One frame, six models
Best AI image to video tools 2026, tested on the same photo
Give six image to video models the same photo and the same motion prompt and you get six different films. Pixel Dojo runs all six on one plan, so you can pick the model per shot.
We made one start frame, a taiko drummer on a black sand beach at dawn, and animated it on Seedance 2.5, Kling 4.0, Veo 3.1 Lite, WAN 3.0, MiniMax H3 Turbo and Vidu Q3 with one identical motion prompt. We kept the first take from each and put the credits on every tile.
30 credits ($1.88) per 5 s clip at 720p with audio. Included in every plan, from $10/month.
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By Brian Lovett · Updated
Two more start frames, four more image to video models
A product photo and a hand painted anime frame, each animated on a lower cost model. Tap a tile to use the same prompt and frame.
P-Video 2 Pro brought a product still to life with hands lacing the boot, for 5 credits.
A shoemaker's hands enter the frame and pull the waxed laces of the left boot tight, then tie a neat bow. Slow orbit around the bench, warm window light, dust drifting.
Seedance 2.0 Mini kept the painted anime look frame to frame.
The train rolls through the crossing from left to right and out of frame, the crossing lights blink, and the sunflowers sway in the wind it leaves behind. The camera holds still. Warm evening light glints on the sea.
Grok Imagine took the same frame and prompt for a second read.
The train rolls through the crossing from left to right and out of frame, the crossing lights blink, and the sunflowers sway in the wind it leaves behind. The camera holds still. Warm evening light glints on the sea.
Hailuo 02 Fast, a low cost third take on the same frame for 4 credits.
The train rolls through the crossing from left to right and out of frame, the crossing lights blink, and the sunflowers sway in the wind it leaves behind. The camera holds still. Warm evening light glints on the sea.
Six image to video models on one start frame
Same photo, same motion prompt, first take from each model. Credits are what each clip cost at the settings on its tile.
| Model | Clip | Credits | What it did with the photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| MiniMax H3 Turbo | 5 seconds, 720p, sound | Unlimited on any plan | A clean double strike with a wave bursting behind her |
| WAN 3.0 | 5 seconds, 720p, sound | 8 credits | The biggest burst of sea spray as the sticks went up |
| Veo 3.1 Lite | 4 seconds, 720p, sound | 6 credits | A tight, fast strike with the surf in the soundtrack |
| Vidu Q3 | 5 seconds, 720p, sound | 10 credits | A push in from the beach to a close shot of her face |
| Kling 4.0 | 5 seconds, 720p, sound | 23 credits | Strong arm motion and wind through her hair |
| Seedance 2.5 | 5 seconds, 720p, sound | 30 credits | A slow push in with the most filmic light |
The taiko test: one photo, one prompt, six clips
Every model got this frame and this prompt: she brings both sticks down in a double strike, sea spray bursts behind her, slow push in, with drum, surf and wind on the soundtrack.
She brings both sticks down hard on the drum in a powerful double strike, then raises them again. Sea spray bursts behind her as a wave breaks. Slow push in. Sound: a deep booming drum hit, crashing surf, wind.
She brings both sticks down hard on the drum in a powerful double strike, then raises them again. Sea spray bursts behind her as a wave breaks. Slow push in. Sound: a deep booming drum hit, crashing surf, wind.
She brings both sticks down hard on the drum in a powerful double strike, then raises them again. Sea spray bursts behind her as a wave breaks. Slow push in. Sound: a deep booming drum hit, crashing surf, wind.
She brings both sticks down hard on the drum in a powerful double strike, then raises them again. Sea spray bursts behind her as a wave breaks. Slow push in. Sound: a deep booming drum hit, crashing surf, wind.
She brings both sticks down hard on the drum in a powerful double strike, then raises them again. Sea spray bursts behind her as a wave breaks. Slow push in. Sound: a deep booming drum hit, crashing surf, wind.
She brings both sticks down hard on the drum in a powerful double strike, then raises them again. Sea spray bursts behind her as a wave breaks. Slow push in. Sound: a deep booming drum hit, crashing surf, wind.
- All six kept her face, headband, jacket and drum from the photo through the whole clip.
- WAN 3.0 and MiniMax H3 Turbo gave the biggest sea spray, the moment the prompt asked for.
- Vidu Q3 and Seedance 2.5 took the push in furthest, ending on her face.
- Every clip came back with sound. Veo 3.1 Lite and WAN 3.0 each cost under 10 credits, and MiniMax H3 Turbo is unlimited on plans.
