Key takeaways
Melius ranks first because one photo can run through Kling 4.0, Veo 3.1 or Seedance 2.5 side by side, with Mel drafting the motion prompt and one shot's last frame able to open the next.
Kling 4.0 accepts a start and end frame or up to 10 keyframes, plus up to 15 references, for clips up to 30 seconds.
Google Flow supports first and last frames on every model, with sound from Veo 3.1 and Gemini Omni Flash.
Luma's Ray 3.2 takes up to 16 keyframes for 5- or 10-second clips, with HDR and EXR export.
Say in the prompt what should move and what should stay still; that line does more for an image-to-video clip than any setting.
How we ranked
Image to video starts from a picture you already like, so the job is moving it without losing it. The ranking looks at frame control (start frame, end frame, keyframes), references for keeping a subject consistent, clip length and resolution from an image, motion control, native audio and commercial rights. Prices are from each vendor's site on October 29, 2026.
Image to video generators at a glance
Tool | Best for | Image inputs | Longest clip from an image | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Melius | Many image-to-video models on one canvas | Start frame, last frame or references, by model | 30 seconds | Creator $17/mo billed yearly |
Kling | Keyframes and references in one model | Start and end frame or up to 10 keyframes; 15 references | 30 seconds | Free options; paid from $6.99 first month |
Google Flow | First and last frames with native audio | First and last frame; references on some models | 10 seconds | 50 free credits a day; Google AI Pro $19.99/mo |
Luma | Many keyframes and HDR output | Up to 16 keyframes | 10 seconds | Plus $30/mo ($300/yr) |
Hailuo | Many references at 2K with sound | Up to 12 references | 15 seconds | Free; paid from $9.99/mo |
Dreamina | Long Seedance takes from many references | First frame; up to 50 references | 30 seconds | Free; paid plans |
Runway | Finishing with pro export formats | First frame on Gen-4.5; more on hosted models | 10 seconds on Gen-4.5 | Standard $15/mo ($12/mo billed yearly) |
Midjourney | Animating Midjourney images | Start frame, end frame or loop | 5 seconds, extendable to 21 | Basic $10/mo ($8/mo billed yearly) |
Adobe Firefly | Camera presets and a commercially safe model | First frame, optional end frame | About 5 seconds | Free daily generations; Standard $9.99/mo |
1. Melius: Best overall for animating one image across many models
Melius describes itself as the AI-native operating system for creatives, built on AI agents for creative work.
What works: Tell Mel how the photo should move and what has to stay put, and it drafts the motion prompt and sends it to a model suited to the shot: Seedance 2.5 when there's a person in frame, Veo 3.1 for camera moves or Kling 4.0, added in October, for takes up to 30 seconds.
What doesn't: Camera moves come from the prompt, with no preset controls or motion brush, and each model caps how many images it accepts.
Best for: Brands and creators animating product shots, portraits or key art who want to compare models on the same image.
2. Kling: Best for keyframes and references in one model
Kuaishou makes Kling, its AI video generator.
What works: Kling 4.0 animates a single image or works between a start and end frame, and up to 10 keyframes let you steer changes along the way. Clips run up to 30 seconds and extend to two minutes, while up to 15 reference assets, including images, video clips and subject elements, keep characters and settings steady. Orbits, push-ins and tracking shots are prompted rather than set.
What doesn't: native 4K for 4.0 is still listed as coming soon, and higher resolutions and watermark-free downloads need a paid plan.
Best for: Image-led sequences that change over a longer take.
3. Google Flow: Best for first and last frames with native audio
Flow is Google's video app, running Veo 3.1 and Gemini Omni Flash 1.1.
What works: Every model in Flow animates a first frame or fills the gap between a first and last frame, and Veo 3.1 adds dialogue, effects and ambient sound to 4-, 6- or 8-second clips. Omni Flash 1.1 runs to 10 seconds and accepts references at every length. Everyone gets 50 Flow credits a day, and Nano Banana image models in the same app can make the opening image.
What doesn't: Veo clips stop at 8 seconds, references on Veo work only on the Lite and Fast tiers and Omni's start and end frames are web only.
Best for: Short clips from a still that need sound.
4. Luma: Best for many keyframes and HDR output
Luma's Dream Machine runs Ray 3.2, released June 9, 2026.
What works: Ray 3.2 takes up to 16 keyframes when animating an image and outputs up to 1080p, with native 16-bit HDR and EXR export for grading. The $30 Plus plan ($300 a year) covers commercial use.
What doesn't: Clips from an image are 5 or 10 seconds, and Ray 3.2 doesn't generate sound.
Best for: Shots planned keyframe by keyframe and graded in post.
5. Hailuo: Best for many references at 2K with sound
MiniMax runs its H3 video models in the Hailuo app.
What works: MiniMax H3 generates up to 15 seconds at 2K by default, with native stereo sound, and Omni Reference takes up to 12 references to keep a face or product consistent. You can start free.
What doesn't: Clips stop at 15 seconds. Paid plans start at $9.99 a month.
