📝 Executive Summary
Runway Gen-4.5 is the definitive video generation model for professionals, elevating AI from a
"product of chance" to a "controllable tool."
While Sora 2 and Veo 3 aim for ultimate physics simulation or immersion, Runway focuses all its
energy on "allowing the director to give instructions." With powerful control interfaces like Motion
Brush and Director Mode, and the provision of an "Unlimited Plan" that supports creator trial and
error, it has become the most trusted infrastructure for AI visual production as a practical
business.
💰 Pricing Details
- Standard Plan ($15/mo): 625 credits provided. Resolution restrictions are lifted, but it's easy to feel a credit shortage for full-scale production.
- Pro Plan ($35/mo): 2,250 credits provided. 4K output and custom model training are possible.
- Unlimited Plan ($76/mo): Unlimited normal generation without credit consumption. This plan is the industry standard for professional production sites.
🎯 Key Benchmark Results
| Metric | Evaluation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Controllability | Very High | Motion Brush is the greatest weapon |
| Generation Speed | Very Fast | Immediate preview via Turbo mode |
| Physics Accuracy | Average | Hallucinations likely in complex behavior |
✅ Pros and Cons
👍 Pros
- Intuitive operability to control movement within images via "brushing." Allows for production that doesn't rely on chance.
- Existence of an "Unlimited Plan." Fixes costs while allowing for repeated retakes until satisfied.
- Extremely high precision in Image-to-Video conversion, maintaining the atmosphere of the static image.
👎 Cons
- Physical consistency is slightly behind Sora 2, with occasional strange movements that seem to disregard gravity.
- Credit consumption is very intense below the Standard plan, necessitating additional purchases even for a few minutes of video.
- Minute portrayals of facial expressions and fingertips tend to collapse more easily compared to competitors.
💭 Reddit User Sentiment
Positive Comments
"The real fun begins after joining the Unlimited plan. Being able to fail leads to the greatest improvement in creativity."
"I can no longer imagine AI video production without Motion Brush. It's why I keep paying for Runway."
Negative Comments
"The amount of credits in the Standard plan runs out before a beginner can even understand the mechanics. I wish they were a bit more generous."
"Sora is better if you seek realism. Runway can occasionally leave a 'digital composite' feel."
🎯 Recommended Use Cases
- Music Videos (MV) - Building abstract and avant-garde worldviews. Visual expression beyond reality.
- VFX Composite Materials - Generating minute movements needed in post-production such as explosions, smoke, and weather changes.
- CM Storyboarding & Roughs - Sharing image concepts with a team before filming, leveraging Turbo mode.
📊 Conclusion & Overall Rating
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0/5.0)
Runway Gen-4.5 is the **"Visual Atelier where the creator takes command."**
While it may not be the strongest in simple image quality or physics calculation accuracy, it
continues to lead the industry in the ability to reflect a visual artist's will of "what to
move, where, and how."
Especially for professionals using AI in commercial projects, the ease of control and cost
management via the Unlimited plan will be the decisive reasons for choice, leaving others
behind.
