Vidu alternative

The Vidu alternative,script first.

Vidu, by ShengShu, turns a prompt or a few reference images into clips with its Q-series models, on the web and in its phone apps. ScreenWeaver starts from a real screenplay, free to write, and builds the storyboard and the footage from it. Your script stays the source of truth.
Start writing for freeCompare the two
  • Screenwriting free, no expiry
  • Storyboard built from your script
  • Video from the same shots
The ScreenWeaver screenplay editor: acts, sequences and beats above a formatted scene from The Yellow Umbrella
ScreenplayStoryboard

Two ways to start

References or a screenplay?

Both get you to moving pictures. The difference is what holds the film together from the first shot to the last.

Prompt-first · Vidu

Start from a prompt or references

  1. 1Type a prompt, start from an image, or pick one of the AI templates.
  2. 2Reference to Video takes three or more images of a character, an object or a scene to keep it consistent.
  3. 3Vidu Q4 or Q3 generates the clip with sound, up to 1080p; Vidu S answers in real time.
  4. 4Vidu Agent can take one sentence to a finished piece, in conversation.

Fast for character clips, anime and short pieces, when the idea is a moment rather than a screenplay.

Script-first · ScreenWeaver

Write the screenplay first

  1. 1Write in a real screenwriting editor: industry formatting, outline and beats. Free.
  2. 2The shot breakdown and storyboard are generated from your scenes. You control each shot.
  3. 3Characters, locations and references carry from shot to shot.
  4. 4Each shot becomes a video node in the same project. Seedance 2.5, Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0 and more in one menu.

Built for writers and directors of films and series, who rewrite the script while the boards take shape.

What stays in your hands

The script leads. The AI follows.

  • The screenplay is the reference

    Every storyboard frame is linked to its scene and beat. Rewrite a scene and you know which shots it touches.

  • Manual control of each shot

    Framing, angle, movement and duration: you set them, shot by shot.

  • Continuity from shot to shot

    Characters, locations and references carry from one shot to the next.

  • Several models, one project

    Seedance 2.5 by default, with Seedance 2.0, Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0, MiniMax H3 and Grok Imagine Video 1.5 on the same video node.

The pipeline

Write. Board. Produce.

  1. ScreenWeaver screenplay editor: acts, sequences and beats above the formatted script of The Yellow Umbrella

    01The screenplay, enriched

    An industry-standard screenplay editor, and more: a visual outline and beat editor, your writing inspirations (notes, photos, audio) kept next to the page, and an AI researcher to support your writing, not replace it.

  2. ScreenWeaver storyboard: shot S3 of The Yellow Umbrella with characters, shot settings and the script beside it

    02The storyboard, made easy

    Shot breakdown generated from your screenplay, manual control over every shot (frame, angle, movement, duration), and generative AI previsualization in one click.

  3. ScreenWeaver production canvas: shots S3 and S4 as connected nodes carrying their storyboard panels and prompts

    03AI production, with finesse

    Footage generation pipelines connected to your screenplay and storyboard. Optimized out of the box, fully editable workflow.

Where things stand

What you can use today.

Vidu and ScreenWeaver both generate video today. Here is exactly what each ScreenWeaver plan includes.
  1. Available

    Screenwriter

    $0does not expire

    Unlimited projects and pages, industry formatting, outline and beats, PDF and Final Draft (.fdx) export.

  2. Available

    Auteur

    $39.99a month, 6,000 credits

    The storyboard generated from your screenplay, then AI video from the same shots, with the latest models.

  3. Available

    Studio

    $149.99a month, 25,000 credits

    Everything in Auteur, plus real-time collaboration, unlimited seats and Owner, Editor and Viewer permissions.

Side by side

ScreenWeaver vs Vidu

Features as each company describes them. Vidu's web prices did not load, so we quote its App Store listing.
ScreenWeaverVidu
Starting pointYour screenplayA prompt, an image or reference images
Writing the scriptScreenwriting editor, industry formattingNo script editor listed
Script filesExport to PDF and Final Draft (.fdx)No screenplay files listed
Storyboard from the scriptAuteur plan, $39.99/moNo storyboard tool listed
Shot controlFraming, angle, movement, durationPrompt, references, templates and the agent
ConsistencyCharacters, locations, references tied to the scriptReference to Video, from three or more images
Video generation todayYes, in the Auteur plan
Video modelsSeedance 2.5 and 2.0, Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0, MiniMax H3, Grok Imagine Video 1.5Vidu Q4, Q3 and Vidu S (real time)
Free planWriting free, no expiryNot stated on the pages we could read
Paid plansAuteur $39.99/mo (6,000 credits), Studio $149.99/mo (25,000 credits)In the App Store: Standard $10, Premium $35, Ultimate $99
CollaborationReal-time, Studio planNot listed on its home page
Beyond videoScript, storyboard and production in one projectSound effects, AI templates, community remix, an agent
On a phoneAny browser on phone, tablet or computer, installable like an app, no app store neededWeb, plus iOS and Android apps

Competitor information as of October 2026, from vidu.com and the Vidu listings on the App Store and Google Play. The web pricing page did not show its plans; the App Store also sells credit packs from $0.49. Prices in US dollars. Check their site for the latest.

Fair is fair

What Vidu does well

Vidu is ShengShu's video studio, built on its own Q-series models, with a strong focus on characters that stay the same from clip to clip.

