Runway vs Soul Machines
Which Digital Humans AI tool is better in 2026?
Runway
Applied AI research for video, image, and 3D.
Soul Machines
Autonomously animated digital people for interactive customer experiences
Side-by-side
Runway leads on both fronts — more capital raised ($1.4B) and a lower entry price than Soul Machines.
| Metric | Runway | Soul Machines |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Applied AI research for video, image, and 3D. | Autonomously animated digital people for interactive customer experiences |
| Foundedi | 2018 | 2016🏆 |
| HQi | New York, US | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Employeesi | 201-500🏆 | — |
| Neuron scorei | 76🏆 | 43 |
| Total fundingi | $1.4B🏆 | $135M |
| Latest roundi | Series E · Feb 2026 | Series B · Feb 2022 |
| Valuationi | $5.3B🏆 | — |
| Cheapest paid plani | Standard · $12/mo🏆 | Pricing not disclosed |
| Free plani | ✓ Basic | ✗ |
| Free triali | ✓ | ✗ |
| Top tier pricei | Unlimited · $76/mo | Pricing not disclosed |
| Pricing summaryi | 5 published plans | Enterprise · Contact sales |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Runway and Soul Machines.
| Capability | Runway | Soul Machines |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 2 (JavaScript, Python) | 1 (JavaScript) |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✗ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✓ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Runway
- Has raised more capital ($1.4B vs $135M)
- Higher Neuron score (76 vs 43)
- Offers a free plan
- Offers a free trial
🔵 Strengths of Soul Machines
- More mature (2016)
Which should you choose?
Choose Runway if price matters most — it starts at Free · From $15/mo, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Digital Humans tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Runway if you want the most established option — it has raised $1.4B, suggesting more runway for enterprise features, support, and long-term roadmap. For mission-critical workflows or larger teams, that stability often outweighs a lower monthly price.
💸 Deals
Runway free plan — 125 one-time credits
Runway's free plan includes 125 one-time credits to try Gen-3 Alpha, image-to-video, and the full creative suite.
Frequently asked questions
Runway vs Soul Machines — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Runway has raised more capital and is the more established option; Soul Machines has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Runway cheaper than Soul Machines?
Yes — Runway's cheapest paid plan is Standard · $12/mo, while Soul Machines's is Enterprise · Contact sales.
Do Runway and Soul Machines offer free plans?
Runway: Yes, has a free plan. Soul Machines: Paid only.
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