MiniMax H3 Cost per Video: Credits Explained

The short answer

MiniMax H3 cost depends on resolution and duration, not on a monthly seat. At 2K, a clip uses 5 credits per second. At 768P, it uses 3 credits per second. A five-second 2K clip therefore costs 25 credits, and a fifteen-second 2K clip costs 75 credits.

Open MiniMax sells credits in one-time packs: 200 credits for $9.90, 650 for $29.90 and 2,500 for $99.90. Credits do not expire, and failed renders are refunded automatically. There is no subscription.

The credit formula

The calculation is simple:

• 2K: duration in seconds × 5 credits.
• 768P: duration in seconds × 3 credits.

The studio offers three durations, so there are six common combinations:

• 5 seconds at 2K — 25 credits.
• 10 seconds at 2K — 50 credits.
• 15 seconds at 2K — 75 credits.
• 5 seconds at 768P — 15 credits.
• 10 seconds at 768P — 30 credits.
• 15 seconds at 768P — 45 credits.

The cost updates before you generate, so you can see the exact charge for the settings you chose. The MiniMax H3 pricing page lists the same rates next to each pack.

What a pack buys

Each pack is a one-time purchase. The useful comparison is not the sticker price but the number of finished clips it supports.

• Starter — 200 credits, $9.90 (¥69). About 8 five-second 2K clips, or 13 five-second 768P clips.
• Creator — 650 credits, $29.90 (¥209). About 26 five-second 2K clips, or 43 five-second 768P clips.
• Studio — 2,500 credits, $99.90 (¥699). About 100 five-second 2K clips, or 166 five-second 768P clips.

At the pack level, a five-second 2K clip works out to roughly $1.24 on Starter, $1.15 on Creator and $1.00 on Studio. The exact cost per clip depends on the duration and resolution you choose, not only on the pack.

Why 768P drafts save money

A five-second 768P clip costs 15 credits instead of 25. That is 40 percent fewer credits for the same duration. The trade-off is detail, not motion or duration.

A practical workflow is to test the prompt and camera move at 768P, then render the approved version at 2K. If a prompt needs three attempts before it works, the draft passes cost less and the final render keeps the resolution you need. This is a workflow decision, not a promise about how many attempts any shot will take.

Failed renders and refunds

A failed or canceled render is refunded automatically, usually within a minute. That matters when you are iterating: a failed generation should not become a sunk cost. A successful generation still consumes its credits, even if you later decide not to use the clip.

The refund policy covers failed renders, not a change of mind. If you want to test a different idea, budget for another generation.

Cost per finished video, not just per generation

The generation price is only one part of the budget. A finished video may need several shots, a retry or two, and an edit. The credit cost per shot is predictable; the number of shots is a creative decision.

Three ways to keep the total predictable:

1. Storyboard before you generate. Decide the shots and durations first, then add up the credits.
2. Draft at 768P. Approve motion and framing before you pay for 2K.
3. Use the shortest duration that fits the beat. A five-second clip is enough for many social cuts; reserve fifteen-second shots for moments that need the room.

How this compares with a subscription

A credit pack is a one-time purchase, so unused credits stay in your balance instead of resetting at the end of a month. That suits project work and irregular publishing schedules. If you generate at a steady volume, compare the pack's cost per clip with your actual monthly output rather than with a subscription's headline price.

The studio does not hide a separate render fee. The credit cost shown before generation is the cost of the generation.

FAQ

How much is a 5-second MiniMax H3 video?

A five-second 2K clip costs 25 credits. A five-second 768P clip costs 15 credits. With the $9.90 Starter pack, 25 credits is about $1.24 at the pack level.

Do credits expire?

No. Credits are added to your balance after payment and do not expire.

What happens if a render fails?

Failed or canceled renders are refunded automatically, usually within a minute. Successful renders consume credits even if you choose not to use the output.

Is there a subscription?

No. Open MiniMax sells one-time credit packs. You can buy another pack when your balance runs low.

Can I generate at 2K from the start?

Yes. 2K is available for every supported duration. Drafting at 768P first is a cost-saving workflow, not a requirement.

Conclusion

MiniMax H3 cost is easy to calculate: 5 credits per second at 2K, 3 credits per second at 768P, with one-time packs and refunds for failed renders. The cheapest workflow is not the smallest pack; it is the one that spends credits on approved shots instead of repeated drafts.

Check the current MiniMax H3 credit packs, then open the video generator and price your first shot before you render. For a smoother first pass, read the prompt guide.

Sources

• MiniMax H3 launch post — official model announcement, 31 July 2026.
• Open MiniMax pricing catalog and pricing page, checked 20 October 2026.