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Video Production · head to head

Cavalry vs Runway

Cavalry logo

Cavalry

Video Production

Real-time 2D animation and motion graphics software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Runway logo

Runway

Social Media

AI-powered creative tools for video and images

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cavalry requires Canva account for access; Runway the free tier is 125 one-time credits rather than a monthly allowance, so it runs out and does not refill

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cavalry and Runway actually diverge.

Attributes where Cavalry and Runway differ
AttributeCavalryRunway
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
CategoryVideo ProductionSocial Media
FoundedUnknown2018

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

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 Cavalry

Nothing recorded that Runway does not also cover.

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.

Cavalry

  • Professional 2D animation and motion graphicsnot Runway
  • Data-driven animation from spreadsheetsnot Runway
  • Procedural rigging and character animationnot Runway
  • Web animation export with Lottie formatnot Runway
  • Educational animation projectsnot Runway

Runway

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

Where each one falls short

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

Cavalry

  • Requires Canva account for access
  • Enterprise pricing requires sales contact
  • Legacy Scene Group licenses not eligible for free tier
  • Updates only available through Canva version

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

Cavalry

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Fully featured 2D animation software
    • No restrictions for individuals
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Available through Canva Enterprise
    • Available through Canva Education
    • SSO access

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 Cavalry if

  • You want to start without paying.
Cavalry 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 Cavalry or Runway better?
Neither clearly leads. Cavalry 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, Cavalry or Runway?
Cavalry starts at Free and Runway at Free.
Does Cavalry or Runway run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Cavalry for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Cavalry best used for?
Cavalry is most often used for professional 2d animation and motion graphics, data-driven animation from spreadsheets, procedural rigging and character animation, web animation export with lottie format. Of those, professional 2d animation and motion graphics and data-driven animation from spreadsheets are not what Runway is typically brought in for.
What can Cavalry do that Runway cannot?
Runway covers Gen-2 video generation, Green screen, Inpainting, Super resolution.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cavalry: Is Cavalry free to use?

Yes, Cavalry is completely free to download and use with full professional features. No restrictions, payment, or registration fees required.

Source
Runway: How much does Runway cost?

Runway publishes four tiers on annual billing: Standard at $12 per month, Pro at $28 and Max at $76, against monthly rates of $15, $35 and $95. Enterprise is quoted. Annual billing is advertised as 20% off.

Source
Cavalry: Do I need a Canva account to use Cavalry?

Yes, users must have a Canva account to access Cavalry, which provides access to the software and other Canva products.

Source
Runway: Does Runway have a free plan?

Yes. The free plan costs nothing and includes 125 one time credits to explore the AI tools, plus 5GB of asset storage. The credits are one time rather than monthly.

Source
Cavalry: What licensing options does Cavalry offer for organizations?

Enterprise and Educational accounts are available through Canva Enterprise or Canva Education with SSO authentication. Interested parties should contact the sales team for details.

Source
Runway: How many credits does each Runway plan include?

Standard includes 625 credits a month, Pro includes 2,250 and Max includes 9,500. Only Max offers credit rollover, and it rolls over for one month.

Source
Runway: When do I need Runway Pro rather than Standard?

Pro adds custom voices for lip sync, raises storage to 500GB and gives access to the best models, on top of Standard's AI image and video models, 4K upscaling and watermark free output.

Source
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