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Ultimate Guide - The Cheapest Video & Multimodal AI Models in 2025

Author
Guest Blog by

Elizabeth C.

Our definitive guide to the most affordable video and multimodal AI models of 2025. We've partnered with industry insiders, tested performance on key benchmarks, and analyzed architectures to uncover the best value in generative AI. From cost-effective image-to-video and text-to-video generators to accelerated turbo models, these solutions excel in innovation, accessibility, and real-world application—helping developers and businesses build the next generation of AI-powered tools with services like SiliconFlow. Our top three recommendations for 2025 are Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-Turbo, Wan2.2-I2V-A14B, and Wan2.2-T2V-A14B—each chosen for their outstanding features, versatility, and ability to deliver professional-grade video generation at the lowest costs.



What are Affordable Video & Multimodal AI Models?

Affordable video and multimodal AI models are specialized generative models designed to create dynamic video content from static images or text descriptions at minimal cost. Using advanced deep learning architectures like Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) and diffusion transformers, they translate natural language prompts and images into smooth, high-quality video sequences. This technology allows developers and creators to generate, modify, and build upon video content with unprecedented freedom and cost efficiency. They foster collaboration, accelerate innovation, and democratize access to powerful video generation tools, enabling a wide range of applications from content creation to large-scale enterprise video solutions.

Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-Turbo

Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-Turbo is the TeaCache accelerated version of the Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P model, reducing single video generation time by 30%. This 14B model can generate 720P high-definition videos with state-of-the-art performance. It utilizes a diffusion transformer architecture and enhances generation capabilities through innovative spatiotemporal variational autoencoders (VAE), scalable training strategies, and large-scale data construction.

Subtype:
Image-to-Video
Developer:Wan-AI
Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-Turbo

Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-Turbo: Speed Meets Affordability

Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-Turbo is the TeaCache accelerated version of the Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P model, reducing single video generation time by 30%. Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P is an open-source advanced image-to-video generation model, part of the Wan2.1 video foundation model suite. This 14B model can generate 720P high-definition videos. And after thousands of rounds of human evaluation, this model is reaching state-of-the-art performance levels. It utilizes a diffusion transformer architecture and enhances generation capabilities through innovative spatiotemporal variational autoencoders (VAE), scalable training strategies, and large-scale data construction. The model also understands and processes both Chinese and English text, providing powerful support for video generation tasks. At only $0.21 per video on SiliconFlow, it's the most cost-effective option for high-quality video generation.

Pros

  • 30% faster generation time with TeaCache acceleration.
  • Lowest price at $0.21 per video on SiliconFlow.
  • 720P high-definition video output.

Cons

  • Smaller model size (14B) compared to MoE variants.
  • Image-to-video only, not text-to-video capable.

Why We Love It

  • It delivers the fastest, most affordable video generation without sacrificing quality—perfect for budget-conscious creators and developers who need professional results at scale.

Wan2.2-I2V-A14B

Wan2.2-I2V-A14B is one of the industry's first open-source image-to-video generation models featuring a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, released by Alibaba's AI initiative, Wan-AI. The model specializes in transforming a static image into a smooth, natural video sequence based on a text prompt, with enhanced performance through MoE architecture without increasing inference costs.

Subtype:
Image-to-Video
Developer:Wan-AI
Wan2.2-I2V-A14B

Wan2.2-I2V-A14B: Advanced MoE Architecture for Superior Quality

Wan2.2-I2V-A14B is one of the industry's first open-source image-to-video generation models featuring a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, released by Alibaba's AI initiative, Wan-AI. The model specializes in transforming a static image into a smooth, natural video sequence based on a text prompt. Its key innovation is the MoE architecture, which employs a high-noise expert for the initial video layout and a low-noise expert to refine details in later stages, enhancing model performance without increasing inference costs. Compared to its predecessors, Wan2.2 was trained on a significantly larger dataset, which notably improves its ability to handle complex motion, aesthetics, and semantics, resulting in more stable videos with reduced unrealistic camera movements. At $0.29 per video on SiliconFlow, it offers premium MoE capabilities at an accessible price point.