Best for: Holding one face or product steady across short clips.
6. Dreamina: Best for long Seedance takes from many references
ByteDance sells Seedance 2.5 directly through Dreamina.
What works: Seedance 2.5 opens on your image and runs up to 30 seconds in one take, with sound, and its API hosts also take an optional end frame. Dreamina accepts up to 50 references, and its controls cover camera movement and performance blocking.
What doesn't: Seedance 2.5 tops out at 1080p on hosts such as Runway, and Dreamina ties commercial use to its terms and the assets you bring.
Best for: Long single takes animated from a reference-heavy brief.
7. Runway: Best for finishing with pro export formats
Runway pairs its own Gen-4.5 model with third-party video models in one browser app.
What works: Gen-4.5 turns a first frame into a 2- to 10-second clip in six aspect ratios, and the same credits run Kling 4.0 and Seedance 2.5 when you need more input options. Higher plans export ProRes and HDR, and a DaVinci Resolve plugin brings clips straight into an edit. The $15 Standard plan drops to $12 a month on annual billing.
What doesn't: Gen-4.5 takes a first frame only, with no end frame or references, and Standard's 625 monthly credits cover about 52 seconds of Gen-4.5.
Best for: Editors who animate stills as one step in a longer post workflow.
8. Midjourney: Best for animating Midjourney images
Midjourney's video model turns an image, usually one made in Midjourney, into a short clip.
What works: Each job makes four 5-second videos, and you can extend a clip by about 4 seconds at a time up to 21 seconds. Add an end frame or loop the clip, and set motion low or high. The $10 Basic plan ($8 a month annually) already includes commercial terms.
What doesn't: Video renders at 480p unless you're on Standard or higher in Fast Mode, there's no sound and companies with more than $1 million in revenue need Pro or Mega.
Best for: Midjourney users bringing their stills to life.
9. Adobe Firefly: Best for camera presets and a commercially safe model
Firefly runs Adobe's own video model alongside partner models.
What works: Upload a first frame and, optionally, an end frame, then choose camera moves such as pan, zoom and tilt and shot styles such as close-up or wide. Adobe calls output from its own model commercially safe and doesn't watermark it. Free accounts get daily generations, and Standard costs $9.99 a month.
What doesn't: Clips run about 5 seconds, and Adobe's commercial-safety promise does not extend to partner models.
Best for: Brand teams that want simple camera controls inside Adobe's apps.
For transitions between several stills, Pika's Pikaframes turns two to five ordered images into one video, with commercial use from its $10 Starter plan.
How to get better image to video results
Clean up the still before animating it. Remove anything you don't want moving and upscale it, since the model can only move what's there.
Say what stays still. "Product fixed, label sharp, only the steam moves" works better than a list of motions.
Name one camera move, such as "slow push-in" or "locked-off camera," and one action per clip.
An end frame tells the model exactly where the shot lands, and the same image as both start and end makes a loop.
Draft at low resolution, then render the keeper at 1080p or higher.
For a series, reuse one reference image in every shot to keep a face or product consistent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best image to video AI generator?
Melius is the best image to video AI generator overall, because Mel drafts the motion prompt and you can compare the same photo across its video models without leaving the canvas. Kling 4.0 suits long clips steered by keyframes, and Google Flow pairs first and last frames with Veo 3.1's sound.
Which image to video tools support a start and end frame?
Melius (on models that accept one), Kling, Google Flow, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly and Seedance 2.5 through its API hosts all accept an end frame. Luma uses up to 16 keyframes instead, and Runway's Gen-4.5 takes a first frame only.
How long can an image to video clip be?
Kling 4.0 and Seedance 2.5 generate up to 30 seconds from an image in one pass. MiniMax H3 reaches 15 seconds, Luma Ray 3.2 and Runway Gen-4.5 10 seconds and Veo 3.1 8 seconds, while Midjourney makes 5-second clips you can extend to 21.
Can I turn an image into a video for free?
Yes, with limits. Google Flow gives everyone 50 credits a day, Adobe Firefly includes free daily generations, Kling offers free image-to-video options and Runway gives 125 one-time credits. Free plans add watermarks or restrict resolution on some tools.
Which image to video generators add sound?
Veo 3.1 and Gemini Omni Flash in Google Flow, Seedance 2.5 and MiniMax H3 generate audio with the clip. Ray 3.2 clips from Luma come out silent and need a separate soundtrack.
Can I animate a photo of a person?
Yes. Most tools here animate portraits, and talking-avatar models turn a photo and an audio track into a speaking clip; Melius runs several, including Kling Avatar and HeyGen Avatar IV. Use photos you have the rights to, and check each tool's rules on real people.
Who owns image to video clips I make?
Paid plans generally let you use clips commercially, within each model maker's terms. Luma grants commercial use from Plus and Midjourney on every paid plan. Melius says: "You own the content you create on Melius and can use, publish, and distribute it commercially, subject to the underlying model providers' terms. Melius doesn't claim ownership of your work and doesn't use it to train AI models."