Midways feature status: Image generation, qualified video generation, Ask Midways and the manual editor are launching with V1; advanced assisted editing is in development. Midways plans are not announced. Competitor prices, model access and commercial terms in this dated editorial comparison require revalidation.
This page exists to help you understand how AI video subscription tiers and credits actually work in practice — real, dated numbers from both companies, not a ranking or a claim that either product is cheaper or better.
Short answer: Hailuo is MiniMax's consumer-facing AI video generation app, built around its own video models (including the newer MiniMax H3) with a credit-based subscription. Midways is a timeline-first editor with AI creation built in. If you mainly want a consumer video-generation app with reference and editing effects, Hailuo is built for that; if you want to assemble and finish a project on a real timeline, Midways is.
What is Hailuo?
Hailuo is MiniMax's AI video generator app. Per its own site (reviewed September 2026), it offers native multimodal generation and multimodal editing with reference-image support ("Omni Reference"), and runs on a credit-based subscription. Hailuo's own pricing page did not expose a full static plan table at review time; publicly reported tiers (via cross-referenced third-party summaries) describe a free entry tier, a Standard tier around $7.99–$14.99/month with roughly 1,000 monthly credits, scaling up to a Max tier reported around $199.99/month — verify current tiers directly on hailuoai.video, as this structure could not be fully confirmed from Hailuo's own page at review time.
What is Midways?
Midways is developing an assisted video editing workspace: a real multi-track timeline with AI image and video creation built in. Manual editing doesn't spend AI credits; credits are for AI compute.
How they differ
| Dimension | Hailuo (MiniMax) | Midways |
|---|---|---|
| Core emphasis | Consumer AI video generation app | Timeline-first editor |
| Manual timeline control | Not its focus | Launching with V1 |
| Agentic "propose then review" | Not its model | In development |
| Reference-image ("Omni Reference") generation | Available | Not a published Midways feature |
| Image generation | Available | Launching with V1 |
| Video generation | Available (MiniMax H3 and prior models) | Launching with V1 |
| Pricing model | Tiered credit subscription (exact tiers not confirmed on Hailuo's own page at review) | Terms pending approval |
Creation
Hailuo's stated focus is consumer video generation with reference-driven editing effects. Midways offers image and video creation aimed at feeding a project you then edit on a timeline.
Editing and manual control
Midways centers a multi-track timeline for assembling and finishing a project. Hailuo's product is oriented around the generation and effect step rather than a general editing timeline.
Agentic workflow
Hailuo is a generation app, not an agent that edits a whole project. Midways' agentic model — describe intent, Midways proposes, you review — is Building, not yet fully operational.
Pricing and credits
Midways plans, credit allowances and purchase terms are pending approval. Competitor prices and commercial terms on this page require revalidation before a purchase decision.
Who might each suit?
- Hailuo (MiniMax) — creators who want a consumer video-generation app with
reference-driven effects.
- Midways — creators who want a real editing timeline with AI creation in
one place, and who value manual editing that doesn't spend AI credits.
Current Midways readiness
Midways status: image generation, qualified text-to-video, Ask Midways and manual editing are launching with V1; advanced assisted editing and reference creation remain in development or future concepts. Customer access is not yet announced.