Software · head to head
Runway vs DALL-E
The short version
- Only Runway has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Runway the free tier is 125 one-time credits rather than a monthly allowance, so it runs out and does not refill; DALL-E dALL-E 3 API pricing as captured 6 January 2024 ranged from $0.040 per Standard 1024x1024 image up to $0.120 per HD widescreen image; DALL-E 2 was cheaper at $0.016 to $0.020 per image depending on resolution
- They diverge on capability: Runway covers Gen-2 video generation, DALL-E covers Text-to-image.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Runway and DALL-E actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 Runway
- Gen-2 video generation
- Green screen
- Inpainting
- Super resolution
- Motion tracking
- Adobe Premiere
- Final Cut Pro
- API access
Only in DALL-E
- Text-to-image
- Prompt refinement
- Multiple aspect ratios
- HD quality
- OpenAI API
- ChatGPT integration
- Api support
- Chatgpt support
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Runway
- Generating video clips from text or image promptsnot DALL-E
- Extending or editing existing footage with generative modelsnot DALL-E
- Removing objects and backgrounds from videonot DALL-E
- Storyboarding and previsualisation for productionnot DALL-E
DALL-E
- ai tools managementnot Runway
- Workflow automationnot Runway
- Reportingnot Runway
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
DALL-E
- DALL-E 3 API pricing as captured 6 January 2024 ranged from $0.040 per Standard 1024x1024 image up to $0.120 per HD widescreen image; DALL-E 2 was cheaper at $0.016 to $0.020 per image depending on resolution
Pricing, plan by plan
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
DALL-E
$0.04/per-image- Standard$0.04/per-image
- 1024x1024 resolution
- HD$0.08/per-image
- HD quality
- 1792x1024 resolution
Which should you pick?
Choose Runway if
- You need gen-2 video generation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want green screen.
Choose DALL-E if
- You need text-to-image.
- You work on Web, Api, Chatgpt.
- You also want prompt refinement.
Questions people ask
- Is Runway or DALL-E better?
- Neither clearly leads. Runway starts at Free and DALL-E at $0.04/per-image, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Runway or DALL-E?
- Runway has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Runway and $0.04/per-image for DALL-E.
- Does Runway or DALL-E run on more platforms?
- Runway runs on Web. DALL-E runs on Web, Api, Chatgpt.
- Can I use Runway for free?
- Yes. Runway has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DALL-E starts at $0.04/per-image.
- What is Runway best used for?
- Runway is most often used for generating video clips from text or image prompts, extending or editing existing footage with generative models, removing objects and backgrounds from video, storyboarding and previsualisation for production. Of those, generating video clips from text or image prompts and extending or editing existing footage with generative models are not what DALL-E is typically brought in for.
- What can Runway do that DALL-E cannot?
- Runway covers Gen-2 video generation, Green screen, Inpainting, Super resolution. DALL-E covers Text-to-image, Prompt refinement, Multiple aspect ratios, HD quality. Both handle Web support.