How to get a good clip from any photo
- 1
Start with a frame that has a pose
Raised sticks, a hand near the laces, a train at the crossing. A frame that is about to move gives the model somewhere to go.
- 2
Describe motion, not the picture
The model can already see the photo. Spend the prompt on the action, the camera move and the sound.
- 3
Draft unlimited, finish on credits
Try the motion on MiniMax H3 Turbo at no credits on any plan, then run the winner on Seedance 2.5 or Kling 4.0.
The best free image to video AI, honestly
Seedance, Kling, Veo, WAN and Vidu run on credits here. We will not call them free.
What is free of credits: on any paid plan, MiniMax H3 Turbo turns photos into video without limits, up to 5 seconds at 720p. In our taiko test it gave one of the two biggest bursts of spray.
Without a plan you can try 3 free effects a day, and many of our one click video effects start from a single photo. Free effect videos carry a watermark.
What else you get on Pixel Dojo
Unlimited on every plan
On every paid plan, Relax runs Qwen Image 2.1, FLUX 3 Image Klein and MiniMax H3 Turbo, plus every video and photo effect, unlimited with no credits spent.
Sensei, the AI director
Describe a project and Sensei plans it, prices it, waits for your approval and reviews every take.
Film Studio
An idea becomes a finished film: script, cast, storyboard, clips and an editor pass that trims every shot, with each step priced before it runs.
Character Studio
Save a face once and call it by @name in any prompt, so the same person shows up in every image and clip.
One click video effects
300+ one-click video effects turn a photo into a trend clip, from AI Hug to AI Inflate, with no prompt to write, and 3 are free every day.
Start from a genre
Pick a format such as a UGC ad, a micro drama, a movie trailer or an explainer, and the matching studio opens with the settings and a sample idea filled in.
Star in any video
Upload a short clip, pick a saved character or a photo, and Character Swap puts your star in the lead while the scene, camera moves and sound stay the same.
Credits that roll over
Your credits roll over while you stay subscribed, so nothing you pay for disappears at the end of the month.
Every top model, plus an API
More than 80 image and 60 video models in one account, with a public API and a hosted MCP server for your own apps and AI assistants.
Pricing for image to video on Pixel Dojo
Plans are Lite $10 a month for 160 credits, Pro $25 for 500 credits, Pro Max $50 for 1,100 credits. Every plan includes every image to video model on this page, and each model page shows its price before you generate. Credits roll over while you stay subscribed.
Under our refund policy, a first purchase can be refunded within 7 days, in full if under 20% of the credits are used and pro-rated after that.
Made with Seedance 2.5
All how-tosThe exact prompts and settings behind each one.
One Sentence, One ShotEight stills to one unbroken shotNov 9 · About 691 creditsSeedream 5Seedance 2.5Seed Audio
Infinite ZoomSeven stills to a zoom that never endsNov 9 · About 653 creditsSeedream 5Seedance 2.5Seed Audio
The Dragon TrailerNine stills to a blockbuster trailerNov 9 · About 732 creditsSeedream 5Seedance 2.5Seed Audio
Best AI Image to Video questions
What is the best AI image to video tool in 2026?
For the most filmic camera work we pick Seedance 2.5. For the most motion per credit, WAN 3.0. For unlimited drafts on any plan, MiniMax H3 Turbo. All three animated our taiko photo well, and Pixel Dojo runs them on one plan.
Is there a free AI image to video tool?
On any paid Pixel Dojo plan, MiniMax H3 Turbo is unlimited for image to video, up to 5 seconds at 720p. Without a plan you get 3 free effects a day, with a watermark.
Which image to video model keeps the face from my photo?
In our test all six models kept the drummer's face, headband and jacket from the start frame. For a recurring person, save them in Character Studio and call them by name.
How long are image to video clips?
We ran 4 and 5 second clips at 720p for this test. Most models here go longer, and each model page shows the price for the length you pick.
Can I animate an anime drawing or a product photo?
Yes. Our showcase animates a hand painted anime frame on Seedance 2.0 Mini and Grok Imagine, and a product photo of leather boots on P-Video 2 Pro. Any image you upload can be a start frame.
Video Effects New
Your first video is free. One photo, one click.
310 ready-made effects, from AI Hug and Earth Zoom In to product spins and listing walkthroughs. Upload a photo and press Generate. No prompt to write, and a free account gets 3 a day.
Make your first Seedance 2.5 clip
Write a prompt above or start from any example on this page. One plan covers every top model, six studios and Sensei, and your credits roll over.
Start with Seedance 2.5