This holiday season is set to be filled with AI-generated video content. Discover the best free AI video generators that support both text and image prompts, along with expert tips for creating stunning videos without spending a fortune.

Free AI Video Generators Comparison

Here's a quick comparison of the top free AI video generators that support image prompts:

Tool Image-to-Video Free Credits/Capacity Max Video Length Watermark Best For
Google AI Studio (Veo 2) Yes Free tier + $300 cloud credit 5-8 seconds No High-quality cinematic videos
HailuoAI Yes ~1000 credits (20-30 videos) 10-15 seconds Yes Experimentation & prototyping
Wan.video Yes 50 credits daily 10 seconds Yes Regular content creation
Bing Video Creator No Unlimited (standard speed) 5 seconds No Quick mobile videos
HeyGen Yes 1 free credit monthly 1 minute Yes Avatar videos & voiceovers
InVideo AI No 10 mins weekly 15 minutes Yes Script-to-video projects
CapCut N/A (Editor) Free editing tools Unlimited No Polishing & voice avatars

Google AI Studio – Veo 2 & Veo 3

Google AI Studio

Google's web-based IDE for prototyping with Gemini models, now including Veo 2 for video generation

Free tier available + $300 cloud credits for 90 days
5-8 second videos
Accepts both text and image prompts

Google AI Studio provides access to Veo 2, a powerful text-to-video and image-to-video model capable of generating high-quality, cinematic clips. The platform offers extensive control over camera movements, style, aspect ratio, and duration.

Key Features:

  • Text-to-video and image-to-video generation
  • Control over camera movements and styles
  • High-quality, cinematic output
  • Export and deployment via Vertex AI
  • Free access tier with additional cloud credits

Prompt Tips for Google Veo:

Be specific about camera angles, lighting, and motion:

"Animate this image of a city skyline at dusk—slow pan left with soft ambient lighting and birds flying in the foreground, cinematic style, 8 seconds duration"
"Create a video of waves crashing against rocks from this reference image, dramatic lighting, slow motion effect, camera tracking right to left"

For Veo 3 access, users can utilize the $300 free Google Cloud credits which provides higher quality generations and longer clips (up to 8 seconds with integrated sound).

Access Google AI Studio

HailuoAI - 200 Free Credits

HailuoAI

Generous credit-based AI video platform with strong image-to-video capabilities

~1000 free credits on sign-up (20-30 videos)
10-15 second videos
Image-to-video with camera motion presets

HailuoAI's Director model is gaining popularity for its dynamic capabilities and generous free credit system. It supports text-to-video, image-to-video, and reference image editing with various camera direction presets.

Key Features:

  • Text and image prompt support
  • Camera motion presets (zoom, pan, tilt)
  • Reference image editing
  • Watermarked output in free tier
  • User-friendly interface

Prompt Tips for HailuoAI:

Combine image uploads with specific camera instructions:

"Animate this landscape photo with a slow zoom-out effect, then add a gentle pan to the right, natural lighting, 12 seconds duration"
"Use this character image and make it walk forward while the background moves slightly, cinematic style, medium shot"

The free videos include watermarks, making them suitable for prototypes and non-commercial use. The platform is excellent for experimenting with different styles and techniques.

Try HailuoAI

Wan.video - Daily 50 Free Credits

Wan.video

Daily free credits for consistent video creation with image support

50 free credits daily
Up to 10 second videos
Image-to-video conversion

Wan.video offers a sustainable approach to free AI video generation with daily credits reset. This makes it ideal for regular content creators who need consistent access to video generation capabilities.

Key Features:

  • Daily free credit refresh
  • Image-to-video support
  • Simple, intuitive interface
  • Watermarked output
  • Multiple style options

Prompt Tips for Wan.video:

Focus on clear, concise instructions with style references:

"Animate this product image with a slow spin rotation, professional lighting, white background, 5 seconds"
"Create a video from this artwork with subtle movement, dreamy style, soft focus, 8 seconds duration"

The daily credit system allows users to develop a consistent content creation routine without financial investment, making it perfect for social media content creators.

