Answer: MiniMax H3 at 480P is the cheapest video in this catalogue at $0.01 per output second (1 credit). Seedance 2.0 Mini is next at $0.02 (2 credits) and is the cheapest route that also accepts real-face references.
Both figures are per output second, not per clip, and both come from the same credit pool on Callirra — one credit is $0.01. That matters because "cheapest per second" is the only price comparison that survives a change of duration.
The per-second table
| Model · tier | Credits / output second | USD / second | 10-second clip |
|---|---|---|---|
| MiniMax H3 · 480P | 1 | $0.01 | $0.10 |
| MiniMax H3 · 768P | 2 | $0.02 | $0.20 |
| Seedance 2.0 Mini · 480P | 2 | $0.02 | $0.20 |
| Seedance 1.0 Lite · 480P | 2 | $0.02 | $0.20 |
| MiniMax H3 · 1080P | 3 | $0.03 | $0.30 |
| Seedance 1.0 Lite · 720P | 5 | $0.05 | $0.50 |
| Seedance 2.0 Fast · 480P | 6 | $0.06 | $0.60 |
| Seedance 2.0 · 480P | 10 | $0.10 | $1.00 |
| MiniMax H3 · 2K | 10 | $0.10 | $1.00 |
| Seedance 2.5 · 480P | 14 | $0.14 | $1.40 |
Higher tiers climb fast: Seedance 2.0 at 4K is 105 credits per second ($1.05), Seedance 2.5 at 720P is 32 ($0.32). Those are not mistakes — they buy resolution and instruction-following, not a cheaper second.
Why "per second" is the right unit
A clip is not a fixed product. The same model at the same tier can render 4 seconds or 15, and most platforms price by duration. Comparing "cost per clip" tells you nothing when one tool's default is 5 seconds and another's is 10.
Comparing per output second normalises duration, so the only remaining variables are resolution and model family — which is exactly what you want to compare.
Where the "cheapest" claim breaks
Cheapest per second is not cheapest per usable second. If a five-second draft at $0.01/s is unusable, its real cost is infinite until you pull again. Budget as: pulls × seconds × rate ÷ seconds you keep. A model that costs 3× more but lands in one take is cheaper.
The cheap tier caps out. H3 480P runs to 15 seconds; standard 1080P stops at 10. Seedance 2.0 Mini stops at 720P. If the deliverable needs 1080p, the "$0.01" tier is not an option at all.
Free tiers change the arithmetic. Both models are usable on a new account's free credits: 18 in week one, 15 a week after — enough for 18 seconds at H3 480P or 9 seconds of Seedance Mini 480P.
What I would actually buy
- Drafts and blocking: MiniMax H3 480P at $0.01/s. Twelve five-second explorations cost 60 credits.
- Real faces on a budget: Seedance 2.0 Mini at $0.02/s, because the standard Seedance route documents real-face references.
- A deliverable: H3 1080P at $0.03/s, which is cheaper than Seedance 2.0 Fast 480P.
- 4K video: none of these. Check 2K/4K lines, which are 10–105 credits per second.
FAQ
Is there anything cheaper than $0.01 per second? Not in this catalogue. One credit per output second is the floor.
Does the price include audio? On H3, yes — every output carries a native audio track, and reference audio is free. On Seedance, the audio switch is part of the request, not an add-on.
Do these prices change? They can. The numbers above are read from the live credit table, and the site shows the exact quote before a job runs.
Is the cheapest tier good enough to publish? At 480P, usually not for delivery; it is good enough to decide. Finish the selects at 768P or 1080P.
The live table, with every model and tier, is on Callirra's credit-cost page. If you find a cheaper per-second lane anywhere — including a reseller — the useful comparison is the same resolution and duration, not the headline rate.