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Runway vs Leonardo.Ai for Agencies (2026): Which Is Better?
By Red Kite Search Agency Created Updated 7 min read
Summary
Choose Runway for video generation. Choose Leonardo.Ai for images and per-seat team plans. Prices and ratings were checked in October 2026.
Runway vs Leonardo.Ai: which is better for agencies in 2026?
Runway and Leonardo.Ai are both creative AI platforms. Runway is known for video generation. Leonardo.Ai adds many image models and per-seat Team plans.
We compared price, team options and evidence.
| Tool | Editorial score | Review-site ratings | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runway | 4.3 / 5 | No review-site rating found | Free $0 with 125 one-time credits. Standard $15 a month, or $12 billed yearly, for 625 credits and 3 projects. Pro $35 monthly or $28 yearly for 2,250 credits and 5 projects. Max $95 monthly or $76 yearly for 9,500 credits and 10 projects. | Freelancers to creative studios |
| Leonardo.Ai | 4.3 / 5 | G2 4.5 | Solo plans, monthly billing: Free $0 with 150 fast tokens a day, Essential $12, Premium $30 and Ultimate $60 a month. Team plans per seat: Starter $72 a month (3 seats, $24 each) and Growth $144 (3 seats, $48 each). A pay-as-you-go API and custom Enterprise plans exist. A yearly toggle advertises up to 20% off. | Freelancers to creative teams |
How do Runway and Leonardo.Ai compare on price?
Runway costs $12, $28 or $76 a month billed yearly. Leonardo costs $12, $30 or $60 a month, with Team plans from $72.
| Tool | Plan | Price | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runway | Free | $0 per month (monthly billing) | 125 one-time credits |
| Runway | Standard | $12 per month (annual billing); $15 monthly | 625 credits a month, no watermark, 3 projects |
| Runway | Pro | $28 per month (annual billing); $35 monthly | 2,250 credits a month, 5 projects |
| Runway | Max | $76 per month (annual billing); $95 monthly | 9,500 credits a month, 10 projects |
| Leonardo.Ai | Free | $0 per month (monthly billing) | 150 fast tokens a day, public creations |
| Leonardo.Ai | Essential | $12 per month (monthly billing) | 8,500 tokens a month, private generations |
| Leonardo.Ai | Premium | $30 per month (monthly billing) | 25,000 tokens a month, private, unlimited relaxed images |
| Leonardo.Ai | Ultimate | $60 per month (monthly billing) | 60,000 tokens a month, private, relaxed images and video |
| Leonardo.Ai | Team Starter | $72 per month (monthly billing) | 3 seats at $24 each, 75,000 shared tokens, private team generations |
| Leonardo.Ai | Team Growth | $144 per month (monthly billing) | 3 seats at $48 each, 180,000 shared tokens, private team generations |
| Leonardo.Ai | Enterprise | Custom | Model access to 80+ models, tailored to your business |
Which costs less?
Leonardo Essential costs about the same as Runway Standard annual. Credits and tokens are not directly comparable, so test the same brief on both.
Compare cost per finished asset.
Run a short side-by-side test before you decide. Give both tools the same real brief, time how long each takes, count the credits used, and ask a colleague who did not set them up to judge the result. The result is usually clearer than any feature table.
Also check how each vendor handles renewal. Yearly plans are often billed in advance, price rises are common at renewal, and cancelling late can lock you into another term. Put the renewal date in the team calendar the day you buy.
Which is better for agencies?
Leonardo has per-seat Team plans with private team generations. Runway listed no team seats, and caps projects at 3, 5 and 10.
Runway is stronger for video clips.
Ask for a written statement of plan limits when you buy, because caps on credits, minutes and seats change from time to time, and a record of what you were promised is useful if a limit moves.
Remember that you can start small. Most vendors offer a free tier or trial, so begin with the cheapest plan that covers your real work, and upgrade only when a specific limit blocks you.
A useful habit is to record each trial in one short note: the brief used, credits spent, and the main frustration. Comparing two notes is far easier than comparing two memories.
Which has stronger evidence?
Leonardo shows 4.5 on G2 from 33 reviews. Runway lists 106 reviews without a score in the snippet we read.
Runway states SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, and Leonardo states SOC 2 Type I and II.
Finally, think about rights and exit costs. Read the commercial-use terms, check how you can export your work, and keep notes on how your setup is built, so a later switch does not mean starting from scratch.
Keep the client in the loop. Tell them when AI was used, agree what they are comfortable with, and keep the approvals in writing.
How do Runway and Leonardo.Ai compare on integrations, security, and support?
