The Hotpot AI Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Hotpot AI in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Hotpot AI
The Insider’s Guide
AI images, short videos, headshots and photo fixes paid with credits
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI image and video generators, read from Hotpot AI’s own pages.
Made by Panabee, LLC · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Hotpot AI’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Hotpot AI’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 63 of the 168 other AI image and video generators we grade
Hotpot is a browser-based set of AI tools for making images, short videos and themed portrait packs, alongside photo fixes such as upscaling, colorizing, restoring and background removal. It also offers editable design templates for app store screenshots, banners and social posts. AI work is paid for with credits that can be bought once or by subscription, while the templates are free to edit yourself.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Hotpot AI, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for a browser kit for images and photo fixes
Nobody says how much of the AI is free, headshot packs cost extra, and there is no app.
- 2
Paid plans start at $10 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $10 per month for 1,000 credits, or $12 one-time for 1,000 credits.
- 3
There is a free plan
The image generator can be tried with no account, AI editors include some free usage (amount not stated), and design templates are free to edit, commercial use included.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
AI image and art generator
Turn a prompt into a photo, painting, anime or 3D image using style presets, or add your own style reference or written style in the Library.
- 6
AI video generator
Animate an image or a written scene into a 4, 6 or 8-second clip in portrait or landscape, with a chosen style, music and camera movement.
- 7
Headshot and portrait packs
Themed portrait sets made from one photo of you, such as professional, corporate, travel and fantasy looks. The Professional pack is 20 portraits for $8.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 63 of 168
That is against the other AI image and video generators we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Hotpot AI you would be making an image model, which you can rent by the picture but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Hotpot AI at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $10 per month for 1,000 credits, or $12 one-time for 1,000 credits
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Panabee, LLC
- Category
- AI Image & Video Generators
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a browser kit for images and photo fixes
Hotpot is a browser set of AI image, video, headshot and photo-repair tools paid for in credits, $12 for 1,000 or $10 a month. Nobody says how much of the AI is free, headshot packs cost extra, and there is no app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | 1,000 credits is $12 once or $10 a month, which is the category's middle price. Headshot packs are priced on top. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The image generator works without an account and templates are free to edit, but the amount of free AI use isn't stated. |
| Features | C | Images, video, headshot packs, photo repair, templates and a canvas. Wide, but each AI job spends credits and the video tool always needs an account. |
| Ease of use | B | Open the site and generate. Nothing to install or set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Browser only: no mobile or desktop app is listed, and no integrations. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Hotpot AI is for
- Fits if you want a few AI tools and templates without a subscription
- Works for people who need an occasional photo fix, such as restoring or colorizing
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want apps on your phone or desktop, as everything runs in the browser
- Tight if you stay free, because the amount of free AI use isn't stated and video needs credits
- Watch out: monthly plans have a two-payment minimum
- Watch out: headshot packs are separate, for example $8 for 20 portraits
Good to know
Good for
- Occasional users who would rather buy credits once than subscribe
- App makers producing App Store and Google Play screenshots
- Restoring, colorizing or upscaling old family photos
- Getting a set of profile headshots from a single photo
Worth knowing
- The amount of free AI usage is not stated; video generation always needs an account and credits.
- Monthly subscriptions have a two-payment minimum, and yearly plans add credits month by month.
- Headshot packs are priced separately, for example $8 for 20 Professional portraits, or paid from a credit balance.
- The site lists no desktop or mobile apps; every tool runs in the browser.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$10
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Hotpot AI has a free plan. Paid plans start at $10 per month for 1,000 credits, or $12 one-time for 1,000 credits.
The image generator works without an account and templates are free to edit, but the amount of free AI use isn't stated.
Free
$0
Try the image generator without an account and edit classic templates with no watermark; sharing an image once a month earns 500 credits.
Monthly subscription
$10
per month for 1,000 credits, billed monthly
Larger steps run to 2,500 credits for $25, 5,000 for $50, 10,000 for $100 and 20,000 for $200 a month. Two-payment minimum.
Pay once
$12
one-time, for 1,000 credits
Packs of 2,500 credits for $30, 5,000 for $60, 10,000 for $120 and 20,000 for $240. The 5,000 pack adds 2 free AI headshot packs.
The free plan
The image generator can be tried with no account, AI editors include some free usage (amount not stated), and design templates are free to edit, commercial use included.
Read from hotpot.ai on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 25% with a yearly subscription
A yearly plan of 1,000 credits a month costs $108 a year, which the pricing page labels a 25% saving; monthly billing is labelled a 17% saving over one-time packs.
Stated on hotpot.aiOther savings
500 credits for sharing an image each month
Once a month, sharing a favorite Hotpot image of your own or from its gallery earns 500 AI credits.
Stated on hotpot.ai
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
AI images, short videos, headshots and photo fixes paid with credits. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, templates, image generation, video generation.
