Can ChatGPT make videos for free? Plans and per-clip costs
Not for free. Free ChatGPT accounts can't turn on developer mode, and the video tool it calls needs its own paid plan and bills each clip.
Not for free. Two bills stand in the way. On the ChatGPT side, the setting that lets it call an outside video tool, developer mode, is listed for Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education, not Free. On the tool side, a video service such as Sume charges too: its Free plan has no video generation or MCP access, those start with the Pro $40 / month plan, and each clip is billed from your wallet.
ChatGPT's plan list comes from OpenAI's developer mode guide; Sume's plans and billing come from its pricing page and MCP tools and gates. All were read on 2026-09-29; plans change, so check both before you pay. OpenAI's own video app is discontinued; Can ChatGPT make videos? covers that and the setup steps.
Which ChatGPT plans can make videos?
Only the paid ones that list developer mode, which is how ChatGPT reaches a video tool on a remote MCP server. None of them includes clips in the subscription price.
| ChatGPT subscription | Developer mode listed? | Who pays for the clip |
|---|---|---|
| Free | No | No tool call, so no clip |
| Plus | Yes, on the web | The video tool's account |
| Pro | Yes, on the web | The video tool's account |
| Business | Yes, on the web | The video tool's account |
| Enterprise | Yes, on the web | The video tool's account |
| Education | Yes, on the web | The video tool's account |
Which Sume plan does ChatGPT need?
Pro or higher. Sume's pricing FAQ says Free includes image generation and limited Sume Agent access, while video generation and API + CLI + MCP access start with Pro. The plan fee comes with usage credit, then clips draw from one wallet balance at each model's published rate.
- When the included usage runs out, you top up the wallet with an on-demand purchase of $10 to $1,000.
- Higher plans (Startup, Scale) add more included usage and parallel jobs; How Sume pricing works lists them.
| Sume plan | Video generation and MCP | Included usage |
|---|---|---|
| Free $0 | No | Not usable for video |
| Pro $40 / month | Yes | $40 each month |
How much does each video cost?
Routed video models are priced at the provider's list price × 1.25, plus a 5.5% agent fee by default. A 10-second 720p clip costs $0.13 to $5.82 depending on the model, and every clip draws from that one balance. How much does an AI video cost? shows the math, and API pricing lists the other rates.
Can I see the price before ChatGPT spends anything?
Yes. Sume's consent page has Write off by default, and without mcp:write the paid tools are hidden, so a read-only connection can't spend. With Write on, ask ChatGPT to call the tool with dry_run=true first: it previews the cost without submitting the job. max_spend_usd caps a call, enforced only when provided. Is MCP free? explains which server tools cost money.
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Written by Sume