Softwr

Software · head to head

AI21 Labs vs Runway

AI21 Labs logo

AI21 Labs

Software

Enterprise language AI solutions

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Runway logo

Runway

Software

AI-powered creative tools for video and images

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AI21 Labs the free allowance is $10 of credit lasting 7 days rather than an ongoing free tier; Runway the free tier is 125 one-time credits rather than a monthly allowance, so it runs out and does not refill
  • They diverge on capability: AI21 Labs covers Jamba models, Runway covers Gen-2 video generation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AI21 Labs and Runway actually diverge.

Attributes where AI21 Labs and Runway differ
AttributeAI21 LabsRunway
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
PlatformsApi, CloudWeb
Founded20172018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AI21 Labs

  • Jamba models
  • Long context
  • RAG engine
  • Writing tools
  • REST API
  • Amazon Bedrock
  • Cloud platforms
  • Api support

Only in Runway

  • Gen-2 video generation
  • Green screen
  • Inpainting
  • Super resolution
  • Motion tracking
  • Adobe Premiere
  • Final Cut Pro
  • API access

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AI21 Labs

  • Running long-context tasks on the Jamba model familynot Runway
  • Building and optimising production AI agents with Maestronot Runway
  • Routing between models to control cost and accuracynot Runway
  • Long-horizon agentic tasks needing stateful workspacesnot Runway

Runway

  • Generating video clips from text or image promptsnot AI21 Labs
  • Extending or editing existing footage with generative modelsnot AI21 Labs
  • Removing objects and backgrounds from videonot AI21 Labs
  • Storyboarding and previsualisation for productionnot AI21 Labs

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AI21 Labs

  • The free allowance is $10 of credit lasting 7 days rather than an ongoing free tier
  • Jamba Large is $2 per million input tokens and $8 per million output, so output-heavy work costs four times as much as input
  • Volume discounts, private cloud hosting and higher rate limits require a custom plan
  • Standard rate limits are not published

Runway

  • The free tier is 125 one-time credits rather than a monthly allowance, so it runs out and does not refill
  • Outputs carry a watermark until the Standard plan at $12 a month
  • Everything is metered in credits, and Gen-4.5 video costs 60 credits per 5 seconds, so a Standard plan covers roughly 125 short videos a year
  • Only the Max plan at $76 a month rolls unused credits over, and only for one month
  • The free tier gives a selection of models rather than the full set

Pricing, plan by plan

AI21 Labs

Free
  • Free TrialFree
    • Limited usage
    • API access
  • Jamba$0.2/per-million-input-tokens
    • 256K context
    • Hybrid architecture

Runway

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 125 credits
    • Basic tools
    • 720p exports
  • Standard$12/month
    • 625 credits/month
    • Gen-2 access
    • 4K exports
  • Pro$28/month
    • 2250 credits/month
    • All tools
    • Priority processing
  • Unlimited$76/month
    • Unlimited generations
    • Custom models
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose AI21 Labs if

  • You need jamba models.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api, Cloud.
  • You also want long context.
AI21 Labs review

Choose Runway if

  • You need gen-2 video generation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want green screen.
Runway review

Questions people ask

Is AI21 Labs or Runway better?
Neither clearly leads. AI21 Labs starts at Free and Runway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AI21 Labs or Runway?
AI21 Labs starts at Free and Runway at Free.
Does AI21 Labs or Runway run on more platforms?
AI21 Labs runs on Api, Cloud. Runway runs on Web.
Can I use AI21 Labs for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AI21 Labs best used for?
AI21 Labs is most often used for running long-context tasks on the jamba model family, building and optimising production ai agents with maestro, routing between models to control cost and accuracy, long-horizon agentic tasks needing stateful workspaces. Of those, running long-context tasks on the jamba model family and building and optimising production ai agents with maestro are not what Runway is typically brought in for.
What can AI21 Labs do that Runway cannot?
AI21 Labs covers Jamba models, Long context, RAG engine, Writing tools. Runway covers Gen-2 video generation, Green screen, Inpainting, Super resolution.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on AI21 Labs

More on Runway

Keep looking

Other head to heads