Best Open Source Video Models 2026
The open-source video generation landscape is moving fast. We've curated the top models of 2026 — ranked by quality, speed, and versatility — and you can run every one of them on WaveSpeed with zero setup.
Top Open Source Video Models of 2026
Every model below is available on WaveSpeed — optimized for speed, ready via API, no GPU setup required.
1. Wan 2.2 (Alibaba)
The industry's first open-source video model with Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture. Specialized high-noise and low-noise experts handle layout and detail separately — expanding capacity without increasing inference cost. Try it on WaveSpeed or explore the Wan 2.6 landing page.
2. Wan 2.1 Turbo (Alibaba)
The TeaCache-accelerated version of Wan 2.1, delivering 720P HD video generation 30% faster while maintaining state-of-the-art quality. Runs on as little as 8GB VRAM locally, or instantly on WaveSpeed. See more on the Wan 2.5 landing page.
3. HunyuanVideo (Tencent)
A 13-billion-parameter model that rivals closed-source systems in cinematic realism. Trained with a Causal 3D VAE and strong temporal consistency — produces 15-second clips at 720P with audio integration. Available on WaveSpeed.
4. LTXVideo (Lightricks)
Optimized for speed on mid-tier GPUs. Runs on as little as 12GB VRAM, integrates with ComfyUI, and supports text-to-video, image-to-video, and video-to-video — making it one of the most versatile lightweight options. Learn more on the LTX 2 landing page.
5. Mochi 1 (Genmo)
A 10-billion-parameter diffusion model using the Asymmetric Diffusion Transformer (AsymmDiT) architecture. Excels at photorealistic rendering with strong LoRA fine-tuning support. Run it on WaveSpeed.
6. SkyReels V1 (Community)
A community-driven fine-tune of HunyuanVideo, trained on 10M+ high-quality film and TV clips. Specializes in lifelike human characters with 33 facial expressions and 400+ movement combinations. Available on WaveSpeed.
Open Source Video Models — Side by Side
A quick comparison to help you choose the right model for your use case.
- Need cinematic multi-shot? → Wan 2.2
- Need speed on a budget? → Wan 2.1 Turbo or LTXVideo
- Need photorealistic output? → Mochi 1 or HunyuanVideo
- Need human characters? → SkyReels V1
- Need all of them in one place? → WaveSpeed runs them all, optimized and ready
Q & A
What are the best open source video models in 2026?
The leading open-source video models in 2026 include Wan 2.2 (MoE architecture by Alibaba), Wan 2.1 Turbo (fast HD generation), HunyuanVideo (13B cinematic model by Tencent), LTXVideo (lightweight and versatile by Lightricks), Mochi 1 (photorealistic by Genmo), and SkyReels V1 (human-centric fine-tune). All are available to run on WaveSpeed.
Can I run these models on WaveSpeed without my own GPU?
Yes. Every model listed is hosted on WaveSpeed's optimized cloud infrastructure. No GPU setup, no DevOps, no cold starts. Just select a model and generate via the web playground or API.
How does WaveSpeed optimize these open-source models?
WaveSpeed applies ParaAttention, first-frame caching, FP8 quantization, and latency-first scheduling to accelerate inference. The result is faster generation at the same quality — often significantly faster than running the same model on your own hardware.
Can I access these models via API?
Yes. All models are available through WaveSpeed's unified REST API with official Python and JavaScript SDKs. Batch processing and webhook callbacks are supported for production workflows.
Are these models really free to use?
The models themselves are open source and free to download. Running them on WaveSpeed uses usage-based credits — you pay for compute, not for the model. Visit the Pricing page for current rates.