  • Vidu Q4, its all-in-one flagship, next to Q3 with sound and Vidu S in real time
  • Reference to Video: three or more images of a character, an object or a scene, kept consistent
  • Vidu Agent: from one sentence to a finished piece, in conversation
  • On phones: iOS and Android apps, with templates and community remixes

Vidu is still a good fit if you make character clips, anime or short pieces from references, often on your phone, more than a film from a screenplay.

Our verdict

If your film starts from a script, start here.

Vidu is great at keeping a character consistent across short clips. If your film starts from a script, ScreenWeaver keeps the screenplay as the source of truth: free professional writing, a storyboard generated from your scenes, and video from the same shots.

  • Professional writing, free and unlimited, with PDF and Final Draft export
  • A storyboard generated from your screenplay, shot by shot
  • Video from the same shots, characters kept consistent
Start writing for free

More options

The best Vidu alternatives in 2026

Looking for software like Vidu? Here are the other tools we compared, each on its own page, with prices checked on their sites.

We make ScreenWeaver, so we list it first. The other tools follow in no particular order, each with what it does best.

  1. ScreenWeaver

    Script, storyboard, AI previs

    Our tool
    Best for
    Writers who want the screenplay, the storyboard and AI previsualization in one tool, starting free.
    Price
    Screenwriter $0, free forever. Auteur $39.99/mo, Studio $149.99/mo.
    Try it free

  2. Runway

    AI video

    Best for
    Generating shots, images and sound from a prompt, with an agent that cuts them together.
    Price
    125 free credits, once. Paid $15, $35 or $95/mo.
    Full comparison

  3. Kling AI

    AI video

    Best for
    Short, high-motion video sequences from a prompt or a pasted scene.
    Price
    Credit memberships, prices shown on kling.ai.
    Full comparison

  4. Pika

    AI video

    Best for
    Playful clips, effects and sound from a prompt.
    Price
    Free plan with credit packs. Paid $10, $35 or from $95/mo.
    Full comparison

  5. Luma Dream Machine

    AI video

    Best for
    Concept and campaign work with agents on an infinite board.
    Price
    Paid $30, $90 or $300/mo, less billed yearly.
    Full comparison

  6. PixVerse

    AI video

    Best for
    Quick social clips and effects from a photo or a prompt, on the phone.
    Price
    Free plan with daily credits. Paid from $10/mo, or $8/mo billed yearly.
    Full comparison

  7. LTX Studio

    AI video

    Best for
    Generating AI video from a prompt, an image or a script.
    Price
    800 free credits, once. Paid $15, $35 or $125/mo.
    Full comparison

Prices in US dollars, list prices as published on each vendor's site in September 2026 (Katalist, Runway, Kling, invideo, PixVerse, Hailuo AI, Pika, Luma, Previs Pro, Dreamina and Vidu in October 2026). Check their sites for the latest.

More comparisons

Read more

Guides and comparisons

FAQ

Questions Vidu users ask

Is ScreenWeaver an alternative to Vidu?
Yes, for filmmakers who start from a screenplay. Vidu starts from a prompt or reference images and generates clips. ScreenWeaver starts with a free screenwriting editor, then generates the shot breakdown, the storyboard and the footage from your script.
Does ScreenWeaver generate video today?
Yes. Video generation is available in the Auteur plan, at $39.99 a month. Each storyboard shot becomes a video node, so the footage stays tied to the scene you wrote.
How much does Vidu cost in 2026?
As of October 2026, the Vidu listing on the App Store sells Standard at $10, Premium at $35 and Ultimate at $99, plus credit packs from $0.49. The web pricing page did not show its plans, so check vidu.com for the current price before you compare.
Can I write a screenplay in Vidu?
No. Vidu works from prompts, images and templates, and lists no script editor and no screenplay files. ScreenWeaver is a screenwriting editor with industry formatting, outline and beats, and PDF and Final Draft (.fdx) export, for free.
Can Vidu make a storyboard from a script?
Vidu does not list a storyboard tool built from a script: its agent works from one sentence. In ScreenWeaver the storyboard is generated from the scenes you wrote, and each frame stays linked to its scene and beat while you rewrite.
How does ScreenWeaver keep characters consistent?
Characters, locations and references carry from shot to shot, tied to the same script. Their sheets are wired into each shot's video node as references, which is what keeps a face the same from one shot to the next.
Which video models does ScreenWeaver use?
Seedance 2.5 is the default. Seedance 2.0, Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0, MiniMax H3 and Grok Imagine Video 1.5 are in the same menu, so you can try another model on the same shot without leaving the project.
Is ScreenWeaver free?
Writing is. The Screenwriter plan costs $0 and does not expire: unlimited projects and pages, PDF and Final Draft export. The Auteur plan costs $39.99 a month for 6,000 credits, and the Studio plan $149.99 a month for 25,000 credits.
What is the best software like Vidu?
For character clips and short pieces from references, Vidu, Kling and Hailuo AI are strong picks, on the web and on phones. For a film or a series you write yourself, ScreenWeaver keeps the script, the storyboard and the footage in one project. Each tool is compared on its own page, linked above.

Vidu and ShengShu are trademarks of their respective owner. ScreenWeaver is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by ShengShu. Product names are used only to identify the products compared.

Write the film first. Then shoot it.

Start with a free screenplay editor. The storyboard is built from your pages, and the video from your storyboard.
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