What Is Runway (RunwayML)?
Written by the AIVX Labs team · Published August 2026
Runway (often called RunwayML) is an AI video platform that does two related but distinct jobs: generate new video from a text or image prompt using its Gen-series models, and edit, extend, or modify video footage you already have. That combination — generation and editing in one place — is why it's become a genuine working tool for filmmakers and video professionals, not just a novelty generator.
Key takeaways
- Runway (RunwayML) is an AI video platform built around its Gen-series models (Gen-3, Gen-4, and newer), used for both generating new video and editing existing footage.
- Unlike a pure text-to-video generator, Runway includes real editing tools — extending clips, removing objects, changing backgrounds, motion tracking — aimed at fitting into an actual post-production workflow.
- It's specifically popular with filmmakers, video editors, and production teams, not just casual creators, because it's built to slot into professional workflows rather than replace them wholesale.
- Runway is subscription-based, with tiers priced around monthly generation credits, and offers both a web app and API access for teams building it into their own tools.
What Runway is
Runway is an AI video platform built around its own Gen-series models (Gen-3, Gen-4, and successive releases), offering both text-to-video and image-to-video generation. But Runway is broader than a single generation model — it's built as a working environment with tools for shaping and editing video, which is what separates it from tools that only generate a clip and stop there.
Generation vs. editing existing footage
Runway supports two different starting points. You can generate entirely new video from a text prompt or a reference image, the way most AI video tools work. Or you can upload footage you already shot and use Runway's editing tools to extend a clip beyond its original length, remove or replace objects and backgrounds, apply motion tracking, and make other adjustments — all AI-assisted, applied to real footage rather than purely synthetic generation. That second capability is a meaningfully different job than generation alone.
Why filmmakers specifically use it
Professional and independent filmmakers tend to reach for Runway because it fits into an actual production workflow rather than replacing it. A shot that's slightly too short can be extended. A background element that's wrong can be swapped. A concept can be previsualized with generated footage before committing a full crew and budget to shoot it for real. That combination of generation and practical editing is why Runway's user base skews toward people who already make video professionally, rather than purely casual users.
Who it's for
Runway is built for filmmakers, video editors, and production teams — people already working with real footage who want AI assistance inside that process, plus creators who want to generate original video concepts from scratch. It's a heavier, more feature-rich tool than a simple prompt-to-clip generator, which makes it more powerful for serious video work but also a bigger learning curve for someone who just wants a quick clip with no editing involved.
How to try it
Runway offers a free tier to explore the platform, with paid plans required for real ongoing use. It's a genuinely powerful tool for the video production work it's built for — but generating or editing a clip is only half of what a video ad or promotional video actually needs; the other half is the script and messaging that make it convert. AIVX Labs teaches people how to combine tools like Runway with that strategic layer, and its own AI Viral Video Script Writer is purpose-built to write that script and structure, which pairs naturally with whatever video generation or editing tool you choose to produce it with. See the rest of AIVX Labs' tools on the AI tools directory.
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Create Your Account NowFrequently asked questions
Is Runway the same as RunwayML?
Yes, they refer to the same company and product — "RunwayML" was the earlier, more common name and "Runway" is how the company generally refers to itself now, but you'll see both used interchangeably.
Can Runway edit video I already filmed?
Yes — this is one of Runway's key differentiators from a pure text-to-video generator. It includes tools for extending clips, removing or replacing objects and backgrounds, and other edits applied to footage you upload, not just video generated from scratch inside the tool.
What are Gen-3 and Gen-4?
They're Runway's successive generations of its core video generation model, each improving on visual quality, motion consistency, and control compared to the last. Runway has continued releasing newer Gen-series versions as the underlying technology improves.
Is Runway free?
Runway offers a limited free tier for trying the platform, with paid subscription tiers required for meaningful ongoing use, priced around monthly generation credits.
Do I need filmmaking experience to use Runway?
No, though its editing-focused feature set and workflow are built with video production concepts in mind (clips, timelines, motion), so people with some video-editing background tend to get more out of it than someone who has never touched a video tool before.