The 7 Best AI Video Tools for Creators and Marketers, Tried and Tested

ResidentialBusiness · 2025-02-05T08:00:00Z

I took my first foray back into AI video generators when the first version of this article came out in mid-2024.

I was pretty impressed with what was on offer at the time, but my initial assessment was that, while there were some helpful AI-driven features in the world of video, nothing could really change the game for me just yet.

As I updated this article in 2025, let me tell you — I’ve just had my socks knocked off by some absolutely incredible AI video generators and tools.

What's pretty cool, too, is that there is a huge spectrum of functionality when it comes to AI video generators, too.

The artificial intelligence tools on this list can do everything from helping you remove a couple of "ums" to complete video creation — think entire fantasy worlds from scratch.

Which is incredible because, let's be real: Creating enough video content to satisfy the TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram algorithm is not easy.

Scripting, filming, editing — video requires multiple steps. Plus, all these tasks involve very different skill sets. Just because you’re great at talking to a camera doesn’t necessarily mean you’re great at editing video, and vice versa.

But thanks to the ever-growing list of AI video tools, you might not have to.

I spent hours testing every AI video generator and tool I could get my hands on — my computer's fan is still recovering, but don't worry, I had a great a time — and I've pulled together a pretty diverse list of some of the best.

They're not ranked from best to worst — they're all really different, so direct comparison isn't really possible. Instead, I've arranged them in order of ease of use.

So, whether you're a content creator, marketer, or just someone who wants to make better videos, there's something here for you.

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To help compare the AI video generators and tools a little better — and create videos a marketer or creator would actually be able to use in their day-to-day work — I asked all the tools with AI video generation capabilities to create a video based on the same prompt: "A young woman working on her laptop in a home office."

1. Canva

Best AI video tool for generating simple AI videos without a learning curve

You already know Canva for its graphic design capabilities — but did you know it also has an AI-powered video editor?

Canva's Magic Studio offers AI-generated video editing tools, including text-to-video, auto-visual effects, and even AI avatars. If you’re already using Canva for design, it’s a smooth addition to your workflow.

In terms of text-to-video, I was really impressed with Canva's built-in AI video generator. It worked fast, and the video clips were realistic — surprisingly so when it came to human faces and hands (AI generators' usual nemeses).

Of course those AI animations on typography and other graphics are a huge timesaver, too! Fun fact: I used this feature to animate a static design for the intro to Buffer Chat: The Podcast.

Canva pricing: Free with limited features; Pro plans start at $12.99/month.

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Looking for a more straightforward video editor? Here’s our list of the best video editing tools (free and paid) of 2025 →

2. Veed

Best AI video tool for speeding up your workflow with AI features

Veed is probably the best AI video maker for generating a complete video with AI, including voiceovers, music, and the footage itself. It even boasts an AI avatar video generator.

The AI features slot into the workflow so seamlessly, too. Veed walks you through the process step-by-step rather than relying on you to add every possible detail to the prompt. This is a really nice touch, particularly for folks who don't use AI often.

For example, when I fed Veed my "woman in office prompt," it followed up by asking what style I'd like for my video ("old film," "realistic," "hand-drawn," and "Lego" were some of the options), with some helpful examples.

Beyond the text-to-image AI video generator, Veed really shines in helping you create entire videos from scratch. For example, I fed it a video script I had for a planned clip about the best time to post on TikTok. From there, I asked it to create a video with a voiceover that featured video clips of people using their phones.

The result was a really great foundation for editing. I could choose my own AI voice and easily swap out some of the stock footage and background music the AI had chosen for me.

Veed pricing: Free with limited features (videos will have a watermark, too); Pro plans start at $12.99/month.

3. Sora

Best AI video generator for creating more complex scenes

OpenAI's latest creation is taking the internet by storm, and for good reason. Forget brief clips — its AI video generator, Sora, can generate entire scenes from simple text prompts.

This is thanks to its clever ‘storyboard’ feature, where you’ll create a prompt for each frame, and Sora will keep the scene consistent and coherent (unless you ask it to shift gears.)

I used it to generate multi-part AI videos that were uncannily realistic — if you can forgive a wonky finger or two.

Sora struggles with a few things, such as the aforementioned fingers. While the AI video generator's landscapes and abstract scenes look breathtaking, human and animal movements can still look a bit weird. The women in the above videos, for example, pulled their coffee cups right out of their laptops.

But as an AI video generator for creating dreamy, atmospheric content? Sora is phenomenal.

