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Decision snapshot

Fast-read signals for fit, pricing, and trust.

Category
Video & Audio Production
Best for
ai video generator
Pricing
Freemium
Access
Free plan available

What is this tool?

Lumen5 suits marketing, communications and training teams who need short videos made from content they already have, without editing skills. It is built for short pieces: videos stop at 10 minutes on paid plans and 2 on free, Basic exports at 720p, and the editor runs only in a desktop or laptop browser. Every plan up to Pro is a single user; several logins, SSO and approvals need the custom-priced Team plan.

By QT Desk
Read full overview

You start from existing text, let the script composer cut it into scenes with matched stock media, music and optional AI voiceover and captions, then edit and download an MP4. Lumen5 runs only in a desktop or laptop browser with hardware acceleration and WebGL; the help centre asks for a screen of at least 1024 x 768 and a GPU with at least 2 GB of video memory, and the video creator does not work in mobile browsers.

Self-serve plans are billed monthly or yearly in advance, in US dollars, and renew until you switch renewal off; a subscription can be paused for up to 3 months, and after cancelling you keep paid features to the end of the period and can still download rendered videos. There is no trial of paid plans. Lumen5's own pages disagree on refunds and, within the pricing page, on which plans include voice cloning and font uploads.

The help centre grants full commercial rights to videos you make, including monetised and client work, except for stock media flagged editorial-only, and adds required stock attributions automatically. The terms say AI-generated content remains yours but also let Lumen5 use uploaded content to train its AI models, and describe no opt-out.

Is this right for you?

Quick fit check against how you actually work.

ai video generator
Choose this if
  • You already produce written content, such as blog posts, reports or slide decks, and want short videos from it without learning a video editor
  • Your videos are short-form, under 10 minutes, for social feeds, newsletters or internal updates
  • You need commercial rights for client or monetised videos, with stock attributions added for you
  • You want to test it first on the free plan: 5 videos a month of up to 2 minutes, with no card
Consider alternatives if
  • You make long-form YouTube videos: paid plans stop at 10 minutes, and commenters say Lumen5 does not suit longer videos
  • You edit on a phone or tablet; the video creator works only in a desktop or laptop browser
  • Several people need their own logins: every plan up to Pro is a single user, and multi-user access is the custom Team plan
  • You don't want your uploads used to train AI: the terms permit it and describe no opt-out
  • Refund certainty matters: the help centre promises a 7-day money-back refund while the terms say fees are non-refundable

What people say

Aggregate community sentiment, summarized — not native reviews.

Mixed signals

Four commenters on YouTube and Product Hunt (2017 to 2023) describe Lumen5 as easy or quick to use, one making a simple video in about three minutes. Two YouTube commenters (2023 and 2024) say it does not suit longer videos: one found it hard to make a video longer than a few minutes, and the other says its AI will not create the 6-to-12-minute videos they expect for YouTube.

Key features

What you can actually do with this tool.

Video from what you have already written

Import a public article URL, paste text, upload a PDF, PowerPoint or text document, or outline an idea. The importer cannot read private or password-protected pages, Google Docs, Word files or cloud-storage links, and does not copy slides scene for scene.

AI script and scene matching

The script composer summarises the text into scenes and matches stock photos, video and music to each; Shutterstock media starts at Starter.

AI voiceover and captions

Add an AI voiceover and captions, with yearly voiceover minutes set by plan (24 on Free up to 2,160 on Pro).

Editing and branding

Rearrange scenes, timing and brand elements in a drag-and-drop editor, then download an MP4; paid plans remove the Lumen5 outro.

Languages

Video text can be written in over 35 languages, with AI voiceover available in fewer; the interface and media search are English-only.

Plans & pricing

Pricing tiers and what's included in each.

Free

$0
  • Up to 5 videos a month, each at most 2 minutes
  • 720p export with a Lumen5-branded outro
  • 24 AI voiceover minutes a year
  • No card required

Basic

$29 a month billed monthly, or $19 a month billed yearly ($228 a year)
  • Unlimited videos up to 10 minutes
  • 720p export, no Lumen5 outro
  • 240 AI voiceover minutes, 12 video translations and 12 AI animation minutes a year
  • Single user

Starter

$79 a month billed monthly, or $59 a month billed yearly ($708 a year)
  • 1080p export
  • Shutterstock stock media
  • 720 AI voiceover minutes, 12 video translations and 24 AI animation minutes a year
  • Single user

Pro

$199 a month billed monthly, or $149 a month billed yearly ($1,788 a year)
  • 2,160 AI voiceover minutes, 60 video translations and 60 AI animation minutes a year
  • 300 Shutterstock editorial items a year
  • 3 workspaces
  • Single user

Team

Custom yearly contract through sales
  • Multiple users, SSO and a video approval workflow
  • Unlimited video translations
  • Custom AI voiceover minutes
Official pricing pagePricing may have changed. Always verify before purchasing.

Frequently asked

Common questions about this tool, answered.

Does Lumen5 have a free plan?

Yes. The free plan needs no card and makes up to 5 videos a month, each up to 2 minutes, exported at 720p with a Lumen5-branded outro. There is no free trial of the paid plans.

Can I get a refund?

Lumen5's pages disagree. The help centre offers a full refund of an upgrade if you email within 7 days; the terms (last updated 6 August 2024) say all fees are non-refundable.

Which plans include voice cloning and custom fonts?

The pricing page is inconsistent. Its comparison table gives Basic one cloned voice, but its FAQ says voice cloning starts at Starter; the table puts font uploads on Pro and Team only, but the FAQ says Starter adds them. Both the comparison table and the FAQ give Starter 1 cloned voice and Pro 3, and both put font uploads on Pro and Team.

Can I use Lumen5 videos commercially?

Yes, according to the help centre: you get full commercial rights, including monetised videos and client work, except for stock media flagged editorial-only in the editor.