Runway, Pika, Akool, and CapCut are the best AI video apps to try if you like Aireel AI or Deepswap. They help you make clips, swap faces, remove backgrounds, add effects, and fix boring footage fast. The AI video generator market was worth about $554.9 million in 2023, so yes, this stuff is not a tiny side quest anymore [source: Grand View Research].
TLDR: Pick Runway for pro-style AI edits, Pika for fun short clips, Akool for face swaps and avatars, and CapCut for quick social videos. For example, a creator can turn one product photo into a 10-second ad, add captions, and post it to TikTok in under 20 minutes. If you make 5 videos a week, these tools can easily cut editing time by 40% or more. Start with CapCut if you want simple. Try Runway if you want the “wait, how did you make that?” effect.
Table of Contents
1. Runway: Best for cinematic AI edits
Runway is the cool kid in the AI video room. It can generate video from text, turn images into moving clips, erase objects, change style, and help clean up messy footage.
It feels more like a creative studio than a basic editor. You can type a prompt like “a neon city street at night with rain and glowing signs”, and it can create a short clip from that idea. That is wild. Still feels a bit like magic.
Best for:
- Music videos
- Short films
- Concept ads
- Fashion clips
- Storyboards
Why it is like Aireel AI and Deepswap: It helps you create bold visual content without a full camera crew. It is less focused on face swap tricks and more focused on full AI video creation.
The catch is… you may need to reroll clips a few times. Sometimes the hands look strange. Sometimes faces get mushy. Expect to waste time on prompt tweaking if you want a clean result.
2. Pika: Best for quick fun clips
Pika is great when you want fast, silly, eye-catching videos. It is made for short clips that feel perfect for social media.
You can start with text or an image. Then Pika turns it into motion. Want a cat riding a tiny scooter through Paris? Sure. Want your product floating in space? Also sure. Pika enjoys weird ideas.
Best for:
- TikTok clips
- Instagram Reels
- Memes
- Product teasers
- Fantasy scenes
Why it is like Aireel AI and Deepswap: It gives creators a fast way to make shareable video without complex editing. The vibe is playful. The learning curve is soft.
What I like: It does not feel scary. You can jump in and make something funny in minutes. That matters. Some AI tools make you feel like you need three tutorials and a snack break.
What may annoy you: Clip length can feel short. You may also get random motion that looks cool but makes no sense. One extra generation can add 20 to 40 seconds to the process, which gets old when you are testing lots of ideas.
3. Akool: Best for face swaps and talking avatars
Akool is a strong pick if you are coming from Deepswap. It focuses on face swaps, talking avatars, translated videos, and business-style AI content.
If you want to swap a face in a video, make an avatar present your script, or create a marketing clip in another language, Akool is worth testing. It is less goofy than Pika. It feels more like a tool for brands, creators, coaches, and online sellers.
Best for:
- Face swap videos
- AI presenters
- Training videos
- Sales clips
- Localized ads
Why it is like Aireel AI and Deepswap: It works well for identity-based video edits. If your main goal is changing a face or creating a digital spokesperson, this is closer to Deepswap than Runway or Pika.
Use it with care: Face swaps can get messy fast. Always get consent. Do not fake real people saying things they never said. Funny edits are fine. Creepy edits are not.
4. CapCut: Best for fast social editing
CapCut is the easiest app on this list for many people. It is not only an AI video app. It is a full editor with smart AI features packed inside.
You get auto captions, background removal, templates, AI effects, text-to-speech, filters, resizing, and quick exports. If you make Reels, Shorts, or TikToks, CapCut feels handy right away.
Best for:
- Daily content
- Talking head videos
- Short ads
- Captioned clips
- Beginner editing
Why it is like Aireel AI and Deepswap: It helps creators polish video fast. It is not the strongest face swap tool. But for captions, effects, cuts, and social edits, it is hard to beat.
Honestly, it feels like… CapCut was built for people who do not want to babysit timelines all day. Auto captions alone can save loads of time. Fixing small caption errors is still annoying, but it beats typing every word by hand.
Quick pick guide
- Pick Runway if you want cinematic AI scenes.
- Pick Pika if you want fun clips for social media.
- Pick Akool if you want face swaps or avatars.
- Pick CapCut if you want fast edits with captions.
Which one should you try first?
If you are new, start with CapCut. It is simple. It gives quick wins. You can make a decent video without feeling lost.
If you want more wow factor, try Pika next. It is great for testing wild ideas. If you want serious AI video power, move to Runway. If your main focus is faces, avatars, or digital presenters, try Akool.
The best part? You do not need to pick one forever. Use CapCut for captions. Use Runway for dreamy shots. Use Pika for weird clips. Use Akool for face-based edits. Mix them. Break the rules a little. That is where the fun starts.