips?This is the most useful distinction in the category, and the one product pages tend to blur.