CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
First came the chatbots, then came the AI image generators. Now, we have AI video generators. AI video generators work similarly to AI image generators; you input a simple text description of what you want, and the generators create short AI video clips in a matter of minutes. But they don’t all create the same quality of output. That’s why CNET reviewers have spent time thoroughly testing each program to find the best one for you, no matter your project, budget or creative needs.
PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE DEALS OF THE WEEK PhotoDirector 365 12-Months Subscription Plan : $40 (save $25)
Director Suite 365 12-Months Subscription Plan : $100 (save $40) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.
The best AI video generators create clips that align with what you want while having as few errors as possible. But hallucinations happen with even the best AI programs, so those with more advanced features and hands-on controls let you further customize your videos, offering better odds of getting the clip you want. In addition to testing a service’s creativity, accuracy and response speed, you also have to consider the legal and ethical ramifications of using a generative AI creative tool.
Many creators, publishers and content catalog owners are worried that their content was used to train AI models without their permission or compensation. There are also concerns that AI-generated content could violate existing copyright protections and that AI companies aren’t able to prevent the creation of potentially abusive and illegal AI content. No AI company is immune to these issues, including our top picks below, but some come with less information and protection than others. This is why you should always check a service’s privacy and usage policy before using it and always disclose your use of AI.
This is everything you need to know to pick the best AI video generator for you. For more, check out the best AI image generators and CNET’s AI essentials.
What’s the best AI video generator?
The best AI video generator for you is going to depend on your skill level, budget and project. The best free AI video generator is Sora 2 from OpenAI, which creates fun clips you can share on the Sora social media app. The best paid AI video generator for cinematic videos is Veo 3 by Google. If you want to use AI videos in your professional work, you’ll want to use Adobe Firefly. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
Photo Gallery 1/1 Best free AI video generator for anyone Sora by OpenAI 8.0 /10 SCORE Pros Excellent audio and video quality
... continue reading