How to Use Runway AI 2026: Video Generation & Editing Guide

Updated June 2026 · 8 min read

Runway is the leading professional AI video tool — combining text-to-video, video editing, and creative AI features in one platform. This guide covers the key features from setup to first video.

💰 Pricing

Free plan: 125 credits/month (~25 short clips). Standard plan: $12/month. Pro: $28/month for heavy use.

🚀 How to Get Started

Create an account

Go to runwayml.com and sign up. The free tier gives 125 credits — enough to experiment thoroughly.

Try Gen-3 Alpha text-to-video

Click 'Gen-3 Alpha' from the dashboard. Type a description of the scene you want to generate. Be specific: camera movement, lighting, subject, environment. Click Generate.

Use image-to-video

Upload a still image and Gen-3 animates it. Great for bringing product photos, illustrations, or portraits to life with subtle motion.

Try video editing features

Upload your own video footage and use Runway's editing tools: Remove Background, Erase & Replace (remove objects), Motion Tracking, and Slow Motion.

Export your video

When done, click Export. Choose resolution and format. Free plan exports with a Runway watermark; paid plans remove it.

💡 Pro Tips

Write detailed camera instructions Include camera movement in your prompt: 'slow dolly forward', 'bird's eye view descending', 'handheld shaking'. Camera direction dramatically improves cinematic quality.

Use reference images Upload a reference image alongside your text prompt to guide the visual style of your generated video.

Combine clips for longer videos Gen-3 generates 4-10 second clips. Generate multiple clips and combine them in Runway's editor or your video editor of choice.

❓ FAQ

Is Runway free?

125 free credits/month — enough to generate ~25 short clips. Paid plans start at $12/month.

Is Runway better than Sora?

Runway has more editing features and is more accessible. Sora (via ChatGPT) produces higher raw quality for text-to-video. Both are worth testing. See our video tools comparison.

What's the best use case for Runway?

B-roll generation for YouTube and social media. Short cinematic clips from text prompts replace stock footage for most content creator needs.

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