Claude Code builds in Runway's API

Video generation AI company Runway announced on its official X account on Nov. 4 (Nov. 5 Japan time) that its developer API platform "Runway Dev" can now be used in Anthropic's AI coding tool "Claude Code." With a dedicated plugin installed, Claude Code builds Runway's API into the app under development and implements features that generate video, images and audio. Runway said, "Describe what your app should generate and it writes the integration the way Runway would."

Runway Dev is now on Claude Code, bringing AI video, image and audio to any app you’re building. With the Runway Dev plugin, Claude Code can build Runway’s API into your app. Describe what your app should generate and it writes the integration the way Runway would.

@runwayml · November 5, 2026

On Nov. 2, Runway had announced plugins for three AI coding tools: Claude Code, OpenAI's "Codex" and Anysphere's "Cursor." The plugin bundles a connection for "MCP," a standard for connecting AI to outside services, and seven "skills" that teach the AI how to use the API. Its developer documentation also lists xAI's "Grok Bot" as supported.

Reading account pricing and balance before building

An agent with the plugin installed reads the user's Runway Dev account before starting work. It reads the available projects, the models each project can use along with their pricing and limits, and the remaining credits. Runway said this lets the agent build in the API to match those account conditions.

During the work, the agent can create a "Model Router," which picks the model to use for each purpose, and "Characters," avatars that hold real-time conversations. It can also use "Recipes," prebuilt processing flows, and "Workflows" published by teams. When processing fails, it can look into the error details and why the Model Router chose that model.

API keys are not stored in the plugin. On first use, users log in themselves through a browser, and the keys the app uses are kept on their own servers. Runway says it complies with "SOC 2 Type II," an audit standard for information management, and offers intellectual property indemnification and 99.9% uptime.

Generation billed per use, Gen-4.5 at $0.12 per second

The plugin itself is free and does not generate content. Generation is done when the finished app calls the API, consuming a set number of credits for each model. Credits cost $0.01 each and are bought per project. The pricing page does not mention a free tier.

Video models are billed per second of generated length. Runway's "Gen-4.5" costs 12 credits ($0.12), and "Aleph 2.0," which edits video, costs 28 credits. Other companies' models can be called from the same API: ByteDance of China's "Seedance 2.5" costs 30 credits at 720p (plus a separate 15 credits per second of reference video), and Google's "Veo 3.1" costs 40 credits with audio.

Pricing for generating video through the Runway Dev API (1 credit = $0.01). From Runway's pricing page (as of Nov. 5). Kling 4.0 at list price; 12.56 credits with a 20% discount through Nov. 30Credits per second
40
GoogleVeo 3.1 (with audio)
30
ByteDanceSeedance 2.5 (720p)
28
RunwayAleph 2.0
15.7
KuaishouKling 4.0 (720p)
12
RunwayGen-4.5
10
GoogleGemini Omni Flash 1.1 (720p)

Video pricing is set by the length generated, with no distinction between input and output as with text models. Some models, such as Seedance 2.5, also charge for the length of video used as reference.

No new avatars from the Claude version

Claude Code and the Claude desktop app use a dedicated connection separate from other AI coding tools. New Characters cannot be created from this connection. To use them in Claude Code, users must first create them on the Runway Dev account screen.

The version listed in Anthropic's official plugin directory is managed by Anthropic, and its contents can differ from the version Runway distributes itself. As of Nov. 5, no third-party verification of Runway's claims could be found.

From generation tool to integration tool

This is not the first time Runway has released tools for Claude Code. In February, alongside offering Gen-4.5 through its API, it released a "Runway API" skill for Claude Code. In May, it launched "Runway MCP," which creates videos and images within conversations with Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor.

Runway Dev separates the use of creating content within conversations and targets developers building generation features into apps. In Anthropic's official directory, "runway-api" was updated from 3.0.0 to 4.0.0 on Oct. 30, removing commands that directly create videos and images and adding the Runway Dev connection.

Runway's moves for AI coding tools (dates in U.S. time)
  1. Gen-4.5 offered via API; "Runway API" skill for Claude Code releasedOfficial
  2. "Runway MCP" for generating within conversations brought to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and othersOfficial
  3. "runway-api" updated to 4.0.0 in Anthropic's official directory; generation commands removedOfficial
  4. Runway Dev plugins for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor announcedOfficial
  5. Availability in Claude Code announced on XOfficial

AI coding tools as a sales channel, voice company ElevenLabs too

Generative AI companies are increasingly getting their APIs chosen inside AI coding tools. Voice AI company ElevenLabs has published official plugins for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor on GitHub. Video generation company Higgsfield has also released an MCP connection that lets Claude Code call video models from several companies.

Each time a developer's app calls for generation, Runway earns credit revenue. According to Bloomberg, the company's annual recurring revenue (ARR, a year's worth of revenue expected from ongoing contracts) exceeded $200 million in September, and it expects $350 million by year-end, according to people familiar with the matter. In October, the company also joined "Claude Marketplace," Anthropic's purchasing channel for enterprises. It has not disclosed a breakdown of API revenue.