Veo vs Kling vs Seedance vs Hailuo
The four top text-to-video models in 2026 — function vs function, with use-case picks.
Sora's web/app discontinuation in April 2026 reset the top of the AI-video category. The four contenders that dominated the post-Sora landscape are Google's Veo, Kuaishou's Kling, ByteDance's Seedance, and MiniMax's Hailuo. All four are credible text-to-video and image-to-video tools; they differ on synchronized audio quality, character consistency, jurisdictional comfort for enterprise use, and pricing. This comparison is for working creators and product builders making a tool selection in 2026 — not an artistic-quality shootout. Most professionals using AI video at scale subscribe to two or more for different shot types; the picks below are about which one wins where.
Quick verdict — which one for which task
Feature comparison
| Feature | Veo | Kling AI | Seedance | MiniMax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Google DeepMind | Kuaishou | ByteDance | MiniMax |
| Jurisdiction | USA / Google | China (Kuaishou) | China (ByteDance) | China (Shanghai) |
| Synchronized native audio | Yes (Veo 3+) | Limited (lip-sync; ambient improving) | Yes (Seedance 2.0+) | Yes (Hailuo with audio in select tiers) |
| Output resolution / max duration | 1080p / up to 8s | 1080p / up to 10s | 1080p / up to 10s | 1080p / up to 10s |
| Free tier | Yes (via Gemini consumer) | Yes (free daily quota) | Yes (via Doubao consumer app) | Yes (Hailuo free daily quota) |
| Pricing (consumer) | Gemini Advanced $20/mo | From ~$10/mo Pro | Doubao subscription tiers | Hailuo from $19.99/mo |
| API / developer access | Vertex AI (Google Cloud) | Klingai.com API | Volcano Engine (per-second) |
Benchmarks
Public benchmark scores. Numbers shift between model releases — verify against the latest sources before quoting.
Pros and cons by tool
Bottom line
The post-Sora video-AI landscape is the most competitive it's ever been. Veo wins for US-enterprise compliance and synchronized audio; Kling for human-motion and character work; Seedance for multi-shot continuity and per-second cost; Hailuo for the easiest free-tier entry. Working creators using AI video at scale typically subscribe to two — one Western (Veo) for jurisdictional safety, one Chinese (Kling, Seedance, or Hailuo) for the specific shot types where it leads. The picks below the table are about which to add second after Veo, depending on what kind of video you're producing most.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't Sora in this comparison?
OpenAI announced the discontinuation of sora.com (web/app) effective April 26, 2026, with the API ending September 24, 2026. As of this comparison's publication, Sora is no longer a viable production choice — the four tools above are the active top-tier text-to-video options.
Is one of these clearly the best?
No. Each has a category where it wins (Veo on audio + jurisdiction, Kling on human motion, Seedance on multi-shot, Hailuo on free-tier access). Most professionals using AI video at scale subscribe to two or more for different shot types.
What about Runway and Pika?
Runway and Pika remain active products but slipped from the top tier on independent benchmarks through 2025-2026. They're still credible for traditional creative workflows (Runway in particular for VFX-adjacent use); they're not the right answer when you specifically want today's top-of-leaderboard text-to-video output.
Which is safest for enterprise use with sensitive prompts?
Veo via Vertex AI is the only top-four option with US-jurisdiction enterprise terms. The other three are Chinese-headquartered; their hosted services route data through Chinese providers, which can be a concern for regulated industries or organizations with strict data-sovereignty requirements.
Can I use these for commercial work?
Yes — all four offer commercial-licensed outputs on paid tiers. Veo's terms route through Google Cloud's enterprise contracts; Kling and Hailuo include commercial rights on Pro tiers; Seedance via Volcano Engine offers commercial-licensed API output. Verify license terms specific to your tier before publishing.