Starts atFree plan · paid from $19/mo billed yearly
- Free plan5 videos/month, up to 2 min each, 720p
- Watermark on free exports
Head-to-head
Lumen5 vs Pictory: which turns text into video better?
At a glance
Starts atFree trial · paid from $25/mo billed yearly
- No free plan
- Free trial14 days
Both turn blogs and scripts into stock-footage videos. Lumen5 has a free plan: 5 videos a month, up to 2 minutes each, 720p. Pictory has no free plan, only a 14-day trial, but it also cuts highlights from long videos.
Quick verdict
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | Lumen5 | Pictory |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: 5 videos a month, up to 2 min, 720p, watermark | No. 14-day trial, 15 video minutes, 5 min max |
| Paid from | $19/month (ShortStack data) | Starter: $25/month yearly, $29 monthly, 200 minutes |
| Next plan | Not reached (Oct 2026) | Professional: $35/month yearly, $59 monthly, 600 minutes |
| Export | Free: 720p | 1080p |
| Watermark | Free: yes | Starter: none |
| Best for | Blog to video | Script to video and highlights |
For Shorts and Reels
Lumen5 Free's 2 minute cap fits Shorts, but 720p with a watermark is weak for posting. Pictory Starter's 200 minutes a month is about 400 30-second Shorts, far more than most creators need.
How to choose
- Testing free: Lumen5.
- Posting weekly at 1080p: Pictory Starter.
- Clipping podcasts: Pictory.
Questions people search
Is Pictory free?
No. It has a 14-day trial with 15 video minutes.
What are Lumen5's free plan limits?
5 videos a month, up to 2 minutes each, 720p.
How much does Pictory cost?
Starter is $25 a month billed yearly or $29 monthly.
Related: Pictory alternatives, faceless video tools.
Sources: lumen5.com/pricing, pictory.ai/pricing. lumen5.com/pricing loads by script, so Lumen5's paid price comes from ShortStack's tool data. Checked on 16 October 2026. Based on published plans and terms, not a hands-on test.