MiniMax H3 vs Veo 3.1: Which Should You Use?
As of October 2026, pick Veo 3.1 for a single 8-second 720p shot: on Kensa it is a flat 13 credits with audio, and it supports first and last frame and reference images. Pick MiniMax H3 (Hailuo 3) when you need a different length or resolution: 5–15-second clips at 480P, 768P or 2K with audio, at 1.5–4 credits per second. For the same 8 seconds, H3 costs 12 credits at 480P, 20 at 768P and 32 at 2K.
Checked October 4, 2026. Kensa credit prices come from Kensa's billing configuration. Kensa publishes this page and sells access to both models; we don't rank visual quality, so run the same prompt on both.
Veo 3.1, from Google DeepMind, and MiniMax H3 (Hailuo 3), from MiniMax, both make clips with audio on Kensa, from the same credit balance and the same Text to Video and Image to Video tools. They are billed in opposite ways: Veo 3.1 is a flat 13 credits for every 8-second 720p clip, while H3 bills 1.5, 2.5 or 4 credits per second at 480P, 768P or 2K.
That makes length the first question. For exactly 8 seconds at 720p, Veo is simple and predictable. For 5–15-second clips, a cheap 480P draft or a 2560×1440 master, H3 is the one that can do it. We don't rank visual quality; run the same prompt on both.
MiniMax H3 vs Veo 3.1: specs on Kensa
Veo 3.1 wins on inputs and on one flat price for 8 seconds; MiniMax H3 wins on length, resolution range and per-second billing.
| Feature | MiniMax H3 | Veo 3.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | MiniMax | Google DeepMind |
| Resolution on Kensa | 480P, 768P, 2K (2K on paid plans) | 720p |
| Length | 5–15 s | 8 s (fixed) |
| Aspect ratios | 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 | 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 |
| Audio | Always on, included | Included |
| Inputs on Kensa | Text, or one image as the first frame | Text, image, first & last frame, reference images |
| Generation time on Kensa | About 25 s (480P/768P); about 3 min per 5 s at 2K | Not published |
| Pricing | Per second (1.5 / 2.5 / 4 credits) | Flat 13 credits per clip |
| 15 free sign-up credits cover | One 6 s 768P clip (15 credits) or one 10 s 480P clip (15) | One clip (13 credits) |
| Where on Kensa | Text to Video, Image to Video, E-commerce Video | Text to Video, Image to Video, Reference to Video, E-commerce Video |
| Visual quality | Not ranked: run the same prompt on both | Not ranked: run the same prompt on both |
Sources
Credits per clip: MiniMax H3 vs Veo 3.1
At 480P, H3 costs less than Veo's flat 13 credits at every length up to 8 seconds; at 768P and 2K, Veo costs the same or less; past 8 seconds only H3 is an option.
| Clip length | MiniMax H3 (480P/768P/2K, credits) | Veo 3.1 (credits) | Which costs less |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5s | 8 · 13 · 20 | 13 (always a 8 s clip) | H3 costs less at 480P; the same at 768P; Veo costs less than H3 at 2K (Veo always renders 8 s) |
| 6s | 9 · 15 · 24 | 13 (always a 8 s clip) | H3 costs less at 480P; Veo costs less than H3 at 768P and 2K (Veo always renders 8 s) |
| 8s @ 720p | 12 · 20 · 32 | 13 credits | H3 costs less at 480P; Veo costs less than H3 at 768P and 2K |
| 10s | 15 · 25 · 40 | Not available | Only H3 goes past 8 s |
| 15s | 23 · 38 · 60 | Not available | Only H3 goes past 8 s |
MiniMax H3
MiniMax1.5 / 2.5 / 4 credits/s (480P / 768P / 2K), audio included
- 5–15-second clips, billed per second
- 480P, 768P and 2K (2560×1440)
- About 25 s per 480P/768P clip on Kensa
- Text-to-video, or one image as the first frame
Best for: Clips shorter or longer than 8 seconds, cheap 480P drafts and 2K masters.
Veo 3.1
Google DeepMindFlat 13 credits per 8-second clip, audio included
- One predictable price per clip
- First & last frame control (two images)
- Reference images for a consistent subject
- Audio included
Best for: Single 8-second 720p shots, product reveals and short hooks with fixed start and end frames.
Which to pick by shot
Pick by length first: exactly 8 seconds at 720p favors Veo 3.1; anything else favors MiniMax H3.
Punchy 8-second ad with sound
→ Veo 3.1
A flat 13 credits for 8 seconds at 720p with audio; H3 at 768P costs 20 for the same length.
10–15-second single take
→ MiniMax H3
Veo stops at 8 seconds; H3 goes to 15 (38 credits at 768P).
2K deliverable
→ MiniMax H3
2560×1440 on paid plans; Veo 3.1 renders 720p on Kensa.
Fixed start and end frames
→ Veo 3.1
Veo takes a first and a last frame; H3 on Kensa takes one first-frame image.
Cheap 480P drafts
→ MiniMax H3
8 credits for 5 seconds at 480P, back in about 25 seconds.
Square or vertical social clips
→ Either
Both offer 9:16 and 1:1.
Limitations to know before you pick
Each model has a clear limit on Kensa: Veo is locked to 8 seconds at 720p, H3 to one input image.
- For a fixed 8-second shot, Veo 3.1 costs fewer credits than H3 at 768P or 2K (13 against 20 and 32).
- MiniMax H3 on Kensa takes one first-frame image: no last frame and no reference images, both of which Veo 3.1 supports here.
- H3's 2K tier needs a paid plan (from $9.90 a month); free accounts top out at 768P.
- Veo 3.1 is fixed at 8 seconds and 720p on Kensa: no shorter, longer or higher-resolution clips.
- We haven't measured Veo 3.1's generation time on Kensa, and we don't rank visual quality: test the same prompt on both.
Using both on Kensa
You don't have to choose once: both models use the same balance and the same two main tools.
Try MiniMax H3 and Veo 3.1 on Kensa
Sign up with Google for 15 free credits: one Veo 3.1 clip or one 6-second 768P MiniMax H3 clip with audio, no card needed. Paid plans from $9.90 a month add H3's 2K tier.