Which one to choose
Choose Kling 4.0 if
- You need one continuous generation longer than 16 seconds: Kling 4.0 runs from 3 to 30 seconds.
- You plan a shot beat by beat and want up to 10 keyframes along the timeline.
- You want to steer a shot with reference videos, including white-model and depth-map clips, alongside images and subjects.
- You need to edit existing footage, such as replacing a product or changing a background, rather than only generate new clips.
Choose Vidu Q4 if
- You are building video generation into an app and need an API now; Kling has only said its 4.0 API is coming soon.
- You want a published price: 9 to 78 credits per second depending on resolution, at a standard rate of $0.005 per credit.
- You start from a still image, or up to 15 reference images plus up to 3 voice clips, and want them animated with a prompt.
- You need 4K output from a documented API parameter today.
Overview
Kling 4.0 and Vidu Q4 are two of the newest AI video models from Chinese labs. Kling AI announced the global launch of Kling 4.0 on October 16, 2026, after a preview that began on September 28. Vidu offers Q4 as a preview model on its developer platform. Both generate clips with sound made together with the picture, so the choice comes down to how long the shot runs, how much reference material you bring, and whether you work in an app or through an API.
Kling 4.0 is a creator app first: it generates 3 to 30 seconds in one pass, takes up to 15 combined references and 10 keyframes, and edits existing footage. Its API is announced but not yet open. Vidu Q4 is an API first: it animates a start frame or a set of reference images into 3 to 16 seconds at up to 4K, with an exact per-second credit price.
This comparison is based on Kling AI's launch announcement, product guide and feature pages, and on Vidu's API documentation and pricing page, checked on the dates shown. We did not generate the same shot with both models.
Facts at a glance
| Fact | Kling 4.0 | Vidu Q4 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Kling 4.0 runs in Kling AI's credit-based creation app. Eligible users get free generation options whose credits depend on account and promotional conditions, and free exports generally carry a watermark. Watermark removal, some models, higher resolutions and advanced features need a membership or extra credits; the checked pages publish no membership prices. Kling's API prepaid packages and Enterprise plans do not yet support Kling 4.0. | Vidu Q4 preview uses prepaid API credits. Per second of video it costs 9 credits at 540p, 19 at 720p, 24 at 1080p, 38 at 2K and 78 at 4K, for both image-to-video and reference-to-video. The standard rate is $0.005 per credit, so a second of 720p video is about $0.095 at that rate. Larger packages lower the per-credit price, and two Q4 Preview packages are currently discounted. |
| Free use | Free generation is offered to eligible users, with credits and features that depend on account and promotional conditions; free-tier exports generally include a watermark. | Not established from official pages |
| Available on | Runs on the web in Kling AI's video generator, where you enter a prompt or upload an image, generate, preview and download. | Available as a REST API on the Vidu Open Platform: tasks are created with an HTTPS POST to api.vidu.com, authenticated with an API key token, and results are fetched by task ID or delivered to a callback URL. · API keys and credit purchases are managed in the platform console after login. |
| Category | Video & Animation | Video & Animation |
| Sources checked | Checked 16 October 2026 | Checked 8 October 2026 |
Where they differ
| Topic | Kling 4.0 | Vidu Q4 |
|---|---|---|
| Where you use it | The Kling AI website, with a redesigned creation page, timeline editing, Canvas and an Agent. Kling says API access for enterprises and developers is coming soon, and Adobe says Kling 4.0 is coming to Firefly. | A REST API on the Vidu Open Platform, with API keys and credit purchases in its console. Result links last 24 hours, so outputs must be downloaded promptly. |
| Clip length | 3 to 30 seconds in one generation. Kling also says an uploaded video can be extended to up to two minutes. | 3 to 16 seconds per generation, 5 by default. |
| What you start from | Text alone, a start and end frame, or Omni Reference with up to 15 combined assets: up to 10 images, up to 5 videos totalling 30 seconds, and up to 7 subjects, plus voice references. Prompts run up to 8,000 tokens. | One start-frame image for image-to-video, or 1 to 15 reference images and up to 3 MP3 voice clips for reference-to-video, with a prompt of up to 20,000 characters. Q4 has no documented text-only mode. |
| Timing control and editing | Up to 10 keyframes to fix what happens when. Multimodal editing adds, replaces or removes elements in existing footage, with up to 5 input videos per edit. | Automatic camera switching within a clip. Editing of existing footage is not listed for Q4. |
| Resolution | Kling's product guide lists 4K output and 21:9 ultrawide video. Its launch release says 10-bit HDR at 1080p and 4K is coming soon. | 540p, 720p, 1080p, 2K and 4K, set per request (720p by default). |
| Audio | Native dialogue, sound effects and ambient sound in two-channel stereo, with improved lip sync and dialogue in English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Hindi and other languages. | Generates dialogue and sound effects with the video by default; audio can be switched off for silent clips. Reference voice clips keep a character's voice consistent. |
| Pricing | Credits in the Kling app, with free generation for eligible users and a watermark on free exports. Kling has not published 4.0 API rates. | Prepaid credits per second of output: 9 at 540p, 19 at 720p, 24 at 1080p, 38 at 2K and 78 at 4K. At $0.005 per credit, a second of 720p is about $0.095. Failed generations are not charged. |
Questions people ask
Can I use Kling 4.0 through an API yet?
Not yet. Kling AI's October 16, 2026 launch announcement says Kling 4.0 is fully available on the Kling AI website and will come to enterprise customers and developers through API access soon. Vidu Q4 preview is available through Vidu's API now.
Which one makes longer clips?
Kling 4.0. It generates 3 to 30 seconds in one pass, and Kling says an uploaded video can be extended to up to two minutes. Vidu Q4 generates 3 to 16 seconds per request.
Can either model start from text alone?
Kling 4.0 supports text-to-video without a reference image. Vidu documents Q4 preview for image-to-video and reference-to-video, so you start from at least one image and guide it with a prompt.
Do both generate sound?
Yes. Kling 4.0 generates dialogue, sound effects and ambient sound in stereo with multilingual lip sync. Vidu Q4 generates dialogue and sound effects with the video by default, can take up to three voice clips as reference, and can turn audio off.
Did you test both models with the same prompt?
No. This comparison uses Kling AI's launch announcement, product guide and feature pages, and Vidu's API documentation and pricing page, checked on the dates shown on each tool's profile.
Related guides
Ordalin does not accept payment for placement. Pricing, platforms and check dates come from each tool's official website as recorded in its profile; the editorial notes are our judgement. How we review.