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Together AI vs Runware
Runware is a low-cost media generation API across image, video, audio and 3D. Together is an LLM-first open-model platform. Most teams would use them for different jobs.
By The Subconscious Team · Updated
Together AI vs Runware: key differences
Runware and Together meet only on media. Runware's rate sheet lists 300+ priced models, images from fractions of a cent and video by the second, like Seedance 2.5 at about $0.10 a second at 480p. Every request shares one task schema, so switching models mostly means a new model ID. Runware says its Sonic Inference Engine and a Model Lake of 400K+ resident models land prices around 10x lower. Together's strength is open LLMs, fine-tuning and clusters, with image and video models as a smaller part of the catalog.
Runware itself says LLM hosting is a side line, and text workloads fit better elsewhere. That points to a natural split: language and agent traffic on Together, high-volume image or short video on Runware. Both rent raw GPUs, with Runware listing H100s at $2.76 an hour by the second and Together reserving from $3.19. Note that Runware output URLs expire after seven days by default, so apps need their own storage.
What Together AI and Runware do
Together AI
Together AI is the broadest open-model platform in the category. One bill covers per-token serverless inference, batch at up to 50% off, provisioned throughput with a 99% SLA, dedicated deployments, raw GPU clusters, managed fine-tuning and code sandboxes for agents. The text catalog runs past thirty open models, including DeepSeek V4, Kimi K3, GLM 5.2, Qwen 3.8 and MiniMax M3, plus image, video, speech and embedding models. Token prices sit at parity with Fireworks and Baseten.
Example models: Kimi K3, DeepSeek V4 Pro
Full Together AI profileRunware
Runware sells what it calls the lowest-cost API for media generation, and it claims more than 1M developers. One endpoint covers image, video, audio, 3D and text. Every request is a task with the same shape, so switching from a Kling video to a Seedream image mostly means changing the model ID. The published rate sheet lists 300+ priced models, with images from fractions of a cent to a few cents each and video billed per second, like Seedance 2.5 at about $0.10 a second at 480p.
Example models: Seedance 2.5, Qwen-Image-3.0
Full Runware profileShould you choose Together AI or Runware?
Together AI
Choose Together AI for
- Open LLMs for chat, agents and coding
- Managed fine-tuning of language models
- Reserved clusters for training runs
Runware
Choose Runware for
- High-volume image and short video generation
- Serving fine-tuned diffusion checkpoints at scale
- One request schema across image, video, audio and 3D
Together AI vs Runware at a glance
| Attribute | Together AI | Runware |
|---|---|---|
| Model access | Open weights | Hosted media models |
| Flagship models | Kimi K3, DeepSeek V4, GLM 5.2, Qwen 3.8 | Seedance 2.5, Qwen-Image-3.0 |
| Speed | 0.99s TTFT on DeepSeek V4 Pro | Unknown |
| Price | Parity with Fireworks and Baseten | Images from fractions of a cent |
| Customization | LoRA and full SFT; RL in beta | Fine-tuned diffusion checkpoints |
| Deployment | Serverless, dedicated, GPU clusters | Unified API, raw GPUs |
| Long context | 512K on DeepSeek V4 Pro | Not applicable |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Together AI and Runware?
Runware is a low-cost media generation API across image, video, audio and 3D. Together is an LLM-first open-model platform. Most teams would use them for different jobs.
When should I choose Together AI over Runware?
Open LLMs for chat, agents and coding; Managed fine-tuning of language models; Reserved clusters for training runs.
When should I choose Runware over Together AI?
High-volume image and short video generation; Serving fine-tuned diffusion checkpoints at scale; One request schema across image, video, audio and 3D.
Is Together AI or Runware cheaper?
Together AI: Parity with Fireworks and Baseten. Runware: Images from fractions of a cent. The cheaper choice depends on the model and workload.
Which has more context, Together AI or Runware?
Together AI: 512K on DeepSeek V4 Pro. Runware: Not applicable.
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