For anyone planning identity work. That means moving a character, building a portrait from one face, or keeping a person consistent across a series. Kling 3.0 Motion Control and InstantID run today in their tools.
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1
Kling 3.0 Motion Control
Moves a character from one photo with motion taken from a reference clip.
- 27 credits per second
- Kuaishou
- 720p, 1080p
- Reference video must run 3 to 30 seconds
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2
InstantID
Builds a new portrait from one reference instead of replacing a face in an existing photo.
- 4 credits per image
- open source
- Consent required
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3
PhotoMaker
Keeps one identity across a whole series, which a single swap cannot do.
- 2 credits per image
- TencentARC
- Consent required
Three identity jobs, ranked by need
The order follows what the job needs, not which app shouts loudest. Kling 3.0 Motion Control is first because it does the hardest thing. It moves a still character using motion from a reference clip you filmed. InstantID is second. It does not paste a face into an existing photo. Instead, it builds a new portrait from one reference with freedom over the scene. PhotoMaker is third, for keeping one identity across a whole series from a few photos.
Motion Control runs in the Motion Control and Animate Character tools. InstantID runs in the Consistent Character tool with your reference face. PhotoMaker has a model page with its rate, but no tool of its own yet.
Which pick fits your project
Pick Kling 3.0 Motion Control when one character must perform a movement you recorded once. Think of a wave, a walk or a short dance. Upload the character photo and the clip, and the result is as long as the clip, from 3 to 30 seconds. It needs a clean reference video: one person, steady framing, nothing crossing the body.
Pick InstantID for a single strong portrait in a new setting. Pick PhotoMaker when you need many images of the same person and the cheapest rate matters. A set of avatars or a short comic fits that description.
What a project will cost
Kling 3.0 Motion Control costs 27 credits per second of your reference clip at 1080p. A 5-second move costs 135 credits, about $1.44. Kling 3.0 animates a character from a prompt at 27 credits per second.
Stills are far cheaper. InstantID is listed at 4 credits per image, so ten portraits cost 40 credits, about $0.43. PhotoMaker is listed at 2 credits per image, and a series of ten costs 20 credits, about $0.21.
Comparing InstantID and PhotoMaker
Start with InstantID today, using a consenting person. Give InstantID one sharp, front-facing photo. PhotoMaker works best with a few photos from different angles. Write one prompt for both. For example: "the same woman as a ship's navigator at a chart table, oil lamp light, three-quarter view". Then run several images. Judge whether the face still reads as her across angles, not only in the best frame.
What this list refuses to cover
Both still-image models carry the same limit: consent required. This list leaves out any use on a person who has not agreed, including public figures, exes and colleagues. It also skips one-click swap filters that paste a face onto a meme template. Identity tools that hold a face across scenes serve real projects better.
More rankings
Questions about Best face swap tools
Can I swap a face on Ugesi right now?
Yes, in the Face Swap tool for a single photo. InstantID builds a new portrait from one reference face in the Consistent Character tool. Kling 3.0 Motion Control moves a character with the motion from a clip.
Does InstantID replace a face in my existing photo?
No. It builds a new portrait from one reference face, with freedom over the scene. If you need the same person across many images, PhotoMaker is the better fit.
What does a short animated clip with Motion Control cost?
It costs 27 credits per second of your clip at 1080p, so 5 seconds cost 135 credits. 720p costs less. The total shows before you start.
Do I need permission from the person whose face I use?
Yes. Consent is required for InstantID, PhotoMaker and Motion Control. Use only your own face or someone who has agreed.