Sora pricing: Sora is available as part of ChatGPT Plus subscription at $20/month.

4. Hailuo AI

Best AI video generator for experimenting with emerging AI video tech

While not quite at the level of Sora or Runway (below), Hailuo is a fun way to take a no-strings-attached foray into AI video creation. The AI video generator offers decent-quality output and some unique features, like subject reference (using the same character across different videos) and advanced camera movement control.

The barrier to getting up and running with Hailuo AI is really low, and you get new generation credits for free, every single day, on their free plan. I'd argue it's the best free AI video generator out right now.

If you're keen to play around here, a pro tip: explore Hailuo's mindblowing user gallery of AI-generated videos to see how others have prompted the tool for the best results.

Hailuo pricing: Generous free plan, with paid options starting at $14.99 per month

5. Descript

Best AI video tool for transcript-based editing

Descript doesn't have AI video creation features like most of the other options on this list. It’s really just a video editor — but it does that exceptionally well.

Descript is the answer to the question: "What if we could edit video like we edit text?" Instead of dragging clips around on a timeline, you edit the transcript. Cut a sentence from the text, and the corresponding video disappears.

Once you get the hang of the video editor — because it definitely comes with a learning curve — it's surprisingly intuitive and incredibly powerful.

On top of that come the nifty AI features. There’s a green screen editor, a surprisingly smooth eye contact corrector (you read that script, my friend!) and even a studio sound feature that uses “regenerative AI” to remove noises and enhance voices.

That said, the real magic happens with Descript's filler word removal. Those pesky "ums," "likes," and awkward pauses? Gone with a single click. While other tools offer similar features, Descript does it best.

One caveat: if your videos don't involve much talking, you won't get the full benefit of the tool. But for podcasters, interviewers, or anyone working with dialogue-heavy content, it's a game-changer.

Descript pricing: A free starter plan is available, with paid plans beginning at $12/month.

6. Synthesia

Best AI video generator for creating your own AI avatar

Need a talking head but don't want to be on camera? Synthesia offers over 70 AI avatars and 120 voices in its starter plan (with more than 140 avatars in higher tiers). While the avatars aren't quite ready to replace real humans in close-up shots, they're pretty effective for training videos or product tutorials.

You can even create an avatar of yourself, though it's a bit of a process — you'll need to film specific video clips and wait up to 10 days for the AI magic to happen. The voice dubbing can be hit or miss, so it's worth experimenting with different AI avatar and voice combinations to find a good match.

Synthesia pricing: Plans start at $22 per month billed annually.

7. Runway

Best AI video generator for advanced generative AI

Can you imagine it — and come up with a really thorough, detailed prompt for it? Then Runway can create it.

While Runway requires a bit more technical know-how than Sora, this AI video generator packs some seriously powerful features that can turn your wildest imaginings into reality.

The platform's Gen-3 Alpha model can generate videos from text prompts, bring still images to life, and even create lip-syncing avatars from voice recordings. There are practical features baked into this AI video creator, too: You can remove backgrounds, create super-slow motion footage, and generate subtitles with just a few clicks.

A bit of a drawback for casual users is that Runway's Gen-2 model isn't as great at creating humans (my prompt yielded some pretty creepy Tim Burton-esque figures). The Gen-2 model is the only one you'll have access to on the free plan, but you can still use the still-image-to-video feature for free (which is exceptional).

Fair warning: there's definitely a learning curve with this video generator. I spent hours exploring the web version to create videos and barely scratched the surface of what it can do. But, if you're willing to put in the time and pay for a premium plan, Runway could become your entire AI video production studio.

Runway pricing: Free plan available with 125 one-time credits. Standard plan starts at $15/month, unlocking Gen-3 Alpha, 625 monthly credits, no watermark, and higher export quality.

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Looking for more AI tools to help lighten the load? Here are 7 of the Best AI Image Generators, 28 AI Marketing Tools, and 9 of the Best AI Writing Tools.

AI video generators won’t do all the work for you — yet

Many of these AI video generators have simplified parts of my video editing workflow (and they’re incredibly fun to play around with). But, as powerful as the latest and greatest tools are, none of the options out there are going to eliminate the need for human creativity (and tenacity?) required for brainstorming, filming, and editing engaging video content.

Which, if you think about it, is pretty great. There’s really no replacement for you.

Still, they can certainly help lighten the load by simplifying some of the frustrating work that comes with video creation, freeing you up to focus on the creative process.

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The 7 Best AI Video Tools for Creators and Marketers, Tried and Tested

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