FAL Model Selector
Quick decision guide for choosing fal.ai models. Read references/ for full parameters.
Key Concepts
Image-to-Video vs Reference-to-Video
| Image-to-Video | Reference-to-Video |
|---|
| Input | 1 image (starting frame) | Multiple images (1-5 references) |
| Purpose | Animate that exact image | Maintain subject consistency in new scenes |
| The image becomes... | The first frame of the video | A "template" for what subject looks like |
| Camera/scene | Starts from that exact view | Can be completely different scenes |
Image-to-Video = "animate this exact image"
- Product photo → animate it rotating
- Portrait → make the person smile/blink
Reference-to-Video = "generate video featuring this subject"
- 3 photos of mascot → video of mascot in new scene
- Product from different angles → consistent commercial
Quick Decision Matrix
Video: Text → Video
| Need | Model | Price/5s | Why |
|---|
| Best quality | fal-ai/kling-video/v2.6/pro/text-to-video | $0.35-0.70 | Cinematic, native audio |
| Google (Veo) | fal-ai/veo3.1 | $1-2 | Google's best, 4K, natural sound |
| OpenAI (Sora) | fal-ai/sora-2/text-to-video | $0.50 | Detailed narratives, lip-sync |
| Budget | fal-ai/ltx-2/text-to-video | $0.30 | Good quality, includes audio |
Video: Image → Video
| Need | Model | Price/5s | Why |
|---|
| Best quality | fal-ai/kling-video/v2.1/pro/image-to-video | $0.45 | Cinematic, precise motion |
| Google (Veo) | fal-ai/veo3.1/image-to-video | $1-2 | 4K resolution, Google quality |
| OpenAI (Sora) | fal-ai/sora-2/image-to-video | $0.50 | OpenAI quality, realistic |
| Multi-scene | wan/v2.6/image-to-video | $0.50-0.75 | Scene segmentation |
| Budget | fal-ai/pixverse/v5.5/image-to-video | $0.15-0.40 | Multiple styles |
| Start+End frame | fal-ai/bytedance/seedance/v1.5/pro/image-to-video | $0.26 | Control both ends |
Video: Reference → Video (Multiple Images)
| Need | Model | Price/5s | Why |
|---|
| Google (Veo) | fal-ai/veo3.1/reference-to-video | $0.50-1.75 | Up to 5 refs, best consistency |
| Multi-ref | fal-ai/vidu/q2/reference-to-video | $0.50 | Multiple reference images |
| First+Last frame | fal-ai/veo3.1/first-last-frame-to-video | $1-3 | Controlled transitions |
Video: Extend/Remix
| Need | Model | Price/5s | Why |
|---|
| Extend (Google) | fal-ai/veo3.1/extend-video | $1-2 | Up to 30s total |
| Remix (OpenAI) | fal-ai/sora-2/video-to-video/remix | $0.50 | Restyle existing videos |
Image: Generate (Text → Image)
| Need | Model | Price | Why |
|---|
| Best quality | fal-ai/flux-2-pro | $0.03/MP | Zero-config, production-ready |
| Google (Gemini) | fal-ai/gemini-3-pro-image-preview | $0.15-0.30 | Up to 4K, web search |
| OpenAI (GPT) | fal-ai/gpt-image-1.5 | varies | DALL-E quality, editing |
| Text/typography | fal-ai/ideogram/v3 | $0.03-0.09 | Best for logos, posters |
| Budget | fal-ai/flux-2 | $0.012/MP | Good quality, cheaper |
| Custom style | fal-ai/flux-2/lora | $0.021/MP | Up to 3 LoRAs |
Image: Edit
| Need | Model | Price | Why |
|---|
| General edit | fal-ai/flux-2/edit | $0.012/MP | Multi-image, natural language |
| OpenAI (GPT) | fal-ai/gpt-image-1.5/edit | varies | DALL-E editing quality |
| Google (Gemini) | fal-ai/gemini-3-pro-image-preview/edit | $0.15-0.30 | 4K editing capability |
| Text in image | fal-ai/qwen-image-edit-plus | - | Superior text editing |
| Fast iteration | fal-ai/reve/edit | $0.04/img | Quick, remix support |
| Style transfer | fal-ai/flux/dev/image-to-image | $0.03/MP | Preserve composition |
Image: Specialized Apps
| Need | Model | Why |
|---|
| Virtual try-on | fal-ai/image-apps-v2/virtual-try-on | Clothing on person |
| Product photo | fal-ai/image-apps-v2/product-photography | Studio lighting |
| Relighting | fal-ai/image-apps-v2/relighting | 17 lighting presets |
| Remove object | fal-ai/image-apps-v2/object-removal | Text-based targeting |
| Style transfer | fal-ai/image-apps-v2/style-transfer | 26 artistic presets |
| Outpaint | fal-ai/image-apps-v2/outpaint | Extend boundaries |
Image: Enhancement
| Need | Model | Price | Why |
|---|
| Upscale (portrait) | clarityai/crystal-upscaler | $0.016/MP | Facial detail focus |
| Remove background | fal-ai/birefnet/v2 | - | Multiple models, up to 2304px |
| Segmentation | fal-ai/sam-3/image | $0.005 | Text/point/box prompts |
Image: Character/Identity
| Need | Model | Why |
|---|
| Consistent character | fal-ai/photomaker | Identity-preserving portraits |
| Brand style | fal-ai/flux-2/lora | Custom trained LoRAs |
Video: Tools
| Need | Model | Price | Why |
|---|
| Upscale | clarityai/crystal-video-upscaler | $0.10/MP-sec | Up to 5K |
| Lipsync | fal-ai/sync-lipsync/v2/pro | ~1.67x base | Natural features |
Other
| Need | Model | Price | Why |
|---|
| TTS | fal-ai/maya | $0.002/sec | Emotions, accents |
| Image → 3D | fal-ai/hunyuan3d-v3/image-to-3d | $0.375 | GLB/OBJ/FBX |
Detailed References
references/video-generation.md - 16+ video models (incl. all Veo/Sora endpoints)references/image-tools.md - 20+ image models (incl. Gemini/GPT Image)references/other-tools.md - TTS, 3D, upscaling, lipsync
Common Patterns
import fal_client
# Product demo video
result = fal_client.subscribe(
"fal-ai/kling-video/v2.1/pro/image-to-video",
arguments={
"prompt": "Product rotates smoothly, camera zooms in",
"image_url": "https://example.com/product.jpg",
"duration": "5"
}
)
# Remove background
result = fal_client.subscribe(
"fal-ai/birefnet/v2",
arguments={
"image_url": "https://example.com/photo.jpg",
"model": "General"
}
)
# Studio product photo
result = fal_client.subscribe(
"fal-ai/image-apps-v2/product-photography",
arguments={
"product_image_url": "https://example.com/product.jpg",
"aspect_ratio": "1:1"
}
)
# Virtual try-on
result = fal_client.subscribe(
"fal-ai/image-apps-v2/virtual-try-on",
arguments={
"person_image_url": "https://example.com/person.jpg",
"clothing_image_url": "https://example.com/shirt.jpg"
}
)