Access Wan.video

CapCut - Voice Avatars & Editing

CapCut

Free video editor with AI voice avatars and enhancement tools

Completely free
Unlimited editing
AI voice avatars & enhancements

While not a video generator itself, CapCut is an essential free tool for polishing AI-generated videos. It offers AI voice avatars, text-to-speech, and professional editing features that can elevate your AI-generated content.

Key Features:

  • AI voice avatars in multiple languages
  • Professional video editing tools
  • Text-to-speech functionality
  • No watermarks on export
  • Templates and effects

Usage Tips for CapCut:

Use CapCut to enhance videos from other generators:

"Add a professional voiceover using the British Male avatar to explain the product features in this AI-generated video"
"Combine multiple short AI clips into a cohesive sequence with transitions and background music"

CapCut is particularly valuable for adding professional touches like voiceovers, captions, and effects to videos created with other AI tools, making it an essential part of the AI video creation workflow.

Download CapCut

Other Notable Free AI Video Tools

Bing Video Creator (Sora)

Microsoft's Bing mobile app now includes OpenAI's Sora model for free text-to-video generation. While it doesn't support image prompts yet, it's valuable for quick mobile video creation.

Mobile app only
5-second vertical videos
Standard speed: free unlimited
Try Bing Video Creator

HeyGen

HeyGen specializes in avatar-based videos with strong multilingual support. The free tier offers limited credits but is excellent for creating talking-head videos.

Avatar videos
1 free credit monthly
Multilingual support
Try HeyGen

InVideo AI

InVideo focuses on turning text scripts into complete videos with stock footage, voiceovers, and editing. The free tier offers limited minutes per week.

Script-to-video
10 mins weekly (free)
Templates & stock media
Try InVideo AI

Advanced Prompt Strategy Tips

Creating effective prompts is essential for getting the best results from AI video generators. Here are expert strategies:

Camera Movement Terms

Use specific camera terminology: "slow zoom-in", "gentle pan left", "dolly track", "aerial shot", "close-up", "wide angle".

Style Descriptors

Reference styles: "cinematic", "documentary style", "anime", "realistic", "watercolor", "8-bit", "cyberpunk".

Lighting References

Specify lighting: "golden hour", "studio lighting", "moody shadows", "backlit", "soft ambient", "dramatic contrast".

Motion & Timing

Control motion: "slow motion", "time-lapse", "smooth transition", "rapid cuts", "freeze frame", "bullet time".

Professional Prompt Formula:

[Action Description] + [Camera Movement] + [Style Reference] + [Lighting Condition] + [Duration] + [Special Effects]

Example: "A woman walking through a forest + slow dolly track + cinematic style + golden hour lighting + 8 seconds + with lens flare effects"

Professional AI Video Workflow

Maximize your results with this efficient workflow:

  1. Concept Development: Define your video purpose and storyboard
  2. Asset Preparation: Gather or create reference images
  3. Prompt Crafting: Develop detailed prompts using the strategies above
  4. Generation: Create multiple variations using free credits
  5. Selection: Choose the best outputs
  6. Enhancement: Use CapCut for voiceovers, editing, and polishing
  7. Export: Finalize your video for the target platform

This workflow allows you to leverage the strengths of each free tool while minimizing limitations.

Conclusion

The current landscape of free AI video generators offers impressive capabilities for both text and image-based video creation. By strategically using the free tiers of Google AI Studio, HailuoAI, Wan.video, and enhancement tools like CapCut, content creators can produce professional-quality videos without financial investment.

Remember that prompt engineering is crucial for success—invest time in crafting detailed, specific prompts that include camera movements, styles, and lighting conditions. As these tools continue to evolve, we can expect even more generous free tiers and capabilities in the future.

This holiday season, leverage these free AI video tools to create engaging content that stands out in the increasingly AI-filled digital landscape.