From what I have observed in the evolution of AI video generators — such as Sora 2, Kling 2.6, Google Veo 3.1, Hailuo 2, among many others — it is undeniable that visual quality and resolution have increased significantly, and that native audio is finally starting to emerge as a real feature.
However, there is a major downside.
The average citizen cannot afford the costs associated with producing professional-quality videos above 1080p with native audio, let alone creating short films. The amounts involved quickly become unsustainable. In practice, most users are limited to creating small 5 or 6-second reels.
Here is why.
Credits vs. realistic budget
Most of these platforms operate on credit-based systems: the user purchases a subscription or a monthly package that grants a certain number of credits, and each video consumes part of those credits depending on its duration, resolution, and the model used.
Even on so-called “premium” plans, the number of credits required to generate cinematic-quality videos (1080p, native sound, and complex motion) is extremely high — which is directly reflected in the cost per video.
High-quality models may require between 300 and 600 credits per video for 720p or 1080p resolutions, even when the video is only a few seconds long.
On top of that, there is another issue: many videos contain glitches, visual artifacts, or coherence errors, forcing the user to regenerate them and spend even more credits on new attempts.
On the other hand, most low-cost subscriptions (between $9.99 and $20 per month) provide only one or a few thousand credits, which is useful mainly for very short clips or social media content such as reels and teasers.
Limits of basic subscriptions
On the cheapest plans, it is common to find:
Severe limitations on video resolution and duration;
Little or no availability of synchronized native audio;
Output typically restricted to 720p and very short videos;
A usage model clearly designed for social media, not for long narratives or cinematic production.
Creating a coherent short film, with sound, visual continuity, and sustained narrative rhythm, therefore becomes extremely expensive and impractical for the average user.
In practice, hundreds of dollars would easily be spent, including:
The high monthly cost of advanced plans,
The massive consumption of credits,
And the enormous amount of time and work required to compile hundreds of small clips into a single film, later using video editing software.
It is therefore no coincidence that some services charge dozens or even hundreds of dollars per month just to provide enough credits to generate a very small number of truly professional videos.
Silvio Guerrinha
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