I’m working on an inference platform gig, and basically every legit AI video model is hanging off one API. So every time a new model drops, clients hit me with the same question: “Is this better than what we’re using now?” Seedance 2.0 landed back in February this year, and it’s the model I’ve seen the most film and marketing teams referencing—fast, native audio out of the box, handles 15-second multi-shot scripts, and the average cost per run is just over a buck.
I ran all the alternatives I’ve got hosted through their paces, and the takeaway is: pick a model based on the job, not the name. If you need top-tier quality where every frame has to hold up as a standalone shot, Veo 3.1 is stronger, but it’s pricey. For bulk testing and social media creative on a budget, Hailuo 2.3, LTX 2 Pro, Wan 2.7, and Seedance 2.0 Fast are all cheap entry points. Breaking it down by scenario: for character-heavy shots, Kling 2.6 is the most stable—facial micro-expressions and lip-sync rarely mess up; for creative storytelling where you can tolerate a bit of prompt drift, Sora 2 is a better fit.
A few pitfalls I’ve hit in testing worth noting: Seedance locks you into specific durations—4/5/6/8/10/12/15 seconds, no 7 or 11. Descriptions for specific sound effects tend to fail, so keep audio prompts abstract. Multi-shot scripts under 8 seconds often throw errors because it wants each shot to breathe for at least 3 seconds. The smartest move is to run the same prompt across a few strong models, compare results, then route the bulk work to the cheapest option.