We ran the same prompt through four top AI video models. Here's the honest breakdown.
Last updated: February 2026
AI video generation has exploded. Google's Veo, Alibaba's Wan, MiniMax's Hailuo, and Kuaishou's Kling are all producing cinema-quality results — but which one should you actually use?
We tested all four with the same prompts. Here's what we found.
See Them Side-by-Side
Same prompt, four different models. Watch the results:
The Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Quality | Veo 3.1 | Cinematic polish, native audio |
| Best Value | Kling 2.6 | Free tier + lowest paid pricing |
| Best for Long Videos | Kling 2.6 | Up to 3 minutes |
| Best Audio Integration | Veo 3.1 | Native dialogue + SFX + music |
| Best Physics | Hailuo 2.3 | Most realistic motion |
| Best Character Consistency | Kling 2.6 | 4-reference Elements feature |
| Try All Four | Cosmos | One platform, all models |
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Veo 3.1 | Wan 2.5 | Hailuo 2.3 | Kling 2.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Max Duration | 8 sec | 5 sec | 6 sec | 3 min |
| Native Audio | ✅ Full | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Free Tier | ❌ No | ✅ Limited | ✅ Yes | ✅ 66 credits/day |
| Starting Price | $20/mo | ~$10/mo | ~$10/mo | $6.60/mo |
| Global Access | ⚠️ 71+ countries | ✅ Global | ✅ Global | ✅ Global |
Google Veo 3.1: The Quality King
Veo 3.1 is Google DeepMind's latest, and it shows. The cinematic quality is unmatched — it understands film terminology, camera movements, and lighting like no other model.
What Veo Does Best
- Native audio generation — dialogue, SFX, ambient sound, music
- Cinematic camera work — ask for "tracking shot" and you get it
- Best-in-class visual quality — highest benchmark scores
- Strong prompt adherence — it does what you ask
The Catch
- No free tier — requires Gemini subscription ($20/mo) or API pay-per-use
- 8 second max — shortest of the four
- Regional confusion — some countries get Veo 2 labeled as Veo 3
- Expensive at scale — Ultra tier is $250/mo
Best For
Professional creators who need the absolute best quality and have budget for it. Commercials, film, high-end content.
Alibaba Wan 2.5: The Dark Horse
Wan flies under the radar in Western markets, but Alibaba has quietly built one of the most capable video models. The 2.5 update brought native audio and significantly improved physics.
What Wan Does Best
- Excellent value — ~$0.25 per generation
- Strong physics — realistic motion and interactions
- Fast generation — typically under 2 minutes
- Good character consistency — faces stay stable
The Catch
- 5 second limit — shortest max duration
- Less documentation — fewer tutorials available
- Interface learning curve — not as polished as competitors
Best For
Budget-conscious creators who want quality without premium pricing. Great for high-volume content.
MiniMax Hailuo 2.3: The Physics Champion
Hailuo (by MiniMax) earned its reputation with the famous "eating noodles" demo — realistic physics that other models couldn't match. Version 2.3 refines this strength.
What Hailuo Does Best
- Best physics simulation — objects behave realistically
- Expressive motion — natural character movement
- Native audio — added in recent updates
- Generous free tier — enough to test extensively
The Catch
- 6 second max — still relatively short
- Less name recognition — smaller community
- Occasional inconsistency — quality can vary
Best For
Content that requires realistic physics — food, products, physical interactions. Also great for testing ideas on the free tier.
Kuaishou Kling 2.6: The Value Champion
Kling consistently offers the best bang for your buck. While others limit you to 5-8 seconds, Kling generates up to 3 minutes. The free tier is genuinely usable.
What Kling Does Best
- Longest videos — up to 3 minutes via extension
- Best free tier — 66 credits daily, enough for real work
- Character consistency — Elements feature with 4 reference images
- Motion Control — apply reference video motion to any character
- Lowest pricing — Pro starts at $6.60/mo
The Catch
- Slower generation — can take longer than competitors
- English prompts — understanding isn't always perfect
- Credits expire — monthly credits don't roll over
Best For
Everyone, honestly. The free tier lets you test extensively, the pricing is unbeatable, and the 3-minute duration unlocks use cases others can't touch.
The Physics Test
We tested all four models with challenging physics prompts — pouring liquid, bouncing balls, fabric movement.
Results:
- Hailuo — Best overall physics, most realistic
- Wan — Strong second place
- Veo — Good but not exceptional
- Kling — Acceptable, improving with updates
None of them are perfect. If your project requires precise physics simulation, expect to cherry-pick from multiple generations.
When to Use Each
| Use Case | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial/film work | Veo 3.1 | Highest quality, native audio |
| High-volume content | Wan 2.5 | Best price-to-quality ratio |
| Product demos | Hailuo 2.3 | Superior physics |
| Long-form content | Kling 2.6 | 3 minute generation |
| Testing ideas | Kling 2.6 | Best free tier |
| Character series | Kling 2.6 | 4-ref Elements feature |
| Budget production | Kling 2.6 | $6.60/mo for Pro |
The Real Answer: Use All of Them
Here's the truth — different models excel at different things. The winning strategy is testing your specific prompt across multiple models.
That's exactly what Cosmos lets you do.
One platform, all models:
- Access Veo 3.1, Wan 2.5, Hailuo 2.3, Kling 2.6, and more
- Compare results side-by-side
- Single billing — no juggling subscriptions
- Pay for what you use
The math: Subscribing to all four separately = $50+/month. Cosmos Creator plan = $29/month for access to everything.
The Bottom Line
There's no single "best" AI video generator:
- Veo 3.1 — Best quality, best audio, highest price
- Wan 2.5 — Best value for volume work
- Hailuo 2.3 — Best physics simulation
- Kling 2.6 — Best overall value, longest duration, best free tier
The smart play is to stop comparing specs and start comparing actual results with your actual prompts.
Last updated: February 2026
Pricing and features verified as of publication. AI video capabilities change rapidly.