Images, video, headshot packs, photo repair, templates and a canvas.
- AI image and art generator
- Turn a prompt into a photo, painting, anime or 3D image using style presets, or add your own style reference or written style in the Library.
- AI video generator
- Animate an image or a written scene into a 4, 6 or 8-second clip in portrait or landscape, with a chosen style, music and camera movement.
- Headshot and portrait packs
- Themed portrait sets made from one photo of you, such as professional, corporate, travel and fantasy looks. The Professional pack is 20 portraits for $8.
- Photo repair and editing
- Upscaler, colorizer, restorer, face enhancer and background remover. Background removal costs 10 credits an image on Standard or 22 on Premium.
- Design templates
- Editable App Store and Google Play screenshots, LinkedIn banners, YouTube thumbnails and social posts, free to edit yourself with no watermark.
- Hotpot Canvas
- Draw a rough sketch on a canvas and have AI turn it into a finished painting, or remix several images together.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Hotpot AI is made by Panabee, LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
63/168
Other AI image and video generators it is graded above
Hotpot AI's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 63 of the 168 other AI image and video generators we grade, and level with 42.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 119 of 168) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 2).
Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $11.88 for the category: 51 of the 120 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 22 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 169 AI image and video generators we grade, cut by the letter each got. Hotpot AI’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 16 of 168
- CFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 168
- CFeaturesAbove 6 of 168
- BEase of useAbove 119 of 168
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 168
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 123 AI image and video generators. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Hotpot AI is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Hotpot AI you would be making an image model, which you can rent by the picture but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $120 a year.
What you could make
- Templates: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- An image model, which you can rent by the picture but not make.
- A video model, which you can rent by the second but not make.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Hotpot AI’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Fotor, Picsart, Pixlr, NightCafe and Starryai
The 5 tools Hotpot AI is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Fotor
Free plan · from $39.99/yr
Photo editor and AI image and video generator with credit plans.
- Only Fotor lists iOS, Android, Windows and macOS apps.
- 2.0GPA
Picsart
Paid
Photo and video editor with AI generation and design tools.
- Hotpot AI has a free plan. Picsart does not.
- Only Picsart lists iOS and macOS apps.
- Picsart also covers video editing.
- 3.2GPA
Pixlr
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Browser photo editors with AI image, video and audio tools.
- Only Pixlr lists iOS and Android apps.
- Hotpot AI also covers templates.
- 2.4GPA
NightCafe
Free plan · from $7.49/mo
Community AI art generator with many models and daily free credits.
- 2.6GPA
Starryai
Free plan · from $4.99
AI art and video app with styles, a community feed and Lumen credits.
- Only Starryai lists iOS and Android apps.
- Hotpot AI also covers templates.
- Starryai also covers community.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Hotpot AI free?
Hotpot AI has a free plan. The image generator can be tried with no account, AI editors include some free usage (amount not stated), and design templates are free to edit, commercial use included.
How much does Hotpot AI cost?
Hotpot AI lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Hotpot AI work on?
Hotpot AI is available on Web.
Does Hotpot AI offer any discounts?
Hotpot AI publicly lists the following: Save 25% with a yearly subscription; 500 credits for sharing an image each month.
Does Hotpot AI have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Hotpot AI is listed for Web.
Does Hotpot AI have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Hotpot AI is listed for Web.
Is Hotpot AI open source?
Hotpot AI is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Hotpot AI?
Hotpot AI is made by Panabee, LLC.
What are the alternatives to Hotpot AI?
The closest alternatives to Hotpot AI in our directory are Fotor, Picsart, Pixlr, NightCafe and Starryai.
How does Hotpot AI compare with other AI image and video generators?
Hotpot AI's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 63 of the 168 other AI image and video generators we grade, and level with 42.
Is Hotpot AI good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Hotpot AI C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $11.88 for the category: 51 of the 120 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Hotpot AI?
To replace Hotpot AI you would be making an image model, which you can rent by the picture but not make.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Hotpot AI’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Hotpot's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Panabee, LLC. Prices change, so check hotpot.ai before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Hotpot AI, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/hotpot-ai
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Hotpot AI: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/hotpot-ai
Know someone choosing between AI image and video generators?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/hotpot-ai/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI image and video generators after Hotpot AI, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Image & Video Generators Insider's GuideEvery one of the 169 AI image and video generators we grade, compared
- Pixlr Insider's GuideBrowser photo editors with AI image, video and audio tools3.2 GPA
- Adobe Firefly Insider's GuideAdobe's image, video and audio generator, with partner models3.0 GPA
- ComfyUI Insider's GuideOpen-source node editor for image and video AI workflows, plus a cloud3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Hotpot AI’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Hotpot AI is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Panabee, LLC. Prices and plans change: check hotpot.ai before you buy.