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Wan vs Wan 2.1

Wan 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

AttributeWanWan 2.1
Product statusStatus not recordedStatus not recorded
VendorAlibabaAlibaba
Rating★ 4.5★ 4.5
PricingPay-as-you-goFree
PlatformsSelf-hosted, API, WebSelf-hosted, Model weights, ComfyUI
Key featuresPublic Wan2.2 code and weights, Checkpoint-specific text/image-to-video, Model-specific GPU requirementsText-to-video checkpoints, Separate image and first/last-frame models, 1.3B/14B task-dependent choices
Headquarters——
Launched——
Open sourceYesYes

Key differences

  • Wan and Wan 2.1 carry the same editorial score (4.5★).
  • Wan is Pay-as-you-go, while Wan 2.1 is Free.
  • Both Wan and Wan 2.1 are open source.
  • Wan runs on Self-hosted, API, Web; Wan 2.1 runs on Self-hosted, Model weights, ComfyUI.

Wan and Wan 2.1 at a glance

Wan

Alibaba

Alibaba's video model family: public Wan2.2 code/weights for self-hosting and separately billed cloud models. Capabilities, hardware, licenses and fees must be checked per release and service.

Rating
4.5★
Pricing
Pay-as-you-go

Editorial verdict

Select a specific Wan checkpoint or cloud model first, then budget hardware or usage fees and validate its outputs; the family name alone does not establish quality, licensing or cost.

Strengths

  • Public Wan2.2 code and checkpoints enable self-hosting
  • Model-specific local inference instructions
  • Separate cloud API option with documented usage billing

Key features

  • Public Wan2.2 code and weights
  • Checkpoint-specific text/image-to-video
  • Model-specific GPU requirements
  • Separately billed cloud API

Best for

  • Evaluating a versioned local video-generation pipeline
  • Comparing self-hosted and cloud deployment budgets
  • Research with a specifically licensed Wan2.2 checkpoint
Read the full Wan 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.
  • Wan also lists: Public Wan2.2 code and weights, Checkpoint-specific text/image-to-video, Model-specific GPU requirements, Separately billed cloud API
  • 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 Wan or Wan 2.1 better?

Wan and Wan 2.1 carry the same editorial score (4.5★), so the better choice depends on your needs — see the feature and platform comparison above.

Which is cheaper, Wan or Wan 2.1?

Wan is Pay-as-you-go and Wan 2.1 is Free. Check each product page for current plan details.

Are Wan and Wan 2.1 open source?

Yes — both Wan and Wan 2.1 are open source.

What platforms do Wan and Wan 2.1 support?

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

What are the main features of Wan and Wan 2.1?

Wan: Public Wan2.2 code and weights, Checkpoint-specific text/image-to-video, Model-specific GPU requirements, Separately billed cloud API. 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 Wan →Visit Wan 2.1 →

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