How to Make AI Videos in 2026: 3 Tool Types and the Steps for Each
To make AI videos, first decide what kind of video you want, then pick the tool type built for it. Short cinematic clips come from text-to-video generators like Runway. A talking presenter comes from an avatar tool like Synthesia. A narrated long-form video, the kind faceless YouTube channels post, comes from a story-to-video tool that writes the script and builds the scenes for you. The steps below cover how to make AI videos with each type, what they cost, and the YouTube rules you need to follow if you plan to upload.
A common mistake is picking the tool first. You see an impressive 8-second clip online, sign up for that generator, and then learn that a 10-minute video would cost them hundreds of dollars in credits. Matching the tool to the format saves that money.
The three kinds of AI video tools
| Tool type | What you give it | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text-to-video generator | A prompt describing one shot | A clip of a few seconds | B-roll, music videos, ads, short films |
| Avatar tool | A script | A digital presenter reading it | Training, explainers, product demos |
| Story-to-video tool | A title or topic | A full narrated video with scenes | Faceless YouTube channels, long-form stories |
They overlap a little, but each one is priced around its main output. That's why the cost per minute is so different from one type to the next.
How to make AI videos with a text-to-video generator
This is what most people picture when they hear "AI video." You describe a shot ("a lighthouse in a storm at night, slow push in") and the model generates it.
- Write one prompt per shot. Describe the subject, the setting, the lighting, and the camera move. Keep it to one action. Prompts that ask for three things to happen usually get one of them right.
- Generate a few versions. Expect to throw some away. Hands, text on signs, and fast motion can still come out wrong.
- Extend or chain clips. Most generators make short clips, so a longer scene is several clips cut together.
- Edit in a regular editor. Add your voiceover, music, and captions in CapCut, Premiere, or DaVinci Resolve.
The catch is cost per second. On Runway's pricing page, the Standard plan is $15 a month ($12 on annual billing) for 625 credits, which Runway says covers about 52 seconds of its Gen-4.5 model. Gen-4.5 uses 12 credits per second, so a 10-minute video made only from Gen-4.5 clips would need about 7,200 credits before any retries. Even the Max plan ($95 a month, 9,500 credits) covers that once with little room for mistakes. The free plan gives 125 one-time credits, enough to test it.
So generators are great for a 30-second ad or a few striking shots inside a longer video. They are an expensive way to fill 10 minutes. We compared this in more detail in VidPuff vs Runway.
How to make AI videos with an avatar tool
Avatar tools put a realistic presenter on screen who reads your script. Companies use them for training and onboarding videos, and some creators use them for explainer channels.
- Write the script yourself or draft it with a chatbot and edit it. The avatar reads exactly what you give it, mistakes included.
- Pick an avatar and a voice. Choose from the tool's stock library.
- Add slides or screen recordings behind the presenter so viewers have something to look at besides a face.
- Export and check the lip sync on any names or unusual words, then fix spellings in the script if they sound wrong.
On Synthesia's pricing page, the free Basic plan includes 10 minutes of video per month with a Synthesia watermark. Starter is listed at $19 a month on monthly billing ($14 a month billed yearly). Avatar tools work well when you need a face but don't want to film one. They're a weaker fit for story channels, where viewers want visuals that change with the narration.
How to make AI videos from a story or title
This is the workflow for faceless YouTube: history, true crime, scary stories, explainers. You need a script, a narrator, a visual for every scene, music, captions, and a 16:9 render that runs 8 to 20 minutes.
You can do it by hand with separate tools:
- Script: draft with a chatbot, then rewrite it in your own words and check every fact.
- Voice: generate narration with a text-to-speech tool. Our best AI voice generator guide compares the options.
- Visuals: make one image per scene with an image generator, or mix in a few generated clips for key moments.
- Edit: line up images with the narration, add slow zooms, music, and captions.
- Render at 1080p or higher in 16:9.
That works, but stitching five tools together is where most of the hours go. Story-to-video tools do those steps in one place. With VidPuff, you type a title, and it writes the script, generates the narration, creates a visual for each scene, adds music and captions, and renders a long-form 16:9 video. You review each stage and can change the script, voice, images, and music before the render, in documentary, 2D animation, stickman, or kids' 3D style. A standard 5-minute video uses about 113 credits (about $3 to $4), and you can pay once from $5 instead of picking a plan. Other tools in this group, with their prices, are in our list of the best AI faceless video generators.
If you'd rather make videos than read about it, VidPuff turns a title into a faceless video. No waitlist, cancel anytime.
Whatever you use, don't skip the review step. The script is where a video becomes worth watching, and it's the part YouTube cares about most (more on that below).
YouTube rules for AI videos
If you upload AI videos to YouTube, two Help pages matter.
Disclosure. YouTube asks creators to label realistic altered or synthetic content, like a real person saying something they didn't, or a realistic scene of an event that never happened. You set this in YouTube Studio under the "AI use" setting in the Attributes section during upload. According to YouTube's disclosure page, you don't need to disclose clearly unrealistic or animated content, or using AI to help write a script, title, or thumbnail. Disclosing doesn't limit reach or monetization, but creators who keep failing to disclose can face penalties, including removal from the Partner Program.
Monetization. YouTube's channel monetization policies say content should not be "mass-produced, generic, repetitive, or manipulative," and AI content made from generic templates that gives "the impression of mass production" isn't eligible. Using AI tools is allowed when the final video shows your own creative choices and gives viewers real value. In practice that means original scripts, varied visuals, and a channel that doesn't look like the same video posted 200 times. Our post on whether YouTube demonetizes AI videos goes deeper.
Length. Monetized videos that are 8 minutes or longer can have mid-roll ads, per YouTube Help. That's one reason faceless channels aim for 8 minutes and up.
Who owns an AI video?
In the US, the Copyright Office's January 2025 report on AI and copyrightability found that prompts alone don't give the user enough control to be the author of the output. Human-written parts, like your script, and your creative selection and arrangement of AI material can still be protected. So the more of the video you write and shape yourself, the more of it is yours. This is general information, not legal advice.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to make AI videos?
Start with the tool type that matches your format. For a narrated YouTube video, a story-to-video tool is the simplest because it handles script, voice, visuals, and editing in one place. For a single short clip, a text-to-video generator with a free plan is enough to try it.
Can I make AI videos for free?
You can try. Runway's free plan has 125 one-time credits and Synthesia's free plan has 10 minutes a month with a watermark, per their pricing pages. Free tiers are fine for testing but too small or too marked up for a regular channel.
How long does it take to make an AI video?
It depends on the type and how much you edit. A single generated clip takes minutes. A 10-minute narrated video built by hand from separate tools can take a full day, mostly in editing. Story-to-video tools cut the editing time, but plan time to review and rewrite the script.
Can you monetize AI videos on YouTube?
Yes, if they follow YouTube's monetization policies. AI use itself isn't banned. Generic, template-driven, mass-produced content is. Videos with original scripts and real value to viewers can earn like any other video once the channel is in the Partner Program. See how to make money on YouTube for the full path.
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