Beyond price, agencies ask about connections to their other tools, what to tell clients about security, and how quickly they can get help. This is what each vendor states publicly, as checked in October 2026.
| Area | Runway | Leonardo.Ai |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | Integrations were not stated on the pricing page | A pay-as-you-go API with remove.bg background removal, and a custom API plan |
| Security | The vendor states SOC 2 Type II compliance and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, publishes a DPA, and offers a Trust Center; GDPR, SSO and 2FA were not read | The vendor states SOC 2 Type I and Type II accreditation, and Leonardo for Teams SOC 2 Type II compliance; GDPR, SSO and 2FA were not read |
| Support | A help center; other support channels were not stated | Dedicated support for production API deployments; other support channels were not stated |
| Apps | A mobile app was not stated | Apps for desktop and mobile platforms are shown on the pricing page |
What are the pros and cons of Runway and Leonardo.Ai?
Here is where each tool helps agencies and where it can get in the way, based on plan details and public feedback.
Runway pros
- Standard costs $15 a month, or $12 billed yearly, for 625 credits with no watermark.
- Max costs $76 a month billed yearly for 9,500 credits and 10 projects.
- The vendor states SOC 2 Type II compliance and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification.
- A Free plan gives 125 one-time credits to test.
Runway cons
- No team or seat features were listed on the pricing page.
- Projects are capped at 3 on Standard, 5 on Pro and 10 on Max.
- Free credits are one-time, not monthly.
- Commercial-use terms and a mobile app were not stated on the pricing page.
Leonardo.Ai pros
- Premium costs $30 a month for 25,000 tokens and private generations.
- Team plans start at $72 a month for 3 seats at $24 a seat with 75,000 shared tokens.
- Paid subscribers get full ownership of generated work, according to the pricing page.
- The vendor states SOC 2 Type I and Type II accreditation.
Leonardo.Ai cons
- Free creations are public and use a non-exclusive licence, not full ownership.
- Yearly discounts of up to 20% were not captured.
- The Team price period was read from a page with the monthly toggle selected, so confirm it at checkout.
- G2 shows only 33 reviews, and a mobile app was not stated.
What do reviewers say about Runway and Leonardo.Ai?
G2 shows Leonardo.Ai at 4.5 from 33 reviews. Runway lists 106 reviews with no overall score in the snippet we read.
| Tool | Source | Rating | Number of reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo.Ai | G2 | 4.5 / 5 | 33 |
Reviewer themes for Runway
- G2 lists 106 reviews for Runway; the snippet we read showed no overall score.
- A G2 reviewer calls it fast, easy and creative for AI video.
Reviewer themes for Leonardo.Ai
- G2 shows Leonardo.Ai at 4.5 from 33 reviews.
- G2 lists Simplified, Adobe Firefly and Recraft as top-rated alternatives.
How does setup differ between Runway and Leonardo.Ai?
Getting value from either tool depends on how you set it up, and the first steps differ. Here is the practical starting point for each.
Runway: Start on Free with the 125 credits.
Leonardo.Ai: Test on the Free plan with non-client work.
What should agencies check before choosing between Runway and Leonardo.Ai?
Small details in plans and limits decide whether a tool works in practice. Check these points for each tool during a trial on a real client account.
Before you buy Runway
- Estimate credits per clip.
- Count projects.
- Ask about team terms.
- Start on the Free plan.
Before you buy Leonardo.Ai
- Estimate tokens per asset.
- Count seats.
- Confirm the Team billing period.
- Check ownership terms.
How should you test Runway and Leonardo.Ai before deciding?
The fairest test is to run both tools on the same real client account for two weeks, with the same people, and compare the results rather than first impressions.
What to measure
- How long it takes a new team member to be productive in Runway versus Leonardo.Ai.
- How often people open each tool without being reminded.
- Whether the plan you need includes the features you tested, not just the entry price.
- How a client reacts if you invite them to either tool.
- How much time the team spends on notifications, setup, and cleanup each week.
Which should you choose: Runway or Leonardo.Ai?
Choose Runway for video generation. Choose Leonardo.Ai for images and per-seat team plans.
Trial both on one brief.
Choose Runway if
- You generate cinematic clips and images.
- You want strong security evidence.
- You want predictable credit plans.
Skip Runway if
- You need team seats and workspaces.
- You need avatar presenter video.
- You need stated commercial terms on the pricing page.
Choose Leonardo.Ai if
- You generate images and short video.
- You want per-seat team pricing.
- You want private generations.
Skip Leonardo.Ai if
- You need presenter avatar video.
- You need a large review base.
- You need fixed costs with no tokens.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Runway or Leonardo better?
- Runway for video, Leonardo for images and teams.
- Which is cheaper?
- Leonardo for entry plans.
- Which has team plans?
- Leonardo.
- Which has a free plan?
- Both.
- Which states ISO 27001?
- Runway.
Sources
Prices, plan limits, and ratings were gathered in October 2026 from:
- Runway pricing page
- Leonardo pricing page
- G2