TL;DR: MiniMax's Pay-as-you-go API bills MiniMax H3 output by the second: $0.08/second at 768P or $0.13/second at 2K. A 10-second H3 output therefore starts at $0.80 or $1.30 before chargeable reference inputs. Legacy MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 models use fixed prices by resolution and duration. This API pricing guide was checked on August 27, 2026.
How does MiniMax Pay-as-you-go billing work?
MiniMax Pay-as-you-go uses a standard Open Platform API key and deducts actual API usage from the account balance. Video output and input materials are charged according to the model-specific rules below.
This article therefore compares only the official Pay-as-you-go video API rates. When calling H3 through LinkModel, use the price shown by the MiniMax H3 model page and the task's returned price as the source of truth for the LinkModel bill.
How much does MiniMax H3 Pay-as-you-go cost?
MiniMax's official Pay-as-you-go list price is $0.08 per generated second at 768P and $0.13 per generated second at 2K. H3 accepts durations from 4 to 15 seconds.
| Output duration | H3 768P | H3 2K |
|---|---|---|
| 4 seconds | $0.32 | $0.52 |
| 5 seconds | $0.40 | $0.65 |
| 10 seconds | $0.80 | $1.30 |
| 15 seconds | $1.20 | $1.95 |
The calculation is deterministic:
output cost = generated seconds × resolution rateFor example, 100 successful 10-second outputs cost $80 at 768P or $130 at 2K, before reference-input charges and retries.
How are H3 input materials billed?
Under MiniMax Pay-as-you-go, H3 can use images, video, and audio as context. Each material type has a separate billing rule.
| H3 input material | MiniMax Pay-as-you-go rule |
|---|---|
| Audio | Free |
| Images | First 5 images free; $0.04 for each additional image |
| Reference video | $0.08/input second for a 768P job; $0.13/input second for a 2K job |
These are upstream MiniMax Pay-as-you-go rules, not LinkModel billing rules. LinkModel publishes its own current runtime pricing on the H3 model page; do not transfer an upstream allowance to a LinkModel request unless the LinkModel quote includes it.
Consider a 10-second 2K output with one 6-second reference video and six reference images:
Under MiniMax Pay-as-you-go, the task is $1.30 output + $0.78 reference video + $0.04 for the sixth image = $2.12.
This is why a cost comparison must include the input package, not only the output price.
How much do legacy MiniMax video models cost?
Legacy MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 prices are fixed by duration and resolution rather than billed by every output second.
| Model | Resolution and duration | MiniMax official API price |
|---|---|---|
| MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 Fast | 768P, 6 seconds | $0.19 |
| MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 Fast | 768P, 10 seconds | $0.32 |
| MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 Fast | 1080P, 6 seconds | $0.33 |
| MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 | 768P, 6 seconds | $0.28 |
| MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 | 768P, 10 seconds | $0.56 |
| MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 | 1080P, 6 seconds | $0.49 |
MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 Fast remains useful when the goal is inexpensive visual iteration. H3 costs more for many short visual-only jobs, but adds 4–15 second duration control, 2K output, multimodal references, and native stereo audio. Choose by workflow rather than version number alone.
Is MiniMax H3 or MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 cheaper?
Use cost per accepted output, not cost per submitted task:
accepted-output cost = total billed generation cost ÷ accepted outputsSuppose a campaign needs 20 accepted 10-second clips:
| Workflow | Raw cost if every attempt succeeds | Cost at a 50% acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|
| MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 Fast, 768P | $6.40 | $12.80 |
| MiniMax Hailuo 2.3, 768P | $11.20 | $22.40 |
| H3, 768P, output only | $16.00 | $32.00 |
| H3, 2K, output only | $26.00 | $52.00 |
The 50% column assumes two billed attempts for every accepted result. It is a planning scenario, not a claimed model failure rate. Your acceptance rate depends on prompt clarity, reference quality, and how strict the final creative review is.
Which MiniMax video model should you choose?
- Choose H3 768P for multimodal references, native audio, or longer directed clips when 2K is unnecessary.
- Choose H3 2K when small text, product detail, and final-delivery resolution justify the extra $0.05 per second.
- Choose MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 Fast for low-cost visual drafts and high-volume experiments.
- Choose MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 standard when you need its established visual workflow but not H3's audio and reference system.
Before budgeting a production run, test the same shot brief across several models in the Playground, record accepted-output cost, and include retries, reference inputs, storage, and post-production.
Frequently asked questions
How does MiniMax Pay-as-you-go billing work?
MiniMax Pay-as-you-go uses a standard Open Platform API key and deducts actual API usage from the account balance. Video output and input materials are billed according to the selected model and request.
How much does MiniMax H3 cost per video?
MiniMax's Pay-as-you-go list price is $0.08 per generated second at 768P and $0.13 per generated second at 2K before chargeable reference inputs. A 10-second output starts at $0.80 or $1.30 respectively.
How are MiniMax H3 reference inputs priced?
Under MiniMax Pay-as-you-go, audio is free, the first five images are free, each additional image costs $0.04, and reference video is billed per input second at the selected output-resolution rate. LinkModel pricing is separate and should be checked on the H3 model page.
Is MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 Fast cheaper than H3?
For many visual-only fixed-duration clips, MiniMax Hailuo 2.3 Fast has a lower raw generation price. H3 adds native stereo audio, 2K output, 4–15 second duration control, and richer multimodal references.
Can I use MiniMax H3 through LinkModel?
Yes. The MiniMax H3 model page provides the current model ID, runtime pricing, Playground, and asynchronous API example.
Budget MiniMax H3 with real inputs
Review H3 runtime pricing, test a shot in the Playground, and compare the accepted-output cost with other video models.
Sources: MiniMax Pay-as-you-go pricing, LinkModel MiniMax H3 API reference, and the LinkModel MiniMax H3 model page. Last checked August 27, 2026.