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Runway vs Wan 2.1

Runway and Wan 2.1 are both Video Generation tools in our directory. This side-by-side comparison covers pricing, editorial scores, supported platforms, key features and open-source status so you can decide which one fits your needs.

Side-by-side comparison

AttributeRunwayWan 2.1
Product statusStatus not recordedStatus not recorded
VendorRunwayAlibaba
Rating★ 4.6★ 4.5
PricingFreemiumFree
PlatformsWeb, APISelf-hosted, Model weights, ComfyUI
Key featuresVideo and image generation workflows, Model-dependent editing and upscale tools, Plan-dependent workspaces and credit poolsText-to-video checkpoints, Separate image and first/last-frame models, 1.3B/14B task-dependent choices
Headquarters——
Launched——
Open sourceNoYes

Key differences

  • Runway carries the higher editorial score (4.6★ vs 4.5★).
  • Runway is Freemium, while Wan 2.1 is Free.
  • Wan 2.1 is open source (its code is public), while Runway is proprietary.
  • Runway runs on Web, API; Wan 2.1 runs on Self-hosted, Model weights, ComfyUI.

Runway and Wan 2.1 at a glance

Runway

Runway

A hosted workspace for generating and editing visual media, with model-dependent tools, workspace credits and a separately billed developer API.

Rating
4.6★
Pricing
Freemium

Editorial verdict

Consider Runway after matching a specific model, plan and rights policy to the job. Validate outputs and price the API separately before adopting a production workflow.

Strengths

  • Multiple media workflows in one documented workspace
  • Published plan and API metering documentation

Key features

  • Video and image generation workflows
  • Model-dependent editing and upscale tools
  • Plan-dependent workspaces and credit pools
  • Developer API billed separately

Best for

  • Prepare reviewed visual drafts with authorized references
  • Compare model-specific creative workflows and credit costs
Read the full Runway review →

Wan 2.1

Alibaba

The downloadable Wan2.1 video-model release, with separate text, image and first/last-frame checkpoints under Apache-2.0; hardware and content rights still require review.

Rating
4.5★
Pricing
Free

Editorial verdict

Consider Wan2.1 when you can operate the exact checkpoint and review generated footage, rights and resource use.

Strengths

  • Published task-specific checkpoints
  • Self-managed video workflow options

Key features

  • Text-to-video checkpoints
  • Separate image and first/last-frame models
  • 1.3B/14B task-dependent choices
  • Optional local or API prompt expansion

Best for

  • Reviewed text/image video drafts
  • Experiments with a specifically licensed checkpoint
Read the full Wan 2.1 review →

Feature overlap

  • The two tools have no listed features in common — see both feature lists above.
  • Runway also lists: Video and image generation workflows, Model-dependent editing and upscale tools, Plan-dependent workspaces and credit pools, Developer API billed separately
  • Wan 2.1 also lists: Text-to-video checkpoints, Separate image and first/last-frame models, 1.3B/14B task-dependent choices, Optional local or API prompt expansion

Frequently asked questions

Is Runway or Wan 2.1 better?

By editorial score, Runway scores higher (4.6★ vs 4.5★). Both are capable Video Generation tools, so review the feature comparison for your use case.

Which is cheaper, Runway or Wan 2.1?

Runway is Freemium and Wan 2.1 is Free. Check each product page for current plan details.

Are Runway and Wan 2.1 open source?

Wan 2.1 is open source, while Runway is proprietary.

What platforms do Runway and Wan 2.1 support?

Runway supports Web, API; Wan 2.1 supports Self-hosted, Model weights, ComfyUI.

What are the main features of Runway and Wan 2.1?

Runway: Video and image generation workflows, Model-dependent editing and upscale tools, Plan-dependent workspaces and credit pools, Developer API billed separately. Wan 2.1: Text-to-video checkpoints, Separate image and first/last-frame models, 1.3B/14B task-dependent choices, Optional local or API prompt expansion.

Visit Runway →Visit Wan 2.1 →

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