Budgeting
How to estimate AI video budgets
Start with your real clip length, then multiply by the number of outputs you expect each week or month. The calculator is most useful early in vendor selection because it shows how quickly a small difference in price per second turns into a meaningful monthly delta once you scale to production volume.
Limits
What the calculator does not capture on its own
A cheap model is not always the lowest-cost workflow. You may need more retries, more post-production, or extra audio work if the model is weak on motion control, lip sync, or output consistency. Use the calculator as the first pass, then read the recommendation and review pages before you decide what to deploy.
Decision
Use the estimate to build a shortlist
Once the calculator shows the budget range, narrow the field to the two or three models that fit your use case. Then validate them on duration, resolution, provider coverage, and content type. That sequence keeps you from optimizing for raw price when the actual constraint is turnaround time or output format.