Pros

  • Industry-first open-source MoE architecture for video.
  • Enhanced performance without increased inference costs.
  • Superior handling of complex motion and aesthetics.

Cons

  • Slightly higher cost than the Turbo model.
  • Requires understanding of MoE architecture for optimization.

Why We Love It

  • It brings cutting-edge MoE architecture to video generation at an affordable price, delivering superior quality and motion handling that outperforms traditional single-expert models.

Wan2.2-T2V-A14B

Wan2.2-T2V-A14B is the industry's first open-source video generation model with a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, released by Alibaba. This model focuses on text-to-video generation, capable of producing 5-second videos at both 480P and 720P resolutions with precise cinematic style control.

Subtype:
Text-to-Video
Developer:Wan-AI
Wan2.2-T2V-A14B

Wan2.2-T2V-A14B: Text-to-Video with Cinematic Precision

Wan2.2-T2V-A14B is the industry's first open-source video generation model with a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, released by Alibaba. This model focuses on text-to-video (T2V) generation, capable of producing 5-second videos at both 480P and 720P resolutions. By introducing an MoE architecture, it expands the total model capacity while keeping inference costs nearly unchanged; it features a high-noise expert for the early stages to handle the overall layout and a low-noise expert for later stages to refine video details. Furthermore, Wan2.2 incorporates meticulously curated aesthetic data with detailed labels for lighting, composition, and color, allowing for more precise and controllable generation of cinematic styles. Compared to its predecessor, the model was trained on significantly larger datasets, which notably enhances its generalization across motion, semantics, and aesthetics, enabling better handling of complex dynamic effects. At $0.29 per video on SiliconFlow, it's the most affordable text-to-video solution with professional-grade capabilities.

Pros

  • Industry-first open-source T2V with MoE architecture.
  • Dual resolution support (480P and 720P).
  • Precise cinematic style control with aesthetic data.

Cons

  • Limited to 5-second video duration.
  • Text-to-video only, requires text prompts not images.

Why We Love It

  • It revolutionizes text-to-video generation with cinematic-quality control at an unbeatable price, making professional video creation accessible from just a text description.

AI Model Comparison

In this table, we compare 2025's leading affordable video and multimodal AI models from Wan-AI, each with a unique strength. For the fastest and cheapest image-to-video generation, Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-Turbo offers unmatched speed at the lowest price. For advanced image-to-video with MoE architecture, Wan2.2-I2V-A14B delivers superior quality and motion handling. For text-to-video generation with cinematic control, Wan2.2-T2V-A14B provides the best value. This side-by-side view helps you choose the right tool for your specific video generation needs and budget. All prices are from SiliconFlow.

Number Model Developer Subtype Pricing (SiliconFlow)Core Strength
1Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-TurboWan-AIImage-to-Video$0.21/VideoFastest & cheapest 720P generation
2Wan2.2-I2V-A14BWan-AIImage-to-Video$0.29/VideoMoE architecture for superior quality
3Wan2.2-T2V-A14BWan-AIText-to-Video$0.29/VideoCinematic text-to-video control

Frequently Asked Questions

Our top three picks for 2025's cheapest video and multimodal models are Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-Turbo, Wan2.2-I2V-A14B, and Wan2.2-T2V-A14B. Each of these models stood out for their exceptional value, innovation, and unique approach to solving challenges in affordable video generation, from accelerated image-to-video to text-to-video with cinematic control.

Our in-depth analysis shows clear leaders for different needs. Wan2.1-I2V-14B-720P-Turbo is the top choice for the fastest and most affordable image-to-video generation at $0.21 per video on SiliconFlow. For creators who need advanced image-to-video with superior motion handling and MoE architecture, Wan2.2-I2V-A14B is the best at $0.29 per video. For text-to-video generation with precise cinematic control, Wan2.2-T2V-A14B offers unmatched value at $0.29 per video on SiliconFlow.

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