The arena · AI video generator review
Hailuo AI
by MiniMax
The physics champion: Hailuo 2.3 ranks #1 on WorldModelBench and undercuts everyone at roughly $0.19 per 6-second clip via API
From $15/mo
Standard listed at $14.99/month (1,000 credits) with a running $7.99 limited-time promo; Pro $27.99 (4,500), Master $63.99 (10,500), Max $199.99 (20,000 credits); API pay-as-you-go from about $0.19 per video. Verified against hailuoai.video/subscribe and 2026 MiniMax pricing guides 2026-07.
MiniMax
trial credits (about 200, 3-day expiry), watermark, non-commercial
10s (768p), 6s at 1080p
1080p (6s) or 768p (10s)
No
Yes
What is Hailuo AI?
AI video generator from Shanghai-based MiniMax, best known for simulating real-world physics: water surface tension, cloth versus silk behavior, hair inertia. The current model Hailuo 2.3 (released October 28, 2025) outputs 1080p at 6 seconds or 768p at 10 seconds, and the web app bundles third-party frontier models (Veo 3.1, Sora 2, Nano Banana Pro) inside one subscription.
Hailuo AI pros & cons
Pros
- #1 physics realism on WorldModelBench: in a 2026 stress test (glass dropped into water with moving hair and cloth) it produced consistent splash arcs and natural cloth motion with no identity drift, where Kling and Veo faltered
- Aggressive pricing: API from about $0.19 per 6s 768p video (up to $0.56 for 10s standard), and web plans from $14.99 with recurring $7.99 promos on the entry tier
- Paid plans bundle third-party frontier models (Veo 3.1, Sora 2, Nano Banana Pro) in one subscription, rare among first-party generators
- Hailuo 2.3 Fast variant cuts cost and latency further for drafts and high-volume iteration
- All paid plans include watermark-free downloads and full commercial rights, even the $14.99 Standard tier
Cons
- Weak camera movement: the physics holds until you ask for a pan or tracking shot; Kling 2.6 is clearly better at cinematic camera work per 2026 comparisons
- Short clips only: 6 seconds at 1080p, 10 seconds max at 768p, nothing longer in a single generation
- No native audio from the Hailuo models themselves; the bundled Veo 3.1 and Sora 2 cover audio but burn credits much faster
- Credits reset monthly with no rollover, and the entry price has fluctuated between $9.99 and $14.99 across 2025-2026, so check before subscribing
- Chinese vendor (MiniMax): content moderation rules and data residency may be a blocker for some brands and enterprise buyers
The arena’s verdict
Hailuo 2.3 is the value pick of the AI video vertical: best-in-class physics, full commercial rights from $14.99 (often promoted at $7.99), and third-party models like Veo 3.1 and Sora 2 bundled in the same subscription. Take it for product shots involving liquids, cloth or hair, and for API pipelines where $0.19 per clip is hard to beat. Avoid it for cinematic camera moves, where Kling 2.6 wins, and for one-pass audio, where Veo 3.1 remains the reference. The 6-second cap at 1080p also rules out longer narrative work.
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Top Hailuo AI alternatives
All alternativesKuaishou's Kling 3.0: native 4K at 60fps, lip-synced audio in 5 languages and the best human motion of 2026, from $6.60/month
Google's Veo 3.1: single-pass video with spatial 48kHz audio and 4K upscale, from $19.99/month in Flow
Compare Hailuo AI head-to-head
What the crowd says
“Physics is unreal but don't ask it for a tracking shot, the camera just refuses to move. I keep Kling around for those.”
“The $7.99 promo with Veo 3.1 and Sora 2 bundled in is absurd value. I basically cancelled two other subscriptions.”
“Dropped a perfume bottle into water for a client ad and the splash physics were right on the first try. Kling took me nine attempts for worse.”
Hailuo AI: frequently asked questions
Is Hailuo AI free?
Hailuo AI offers a free tier (trial credits (about 200, 3-day expiry), watermark, non-commercial). Paid plans start at $15/mo.
How much does Hailuo AI cost?
Hailuo AI starts at $15/mo (freemium). Standard listed at $14.99/month (1,000 credits) with a running $7.99 limited-time promo; Pro $27.99 (4,500), Master $63.99 (10,500), Max $199.99 (20,000 credits); API pay-as-you-go from about $0.19 per video. Verified against hailuoai.video/subscribe and 2026 MiniMax pricing guides 2026-07.