Pixlr
Runway
| Feature | Pixlr | Runway |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $1.99/mo | Free / from $12/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | casual-editors, social-media-managers, small-businesses, students | filmmakers, content-creators, advertisers, video-editors |
| Founded | 2008 | 2018 |
| Photo Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Background Removal | ✓ | ✗ |
| Generative Fill | ✓ | ✗ |
| Batch Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collage Maker | ✓ | ✗ |
| Text To Video | ✗ | ✓ |
| Image To Video | ✗ | ✓ |
| Video Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Green Screen | ✗ | ✓ |
| Motion Brush | ✗ | ✓ |
| Inpainting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Upscaling | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Pixlr Pros
- Works entirely in browser
- AI tools are fast and effective
- Very affordable premium plans
- Both simple (Express) and advanced (Editor) modes
✗ Pixlr Cons
- Ads on free version
- Less powerful than Photoshop
- Internet required for all work
✓ Runway Pros
- Industry-leading video generation quality
- Comprehensive AI creative tools
- Text-to-video and image-to-video
- Professional-grade motion control
✗ Runway Cons
- Credits deplete quickly with video generation
- Expensive for heavy use
- Generated videos limited to a few seconds
The Verdict
Pixlr is built for casual editors and social media managers, with a focus on photo-editing and ai-background-removal. Runway targets filmmakers and content creators and leads with text-to-video and image-to-video.
On pricing, Pixlr is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $1.99/mo compared to $12/mo for Runway. That $10.01/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Runway offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Pixlr takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Runway has a slight overall edge — but if works entirely in browser matters most to you, Pixlr may still be the right call.