Updated August 26, 2026: checked Hailuo's live subscription modal, free plan, monthly and yearly billing, 2.3 and 2.3-Fast capabilities, credit examples, watermarks, and queue rules.
Verdict: Hailuo remains a practical AI-video platform for short text-to-video and image-to-video clips. Hailuo 2.3 is the quality-oriented option; 2.3-Fast is positioned for cheaper, faster image-to-video iteration. The free tier now shows zero recurring monthly credits plus one-time trial credits, so old claims about guaranteed daily free credits should be removed.
What does Hailuo AI specialize in?
Hailuo specializes in generated video, with current product surfaces also covering images, audio, agent tools, and newer MiniMax models. The Hailuo 2.3 product page emphasizes text-to-video and image-to-video, smoother motion, facial expression, style stability, anime, and commercial scenes.
Hailuo 2.3-Fast is narrower. Hailuo describes it as an image-to-video mode optimized for speed and lower credit cost. That makes it better for prompt testing and variations, while standard 2.3 is the safer choice when text-to-video or maximum quality matters.
Hailuo 2.3 versus 2.3-Fast
| Capability | Hailuo 2.3 | Hailuo 2.3-Fast |
|---|---|---|
| Text-to-video | Yes | Not currently documented |
| Image-to-video | Yes | Yes |
| Priority | Quality and broader modes | Faster, lower-cost iteration |
| Best fit | Final candidates, complex motion, stylized work | Tests, variants, social workflows |
| First-and-last-frame input | Not supported in the official 2.3 FAQ | Not supported in the official 2.3 FAQ |
Hailuo's own examples and claims are vendor evidence. They establish intended capabilities, not a guarantee that every prompt will maintain anatomy, physics, identity, or text.
Is Hailuo AI free?
Hailuo's live pricing modal showed a Free plan at $0 per month with 0 credits monthly, "one-time free trial credits," and Hailuo-model access. That is materially different from a permanent daily-credit allowance.
The homepage also advertised a separate MiniMax Design promotion offering 3,000 credits. Promotions, new-user bonuses, and launch-week credits should be described as temporary and product-specific. A user should not assume that yesterday's bonus will recur or that it applies to Hailuo 2.3.
Free users should also expect tighter queues and watermarked output. Hailuo's paid-service terms say free users receive basic sequential and parallel generation and downloads with a watermark, while paid users receive priority, more credits, and watermark-free downloads.
Hailuo pricing: live monthly snapshot
The amounts below were displayed in Hailuo's live subscription modal on August 26, 2026. They included promotional monthly prices and can change.
| Plan | Displayed monthly price | Monthly credits | Selected benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 0 recurring | One-time trial credits; Hailuo models only |
| Standard | $10.50 | 1,000 | H3 access and paid-plan queue/export benefits |
| Pro | $38.00 | 4,500 | More credits and higher included generation estimate |
| Master | $89.00 | 10,500 | Larger credit pool and broader unlimited image benefits |
| Max | $216.00 | 27,000 | Hailuo 2.0/2.3 unlimited label plus highest credit pool |
The cards also showed non-promotional reference prices of $14.99 for Standard, $54.99 for Pro, and $119.99 for Master. Treat the checkout amount—not a review article—as the final price.
Yearly billing snapshot
The yearly view displayed effective monthly prices of $8.40 for Standard, $30.40 for Pro, $71.20 for Master, and $184.00 for Max, billed as annual totals. Annual billing reduces the effective monthly rate but increases commitment and refund risk. Confirm renewal and cancellation terms before paying.
How many credits does Hailuo 2.3 use?
Hailuo's official 2.3 page listed examples:
- 768p, 6 seconds: 25 credits
- 768p, 10 seconds: 50 credits
- 1080p, 6 seconds: 50 credits
Exact availability can vary by plan and product update. Hailuo 2.3-Fast is described as lower cost, but the official launch article said final Fast pricing would be updated later. Check the generation screen before starting a large batch.
Credit cost per attempt is only part of the budget. A usable six-second shot may require several generations, prompt revisions, reference-image changes, or a different model. Estimate cost per approved clip, not cost per button press.
What Hailuo does well
Hailuo is approachable. A user can start from text or an image, choose a model and output setting, generate, and iterate. The 2.3 line targets common AI-video weaknesses: full-body motion, facial expression, product movement, and style stability.
It is also useful to have Fast and standard paths in one product. A creator can explore cheaply with Fast, then spend more credits on the most promising concepts.
Where Hailuo still needs review
Short AI video can fail in subtle ways: hands change, faces drift, objects merge, camera motion ignores the prompt, or a product logo mutates between frames. A polished demo does not predict the retry rate for your character, brand, or shot.
Commercial users should also verify licences, privacy, music rights, model-specific terms, and watermark status. A paid plan can remove a platform watermark; it cannot grant rights to third-party characters, logos, source images, or music you do not own.
Which Hailuo plan should you choose?
Use the free trial to test one representative shot. Standard is the lowest-risk paid entry for occasional work. Pro or Master may suit regular iteration if the credit math beats pay-as-you-go alternatives. Max only makes sense when the unlimited labels cover the models and resolutions you actually use and the workflow justifies the commitment.
Do not buy from the credit number alone. Compare queue speed, watermark removal, target resolution, model access, export rights, and expected retries.
FAQ
Is Hailuo AI free?
Yes, but the current Free plan displays zero recurring monthly credits and one-time free trial credits. Temporary promotions may add credits.
How many free Hailuo credits do you get daily?
Hailuo did not display a guaranteed daily amount in the live plan check. Do not rely on old launch-week or campaign numbers.
What is the difference between Hailuo 2.3 and 2.3-Fast?
2.3 supports text-to-video and image-to-video and prioritizes quality. 2.3-Fast is documented as a faster, lower-cost image-to-video option.
How much does a Hailuo 2.3 video cost?
Official examples range from 25 credits for a 768p six-second clip to 50 credits for 768p ten seconds or 1080p six seconds.
Does Hailuo add a watermark?
Hailuo's terms say free-user downloads include a watermark and paid plans support watermark-free downloads.
Official sources
- Hailuo AI live product and plans
- Hailuo 2.3 model page
- Hailuo 2.3 and 2.3-Fast announcement
- Hailuo paid-service terms
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