Does Runway free plan have a watermark?

Updated 2026-07-15Asked across Reddit, Quora & Google· Runway
Short answer

Yes. As of July 2026, all videos generated on Runway's Free plan carry a Runway watermark and are limited to 720p. To remove the watermark you must upgrade to a paid plan—Standard starts at $12/month billed annually—and re-generate the clip watermark-free.

Why — the first-principles explanation

A watermark on free output is a deliberate marketing and conversion tool, not a technical limitation. Every free clip someone shares becomes a small advertisement for Runway, and the visible mark signals 'this is a sample, not a finished product.' That gentle friction is exactly what nudges serious users toward paying.

The key thing to understand is that the watermark is baked in at generation time on the free tier. It isn't a layer you can peel off afterward, and there's no free toggle to disable it. The only sanctioned way to get a clean video is to be on a paid plan when you generate—Standard and above produce watermark-free output by default.

This is why the honest fix is 'upgrade and re-generate,' not 'edit it out.' A clip you already made on free will keep its mark; subscribing doesn't retroactively clean old free outputs, but any new generation on the paid plan comes out clean. So if a watermark-free result matters—client work, a polished post—generate it after upgrading rather than trying to scrub a free clip later.

An example that makes it click

Think of a free photo booth at a mall that stamps its logo across every strip of photos. The stamp is printed right into the picture as it comes out—you can't just wipe it off. If you want clean photos, you pay for the premium booth, and from then on your new strips print without the logo. But the free strips you already took keep their stamp forever. Runway's free watermark works the same way: it's printed in at creation, and the fix is to make new clips on a paid plan.

How to do it

  1. Confirm you're on the Free plan (all its outputs are watermarked at 720p).
  2. Open your billing page at app.runwayml.com/settings/billing.
  3. Upgrade to Standard ($12/month billed annually) or higher.
  4. Re-generate the clip on the paid plan to get a watermark-free result.
  5. Download the new, clean high-resolution video.

Key facts

Infographic: Does Runway free plan have a watermark — short answer and key facts
Visual summary — Does Runway free plan have a watermark?
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▶ The 60-second explainer (script)

Does Runway's free plan have a watermark? Yes—every video you generate on the Free plan comes stamped with a Runway watermark, and it's also capped at 720p resolution, as of July 2026. That watermark isn't an accident; it's a marketing choice. Each free clip you share advertises Runway and signals 'this is a sample.' Here's the important part: the watermark is baked in at the moment of generation. There's no free switch to turn it off, and you can't cleanly peel it away afterward. The only real fix is to upgrade to a paid plan and re-generate. Standard, starting at 12 dollars a month billed annually, produces watermark-free video by default. One catch—upgrading doesn't clean up clips you already made on free; those keep their mark. So if you need a polished, watermark-free result, subscribe first, then generate.

What authoritative sources say

Runway Help Center – Free plan detailsofficial — Free plan outputs are watermarked; generating without a watermark requires the Standard plan or above. source ↗
Runway AI Pricingofficial — Standard plan starts at $12/month billed annually and removes the watermark. source ↗
Runway Help Center – Managing your subscriptionofficial — Plan features and watermark status are managed from the subscription settings. source ↗

People also ask

Can I turn off the watermark on the free plan?

No. There's no free toggle; the watermark is applied at generation. You must upgrade to remove it.

Which plan removes the watermark?

Standard ($12/month billed annually) and every higher tier generate watermark-free output by default.

Will upgrading remove the watermark from clips I already made?

No. Old free clips keep their mark; only new generations on the paid plan come out clean.

What resolution does the free plan output?

Free plan videos are limited to 720p in addition to carrying the watermark.

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