Pika
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves

How to Use

1. Create an account

   Create an account on the official website (pika.art) or in the app. You can sign up with Google, email, and more, and the free plan grants a set number of credits each month.

2. Choose a generation method (text or image)

   Choose between "Text to Video," which creates video from text, or "Image to Video," which animates an image you have.

3. Enter your prompt and settings

   Specify the content of the video you want in a prompt, and choose the aspect ratio and model (such as Pika 2.5) as needed.

4. Apply effects (Pikaffects, etc.)

   Apply Pikaffects such as "inflate," "melt," or "explode" to the generated video, or add subjects with Pikadditions.

5. Export and share

   Download and use the finished video (paid plans have no watermark and allow commercial use).

Features

• Text-to-video generation (Text to Video)

  Generate a short video that follows your instructions just by describing it in text.

• Image-to-video generation (Image to Video)

  Input a still image and turn it into a video with natural motion added. The free plan is centered on generation from images.

• Pikaffects (special effects)

  Apply unique effects to a subject, such as "inflate it / melt it / explode it / turn it into a cake."

• Pikascenes (scene generation)

  Generate a cohesive scene from a single text or image input.

• Pikadditions (element addition)

  Add new characters or objects to existing footage.

• Automatic sound-effect generation

  Generate sound effects that match the on-screen motion and add them to the video.

• Multiple models and resolutions

  Choose models such as Pika 2.5, and on paid plans, get support for all resolutions and faster generation.

Pricing

Pricing is current as of June 2026. It is credit-based and denominated in US dollars, so the equivalent in yen varies with exchange rates. Credit consumption changes with the generation content (resolution, length, features). Check the official pricing page for the latest information.

• Each plan supports rolling credits over. Prices are approximate for annual billing; monthly billing may be more expensive. Commercial use is allowed on Standard and above.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Easily create playful videos with unique effects like Pikaffects
• Generate from both text and images, well suited to short-form for social media
• Try it casually on the free plan
• Paid plans have no watermark and allow commercial use

Cons

• The user interface (UI) is mainly in English
• The free plan has significant limits: up to 480p, with a watermark, and no commercial use
• It's credit-based, so high-resolution and longer generations burn through credits quickly
• Better suited to short clips than to full-fledged long-form video production

Reviews and Reputation

• Popular with social-media creators, who say "Pikaffects are fun and make it easy to create viral short videos."
• Some note that "applying effects and adding subjects is easy, so you can use it even without editing knowledge."
• On the other hand, some point out that "the free tier gets used up fast," "the UI is in English," and "it's not suited to long-form or intricate footage."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Can I use Pika for free?

Yes. The free plan grants a set number of credits each month. However, the free plan has limits such as resolution (480p), a watermark, and no commercial use.

Q. Can I use it in Japanese?

The user interface (UI) is mainly in English. Prompts tend to be more stable in English.

Q. Can I use it commercially?

Videos generated on a paid plan of Standard or above can be used commercially. Always check the latest terms of service before use.

Q. What are Pikaffects?

A feature unique to Pika that lets you apply unique special effects to a video, such as inflating, melting, or exploding a subject.

Pika vs. other video-generation AIs

For a more detailed comparison, see the individual pages for related services as well.