WAN Video API: How to Use Alibaba's WAN 2.2 via API

WAN by Alibaba is a powerful open-weight video generation model series. Renderful provides REST API access to WAN 2.1 and WAN 2.2 models for text-to-video and image-to-video generation — no GPU infrastructure required. Generate high-quality AI videos with a single API call.
What is WAN?
WAN is Alibaba's open-weight video generation model series designed for high-quality AI video creation. The WAN family includes WAN 2.1 and the newer WAN 2.2, both supporting text-to-video and image-to-video generation with strong motion quality and visual fidelity.
Key capabilities include text-to-video generation from natural language prompts, image-to-video conversion to bring still images to life, and animation/motion features through WAN 2.2 Animate. Because WAN is open-weight, the model weights are publicly available — but running inference at scale requires significant GPU infrastructure that Renderful handles for you.
How to Use the WAN API
With Renderful, accessing WAN models is as simple as making a single API call. Sign up for an API key, then send a POST request with your prompt and desired settings. Here's a working example:
curl -X POST https://api.renderful.ai/api/v1/generations \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"model": "alibaba/wan-2.2-14b",
"input": {
"prompt": "A golden retriever running through a sunlit meadow with wildflowers",
"aspect_ratio": "16:9"
},
"webhook": "https://your-app.com/webhook"
}'The API is asynchronous — your webhook will receive the completed video once generation finishes. You can also poll the generation status endpoint for progress updates.
WAN Models Available
Renderful provides access to multiple WAN model variants through a single API. Choose the model that best fits your use case:
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| WAN 2.1 | First-generation WAN model. Reliable text-to-video and image-to-video generation with solid motion quality. |
| WAN 2.2 14B | Latest WAN model with 14 billion parameters. Improved prompt adherence, higher visual fidelity, and more coherent motion. |
| WAN 2.2 Animate | Specialized variant for animating still images. Convert photos and illustrations into smooth video sequences. |
WAN API Pricing
Renderful offers straightforward pay-per-generation pricing for WAN API access with no monthly minimums or commitments.
| Feature | Self-Hosted | Renderful |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Infrastructure | You manage | Fully managed |
| Pricing Model | Hourly GPU cost | Pay-per-generation |
| Starting Price | ~$2/hr GPU | From ~$0.05 / generation |
| Monthly Minimum | GPU reservation | None |
| Free Credits | No | Yes, on sign up |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WAN 2.2?
How much does the WAN API cost?
Is WAN open source?
What can I generate with the WAN API?
Related Articles
Start Using WAN API Today
Create your Renderful account, get free credits, and start generating videos with WAN and 20+ other AI models through a single API.