What does an AI music video cost in 2026? Sondo vs Suno Hooks vs HeyBop vs DIY
Per-video math for the main options, in dollars, including the hidden costs: regenerations, editing time and non-commercial licences.
Updated October 10, 2026
Start with your song
One-time short video · USD 4.99
15s standard video with a watermark. Personal use. First video only; no auto-renewal.
Release-ready video · USD 9.99
Turn your song into a 30-second music video in Standard quality. Ready to share, watermark-free, with commercial rights for this project. 600 credits included. No subscription or auto-renewal. Add credits to extend the same video and keep its export rights.
Standard quality, one song and up to one singing shot. Extra attempts and higher quality use more credits; review the quote before generating.
Script generation is free (0 credits). After reviewing it, generate three storyboard images for 60 credits. Video generation is quoted separately. Video-only estimates exclude these images.
You need the rights to the music and photos you use.
What you are actually paying for
Compare the cost of a finished video, including replacement shots, editing, export and any subscription. A low advertised clip price may not cover the work needed to finish your release.
The comparison table
| Option | Unit | 3-minute video | 12-second hook | Hidden costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HeyBop Lite | 40 credits / 6-s clip | 860–1,220 credits; approximately $14.97–$20.98 in generation top-ups from a zero balance | Review the current short-video purchase or project quote | Replacement scenes, photos, singing and export rights affect the budget |
| HeyBop Standard | 95 credits / 6-s clip | 2,015–2,870 credits; approximately $34.93–$44.99 in generation top-ups from a zero balance | Review the current short-video purchase or project quote | Replacement scenes, photos, singing and export rights affect the budget |
| HeyBop Best | 250 credits / 6-s clip | 7,580–7,580 credits; approximately $115.95–$115.95 in generation top-ups from a zero balance | Review the current short-video purchase or project quote | Replacement scenes, photos, singing and export rights affect the budget |
| HeyBop with your photo | Review the photo-scene quote | 2,015–2,870 credits; approximately $34.93–$44.99 in generation top-ups from a zero balance | Review the selected output and cast | Commercial rights require an eligible purchase |
| Sondo | ≈ 10 credits / s SD, 20 HD | ≈ 1,834–1,953 cr ≈ $14–24 by plan | ≈ 120 cr (SD) | Weekly or yearly plans; the 800-credit weekly plan can't cover a 3-min video; reviewers say fixes are billed again |
| Suno Hooks | free | n/a (short clips only) | $0 + your footage | Free-tier songs are non-commercial |
| DIY: model API + editor | $0.19–0.49 / clip | ≈ $6–15 model fees | ≈ $0.50 | 3–6 hours of prompting and editing per video |
Script generation is free (0 credits). For a 3-minute song with 6-second clips and no reference photos or singing, Standard uses 2,015–2,870 credits; approximately $34.93–$44.99 in generation top-ups from a zero balance; Professional uses 7,580–7,580 credits; approximately $115.95–$115.95 in generation top-ups from a zero balance. The lower estimate reuses chorus shots; the upper estimate creates every shot fresh. Photos, singing, replacements and extra exports can add credits. These are generation-only top-up budgets. For the same Standard example, a new Free account’s one-time licensed purchase is approximately $34.94–$46.96 before tax, including the project’s watermark-free commercial export rights and required generation packs. Neither range is a fixed-price finished-video promise. Review your own quote before generating.
The cost that matters: the second attempt
Budget for review and replacements. In HeyBop you can edit one scene and regenerate it while keeping the others. A plain 6-second Standard scene uses 95 credits; photos and singing can add credits. A technically failed generation returns its credits, but a successful result you choose to replace is a new paid attempt. There is no guarantee that the first result needs no changes.
Plans versus pay-as-you-go
Sign up and get 150 credits. Script generation is free (0 credits). Review your script before creating 3 storyboard images. Images and videos use credits. One-time short video: USD 4.99 once · 300 credits. 15s standard video with a watermark. Personal use. First video only; no auto-renewal. Release-ready video: USD 9.99 once · 600 credits. Turn your song into a 30-second music video in Standard quality. Ready to share, watermark-free, with commercial rights for this project. 600 credits included. No subscription or auto-renewal. Add credits to extend the same video and keep its export rights. Pay USD 5.00 to upgrade your short video: 300 extra credits and watermark-free commercial export for the same project. Membership: USD 7.99/week · 600 credits; USD 29.99/month · 2,600 credits. ≈ USD 6.92/week · save 13%. Weekly equivalent based on 12 months / 52 weeks. Billed monthly. Watermark-free commercial exports. Credits arrive on each paid renewal. Weekly or monthly auto-renewal. Cancel anytime. Completed licensed works keep their rights. Existing subscriptions keep their terms. Extra generation credits: USD 4.99 once · 300 credits; USD 15.99 once · 1,000 credits; USD 44.99 once · 3,000 credits. Credits never expire. Top-ups pay for generation; they do not unlock watermark-free or commercial exports. No new annual plans. Standard quality, one song and up to one singing shot. Extra attempts and higher quality use more credits; review the quote before generating.
Time is a cost too
For the DIY route, count your hours: thirty prompts, thirty waits, a beat-aligned cut in an editor. Even at a modest rate that is the most expensive option on the list. The one-click tools trade a few dollars for an afternoon; the question is only whether the tool lets you fix the one scene that is wrong without paying for the twenty-nine that are right.
FAQ
How much does a 3-minute AI music video cost?+
Script generation is free (0 credits). For a 3-minute song with 6-second clips and no reference photos or singing, Standard uses 2,015–2,870 credits; approximately $34.93–$44.99 in generation top-ups from a zero balance; Professional uses 7,580–7,580 credits; approximately $115.95–$115.95 in generation top-ups from a zero balance. The lower estimate reuses chorus shots; the upper estimate creates every shot fresh. Photos, singing, replacements and extra exports can add credits. These are generation-only top-up budgets. For the same Standard example, a new Free account’s one-time licensed purchase is approximately $34.94–$46.96 before tax, including the project’s watermark-free commercial export rights and required generation packs. Neither range is a fixed-price finished-video promise. Review your own quote before generating.
Can I buy one short video without subscribing?+
Script generation is free (0 credits). The one-time short video is $4.99 for 15 seconds with a watermark and personal use, first video only. The release-ready purchase is $9.99 for 30 seconds in Standard quality with watermark-free commercial export for that project. Neither is a full-song price or an auto-renewing subscription. Longer versions and extra attempts can need more credits.
Why do credit systems feel expensive?+
Because the burn rate is hidden until after generation and fixes are billed as whole new videos. Look for tools that show the price per action before you click and refund failures.
Do HeyBop credits expire?+
Pack credits never expire; plan credits roll over while you remain subscribed.
Sources
- Sondo on Trustpilot
- Sondo subscription plans — checked 29 Sep 2026
- Suno: Hooks (free feature)
- HeyBop pricing