The best Runway alternatives
Runway is a creative AI platform best known for video generation and video editing tools, with image generation also available. It's a great fit for filmmakers, video editors and creators producing AI-generated or AI-assisted video. But if what you want is realistic photos of yourself, here are better options.
1. Lumipose — best for photos of yourself
Lumipose trains a private model on your selfies, then shoots you in >100 themed packs or any prompt. Runway is a leading choice for AI video production. Lumipose is focused on personal photos that look like you, with image-to-video as an add-on rather than the main event.
- Trains a personal model of you
- LumiposeYes - private FLUX.1-dev AI model trained on 10-30 selfies in about 15-25 minutesRunwayNo - uses reference images
- Photos of you without prompting skills (themed packs)
- LumiposeYes - 120+ themed photo packsRunwayNo - prompt-driven
- Consistent likeness across photos
- LumiposeYes - every photo is generated from your own trained modelRunwayLimited - reference features help keep characters consistent
- Custom prompts
- LumiposeYes (Pro and above)RunwayYes
- AI video
- LumiposeYes - image-to-video (Max and above)RunwayYes - a core focus
- Photo editing tools
- LumiposeEdit, crop, zoom out, relight, combine, upscale, virtual try-on (Max and above)RunwayYes - especially for video
- Commercial use
- LumiposeYes (Pro and above)RunwayYes on paid plans, subject to their terms
- No technical setup
- LumiposeYes - upload selfies in the browserRunwayYes - web app
- Pricing model
- LumiposeSubscription from $19/mo ($99/yr); 1 credit per photo, failed jobs refundedRunwayCredit-based subscription
| Feature | Lumipose | Runway |
|---|---|---|
| Trains a personal model of you | Yes - private FLUX.1-dev AI model trained on 10-30 selfies in about 15-25 minutes | No - uses reference images |
| Photos of you without prompting skills (themed packs) | Yes - 120+ themed photo packs | No - prompt-driven |
| Consistent likeness across photos | Yes - every photo is generated from your own trained model | Limited - reference features help keep characters consistent |
| Custom prompts | Yes (Pro and above) | Yes |
| AI video | Yes - image-to-video (Max and above) | Yes - a core focus |
| Photo editing tools | Edit, crop, zoom out, relight, combine, upscale, virtual try-on (Max and above) | Yes - especially for video |
| Commercial use | Yes (Pro and above) | Yes on paid plans, subject to their terms |
| No technical setup | Yes - upload selfies in the browser | Yes - web app |
| Pricing model | Subscription from $19/mo ($99/yr); 1 credit per photo, failed jobs refunded | Credit-based subscription |
Other Runway alternatives
2.
Midjourney
Midjourney is a text-to-image generator known for its distinctive, highly aesthetic output. It is used through its web app and Discord, and has added image-to-video and editing features.
3.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant. It includes built-in image generation and can edit or restyle images you upload through conversation.
4.
Gemini
Gemini is Google's AI assistant. It can generate and edit images from text and uploaded photos, and some plans include Google's video generation models.
5.
HeadshotPro
HeadshotPro is an AI headshot service: you upload selfies and receive a set of professional-style headshots.
6.
Kling AI
Kling AI is a video generation platform from Kuaishou that creates clips from text or images, and also offers image generation.
7.
Luma AI
Luma AI develops generative video and image models and offers them through its Dream Machine app and an API.