Reference-to-video models use one or more reference images to steer a generation — useful for keeping a character or a product consistent across clips. All 7 of them are below, ranked by the best position each holds on a Versely leaderboard.
Ranking method
Filtered to models with the reference-to-video category, sorted by best leaderboard position (unranked models after, cheapest complete job first).
Full ranking
| # | Model | Provider | Credits | Reference images |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seedance 2.0 | ByteDance | 54-4096 credits | — |
| 2 | Wan 2.7 Reference to Video | Wan | 24-180 credits | — |
| 3 | Gemini Omni Video | 36-90 credits | — | |
| 4 | Happy Horse 1.0 Reference to Video | Alibaba | 42-420 credits | — |
| 5 | Kling O3 Standard Reference to Video | Kling | 56-168 credits | — |
| 6 | Seedance 2.0 Fast Reference to Video | ByteDance | 68-255 credits | — |
| 7 | VEO 3.1 Reference to Video | 160-320 credits | — |
The top 5, explained
#1 — Seedance 2.0 (ByteDance) costs 54-4096 credits and sits at #3 in image to video on Versely's live model rankings. It outputs up to 4k. Reference images: —.
#2 — Wan 2.7 Reference to Video (Wan) costs 24-180 credits and does not currently hold a position on any Versely leaderboard. It outputs up to 1080p. Reference images: —.
#3 — Gemini Omni Video (Google) costs 36-90 credits and does not currently hold a position on any Versely leaderboard. It outputs up to 4K. Reference images: —.
#4 — Happy Horse 1.0 Reference to Video (Alibaba) costs 42-420 credits and does not currently hold a position on any Versely leaderboard. It outputs up to 1080p. Reference images: —.
#5 — Kling O3 Standard Reference to Video (Kling) costs 56-168 credits and does not currently hold a position on any Versely leaderboard. Reference images: —.
Compare these models head-to-head
Happy Horse 1.0 Text to Video vs Seedance 2.0
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Gemini Omni Video vs Pixverse 5.6 Text to Video
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Happy Horse 1.0 Reference to Video vs Kling O3 Standard Reference to Video
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More capability rankings
Frequently asked questions
What is the best reference-to-video AI model?+
Seedance 2.0 by ByteDance tops this ranking. Filtered to models with the reference-to-video category, sorted by best leaderboard position (unranked models after, cheapest complete job first). Seedance 2.0 costs 54-4096 credits and sits at #3 in image to video on Versely's live model rankings.
How is this ranking calculated?+
Filtered to models with the reference-to-video category, sorted by best leaderboard position (unranked models after, cheapest complete job first).
How many models qualify for this ranking?+
7 models with a page on Versely meet the criteria for "Best reference-to-video AI model", across 5 providers.
What's the cheapest option in this ranking?+
Wan 2.7 Reference to Video is the cheapest at 24-180 credits, against 54-4096 credits for Seedance 2.0, the top-ranked entry.
Do all of these models hold a Versely leaderboard position?+
1 of the 7 models here hold a position on at least one Versely leaderboard; the remaining 6 are unranked and listed afterward, cheapest complete job first.
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