---
title: AI video pricing explained: credits, duration and modes
description: Calculate Donatello AI video credits from the selected mode and duration, compare Fast and Quality, and understand reservations and refunds.
canonical: https://donatello.studio/resources/ai-video-pricing-credits-duration
published: 2026-08-26
modified: 2026-08-26
author: Donatello Editorial
---

# AI video pricing explained: credits, duration and modes

Donatello video pricing is duration-based. The generator multiplies the selected whole-second duration by the displayed rate and shows the exact credit total before generation.

> Key takeaway: Fast currently costs 10 credits per requested second and supports 1–10 seconds. Quality costs 100 credits per requested second and supports 4, 6 or 8 seconds while its production route is available.

## The pricing formula

For video, the calculation is deliberately simple: selected seconds multiplied by the per-second rate. A five-second Fast video therefore reserves 50 credits. A six-second Quality video reserves 600 credits.

| Mode | Supported duration | Rate | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fast | 1–10 seconds | 10 credits / second | 5 seconds = 50 credits |
| Quality | 4, 6 or 8 seconds | 100 credits / second | 6 seconds = 600 credits |

- [See live pricing](https://donatello.studio/pricing)
- [Open the video generator](https://donatello.studio/ai-video-generator)

## Choose the mode from the job, not the name

Fast is the economical route for testing movement, camera direction, framing and prompt changes. Quality uses a higher-cost production route and appears only while that route is available.

A practical workflow is to validate the idea in Fast, then use Quality only for a selected direction. A strong starting frame also reduces ambiguity: it fixes the visual composition while the prompt concentrates on motion and the intended ending.

- Use text-only generation when composition can remain exploratory.
- Use a starting frame when subject identity and framing matter.
- Describe camera movement, subject movement and ending state separately.
- Select the shortest duration that can express the shot before expanding it.

## Reservations, failures and returned credits

Donatello reserves the displayed amount when the request is accepted. The reservation prevents another simultaneous request from spending the same balance.

A completed generation consumes the amount. A final non-billable technical failure restores the reserved credits automatically. Provider safety rejections cause the request to fail and remain subject to the service rules described in the Terms.

> Always use the number displayed inside the generator as the transaction-specific price. Product Facts is the canonical public record when a rate changes.

## Finish the workflow within 72 hours

Uploaded frames and generated videos are private creative files, not permanent cloud storage. Download the selected output before the 72-hour retention period ends. Lightweight creation metadata can remain after the file expires.

## Sources and verification

- [Live Donatello Pricing](https://donatello.studio/pricing)
- [Video generator](https://donatello.studio/ai-video-generator)
- [Canonical Product Facts](https://donatello.studio/product-facts)
- [Credits and failure terms](https://donatello.studio/terms)

Current product conditions are maintained in [Donatello Product Facts](https://donatello.studio/product-facts). This resource is written for people first and is not legal advice.