What does an AI music video cost in 2026? Sondo vs Suno Hooks vs boppi vs DIY
Per-video math for the main options, in dollars, including the hidden costs: regenerations, editing time and non-commercial licences.
Updated September 25, 2026
What you are actually paying for
Under every tool sits a video model billed per clip. MiniMax's published pay-as-you-go prices, for example, are $0.19 for a 6-second Hailuo 2.3 Fast clip at 768P and $0.28 for Hailuo 2.3 (MiniMax pricing). A 3-minute video is about thirty clips, so raw model cost is roughly $6–8. Everything above that pays for beat analysis, the shot list, rendering, storage, support — and, in some products, for regenerations you should not have needed.
The comparison table
| Option | Unit | 3-minute video | 12-second hook | Hidden costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| boppi Standard | 60 credits / 6-s clip | 1,830 cr ≈ $18.30 | 150 cr ≈ $1.50 (first one free) | None; failures refunded; one-scene fixes at 60 cr |
| boppi Best | 90 credits / 6-s clip | 2,730 cr ≈ $27.30 | 210 cr ≈ $2.10 | As above |
| boppi with your photo | 90 / 130 credits per clip | 2,730 cr ≈ $27.30 (Standard) | 210 cr | As above |
| Sondo | ≈ 1,500–3,200 coins / video | ≈ $15–32 | Same as a video | Each fix is a new video; refunds reported as hard |
| 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 |
The cost that matters: the second attempt
Almost nobody ships the first render. The realistic budget is first render plus fixes. On Sondo a fix is another 1,500 coins (reviews); on boppi it is one clip, 60 credits, and scenes you already like stay locked. Over three rounds of polish the difference is roughly $45–90 versus $18–20.
Plans versus pay-as-you-go
boppi's Pro plan is $9.99 for 800 credits a month — about five hook videos or a 1-minute short — and Premier is $29.99 for 3,000 credits, a full video plus its hook cuts, with credits rolling over while you stay subscribed. Packs ($7.99/500, $19.99/1,500, $59.99/5,000) never expire. The pricing page has a calculator that takes song length and quality and returns the exact number.
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?+
≈ $18 on boppi Standard, $15–32 on Sondo before regenerations, $6–15 in model fees plus several hours if you DIY.
What is the cheapest way to get a TikTok hook video for my song?+
boppi's 12-second hook: free for your first video, then 150 credits ($1.50). Suno Hooks is free but requires your own footage.
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 boppi credits expire?+
Pack credits never expire; plan credits roll over while you remain subscribed.