Vidu Q4 Preview is priced per second on HiAPI: $0.0515 at 540p, $0.109 at 720p, $0.1375 at 1080p, $0.2175 at 2K and $0.446 at 4K. That makes a 5-second clip $0.2575 at 540p, $0.545 at 720p and $2.23 at 4K. Image-to-video and reference-to-video share the same rate, and audio is included whether you leave it on or turn it off. The model is live on HiAPI — open the image-to-video page to generate, and new accounts get 200 credits.
What does a second cost?
| Resolution | Per second | Credits/s | 5 seconds | 10 seconds | 16 seconds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 540p | $0.0515 | 103 | $0.2575 | $0.515 | $0.824 |
| 720p | $0.109 | 218 | $0.545 | $1.09 | $1.744 |
| 1080p | $0.1375 | 275 | $0.6875 | $1.375 | $2.2 |
| 2K | $0.2175 | 435 | $1.0875 | $2.175 | $3.48 |
| 4K | $0.446 | 892 | $2.23 | $4.46 | $7.136 |
Billing is the integer seconds you send multiplied by the per-second rate for the resolution you pick. Duration runs from 3 to 16 seconds, failed tasks are refunded, and neither the audio switch nor the reference-image count changes the bill.
First test: $10. At 5 seconds per clip that covers about 38 clips at 540p, 18 at 720p, 14 at 1080p, 9 at 2K and 4 at 4K — enough to run the same shot through several tiers before committing. Try your first clip →
The seaplane clip above is 5 seconds at 720p, $0.545. The prompt carries only motion, camera and sound:
The pilot waves, the seaplane engine starts and the propeller spins up, gentle ripples spread across the misty lake as the camera slowly pushes in, golden morning light
Upload the first frame on the model page; the output keeps that image's aspect ratio, and the prompt drives the movement rather than the composition.
What do 10, 100 and 1,000 clips cost?
| Clips (5 seconds) | 540p | 720p | 1080p | 2K | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $2.575 | $5.45 | $6.875 | $10.875 | $22.3 |
| 100 | $25.75 | $54.5 | $68.75 | $108.75 | $223 |
| 1,000 | $257.5 | $545 | $687.5 | $1,087.5 | $2,230 |
Lock the clip length first, then multiply by count. At 720p and 5 seconds, 100 clips come to $54.5; run the same 100 at 16 seconds and each is $1.744. Mix image-to-video and reference-to-video freely — the bill simply adds up seconds.
The lighthouse case was generated silent at 540p for $0.2575 per 5-second clip; turning audio off does not reduce the price.
Which resolution keeps the bill down?
- 540p at $0.0515/s: storyboards, previz and camera tests. A 5-second clip is $0.2575, and $10 buys about 38 of them — enough to revise ten times.
- 720p at $0.109/s: the default tier for social delivery in portrait or landscape. 5 seconds is $0.545, about 18 clips per $10.
- 1080p at $0.1375/s: site hero and paid placements. 5 seconds is $0.6875.
- 2K at $0.2175/s: large displays and shots you plan to crop. 5 seconds is $1.0875.
- 4K at $0.446/s: about 8.7× the 540p rate, and $2.23 for 5 seconds. Reserve it for the final hero.
- Duration: integer seconds from 3 to 16. Confirm the motion at 5 seconds, then extend the same prompt.
- Rerun strategy: lock the action at 540p, then re-render once at the delivery resolution and pay for one extra tier.
The candlelit library above was rendered at 4K for $2.23 per 5-second clip, for shots that need cropping headroom.
How does it compare with other video models on HiAPI?
| Model | HiAPI rate (per second) | Max output | Native audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vidu Q4 Preview | $0.0515 (540p) / $0.109 (720p) / $0.1375 (1080p) / $0.2175 (2K) / $0.446 (4K) | 4K | On by default |
| Vidu Q3 Mix reference-to-video | $0.1555 (720P) / $0.1865 (1080P) | 1080P | Yes |
| Kling 3.0 image-to-video | $0.1 (720p silent) / $0.143 (720p sound) / $0.129 (1080p silent) / $0.193 (1080p sound) | 4K | Optional |
| Veo 3.1 Lite image-to-video | $0.06 (720p silent) / $0.14 (1080p sound) / $0.10 (1080p silent) | 1080p | Yes |
| Seedance 2.0 | $0.136 (480p) / $0.293 (720p) | 720p | Yes |
At 720p, Vidu Q4 Preview is $0.109 per second, Kling 3.0 image-to-video is $0.1 silent and $0.143 with sound, Veo 3.1 Lite is $0.06 silent, and Seedance 2.0 is $0.293. At 1080p, Vidu Q4 Preview is $0.1375, while Kling 3.0 is $0.129 silent and $0.193 with sound. Pick Vidu Q4 Preview when one pipeline has to cover 540p drafts and 2K or 4K delivery; pick Kling 3.0 when you only need the 720p and 1080p tiers and want the lower silent rate.
On the reference-to-video route, 1–15 reference images and up to 3 reference audio clips are supported, and the reference-image count does not enter the bill — a four-image 5-second 720p shot is still $0.545.
FAQ
Are failed tasks charged? No. Failed tasks are refunded; billing applies only to successful integer seconds.
Does leaving audio on cost more? No. audio defaults to true, and switching it off returns a silent video at the same price.
Do more reference images cost more? No. Reference-to-video accepts 1–15 images and up to 3 audio clips, and the bill depends only on seconds and resolution.
Do the 200 signup credits cover one clip? No. 200 credits equal $0.10, about 0.97 seconds at 540p, and the shortest clip is 3 seconds. Top up $10 for about 38 five-second 540p clips or 18 at 720p.
Generate your first clip
Copy the seaplane prompt above, upload your own first frame, and generate a 5-second 720p clip on the model page for $0.545. To blend several stills instead, use the reference-to-video page.
Related: Vidu Q4 Preview reference-to-video API guide · reference-to-video prompt recipes · HiAPI pricing
