Quickstart

This guide takes you from a new account to a downloaded MP4. You need a terminal with curl, or Python 3.8+ or Node.js 18+.

Create an account

Sign up at fiveapi.ai and verify your email address. The account you create is the owner of your workspace: its API keys, credits, webhooks and team members.

New production accounts are reviewed before they can create API keys. If key creation is refused with account_not_active, contact support@fiveapi.ai.

Add credits

Open Billing in the console and buy a credit pack. Larger packs cost less per credit. See Credits and pricing.

Create an API key

Open API Keys in the console, click Create key, give it a name and copy the key. It starts with sk_live_ and is shown only once.Store it in an environment variable instead of your code:

export FIVEAPI_API_KEY="sk_live_..."

Keep keys on your server. Never put them in a browser, a mobile app or a public repository.

Create a video task

Send a text prompt to Video Fast 1.0. The model id is the path of the request.

curl https://api.fiveapi.ai/v1/video-fast/v1.0/text-to-video \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FIVEAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "prompt": "a paper boat floating down a rain gutter, close-up, soft daylight",
    "duration": 5,
    "resolution": "480p",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
  }'

import os
import requests

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.fiveapi.ai/v1/video-fast/v1.0/text-to-video",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['FIVEAPI_API_KEY']}"},
    json={
        "prompt": "a paper boat floating down a rain gutter, close-up, soft daylight",
        "duration": 5,
        "resolution": "480p",
        "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
    },
    timeout=30,
)
response.raise_for_status()
task = response.json()
print(task["id"], task["status"], task["credits"]["estimated"])

const response = await fetch("https://api.fiveapi.ai/v1/video-fast/v1.0/text-to-video", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.FIVEAPI_API_KEY}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    prompt: "a paper boat floating down a rain gutter, close-up, soft daylight",
    duration: 5,
    resolution: "480p",
    aspect_ratio: "16:9",
  }),
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`${response.status} ${await response.text()}`);
const task = await response.json();
console.log(task.id, task.status, task.credits.estimated);

The answer comes back right away. The task is queued and its estimated price is held from your balance:

{
  "id": "task_01J9X8A1B2C3D4E5F6G7H8J9K0",
  "object": "task",
  "model": "video-fast/v1.0/text-to-video",
  "task": "text-to-video",
  "status": "queued",
  "input": {
    "prompt": "a paper boat floating down a rain gutter, close-up, soft daylight",
    "duration": 5,
    "resolution": "480p",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
  },
  "error": null,
  "credits": { "estimated": 9 },
  "created_at": "2026-10-23T06:25:11.000Z"
}

Wait for the result

Poll the task until it reaches a terminal status: completed, failed or cancelled. Generation usually takes one to a few minutes, depending on the model, the length and the queue.

curl https://api.fiveapi.ai/v1/tasks/task_01J9X8A1B2C3D4E5F6G7H8J9K0 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FIVEAPI_API_KEY"

When the task is completed, output.video.url holds the MP4 and credits.charged the final price:

{
  "id": "task_01J9X8A1B2C3D4E5F6G7H8J9K0",
  "status": "completed",
  "output": {
    "video": {
      "url": "https://openassets.fiveapi.ai/x2v/results/551fe9fa/Five_API_1793171336.mp4",
      "content_type": "video/mp4",
      "width": 864,
      "height": 480,
      "duration": 5.04,
      "fps": 24,
      "cover_url": "https://openassets.fiveapi.ai/x2v/results/61f69823/Five_API_1793171336.jpg"
    }
  },
  "credits": { "estimated": 9, "charged": 9 },
  "completed_at": "2026-10-23T06:27:02.410Z",
  "expires_at": "2026-10-30T06:27:02.410Z"
}

Polling works fine (every 5–10 seconds per task). For production we recommend webhooks as the primary channel: pass a webhook_url and Five API calls you when the task finishes, so you only poll as a fallback.

Download the video

output.video.url is a plain HTTPS download that stays valid until expires_at, 7 days after completion. Copy the file to your own storage if you need it longer.

curl -o video.mp4 "https://openassets.fiveapi.ai/x2v/results/551fe9fa/Five_API_1793171336.mp4"

The whole flow in one script

import os
import time

import requests

API = "https://api.fiveapi.ai"
HEADERS = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['FIVEAPI_API_KEY']}"}


def generate(model: str, body: dict, timeout_s: int = 900) -> dict:
    task = requests.post(f"{API}/v1/{model}", json=body, headers=HEADERS, timeout=30)
    task.raise_for_status()
    task = task.json()
    delay, deadline = 5, time.time() + timeout_s
    while task["status"] not in ("completed", "failed", "cancelled"):
        if time.time() > deadline:
            raise TimeoutError(task["id"])
        time.sleep(delay)
        delay = min(delay * 1.5, 30)
        task = requests.get(f"{API}/v1/tasks/{task['id']}", headers=HEADERS, timeout=15).json()
    return task


task = generate("video-fast/v1.0/text-to-video", {
    "prompt": "a paper boat floating down a rain gutter, close-up, soft daylight",
    "duration": 5,
    "resolution": "480p",
})
if task["status"] == "completed":
    with open("video.mp4", "wb") as f:
        f.write(requests.get(task["output"]["video"]["url"], timeout=120).content)
    print("saved video.mp4, charged", task["credits"]["charged"], "credits")
else:
    print(task["status"], task["error"])

import { writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";

const API = "https://api.fiveapi.ai";
const HEADERS = { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.FIVEAPI_API_KEY}`, "Content-Type": "application/json" };
const sleep = (ms) => new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, ms));

async function generate(model, body, timeoutMs = 900_000) {
  let res = await fetch(`${API}/v1/${model}`, { method: "POST", headers: HEADERS, body: JSON.stringify(body) });
  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);
  let task = await res.json();
  let delay = 5000;
  const deadline = Date.now() + timeoutMs;
  while (!["completed", "failed", "cancelled"].includes(task.status)) {
    if (Date.now() > deadline) throw new Error(`timed out: ${task.id}`);
    await sleep(delay);
    delay = Math.min(delay * 1.5, 30_000);
    task = await (await fetch(`${API}/v1/tasks/${task.id}`, { headers: HEADERS })).json();
  }
  return task;
}

const task = await generate("video-fast/v1.0/text-to-video", {
  prompt: "a paper boat floating down a rain gutter, close-up, soft daylight",
  duration: 5,
  resolution: "480p",
});
if (task.status === "completed") {
  const video = await fetch(task.output.video.url);
  await writeFile("video.mp4", Buffer.from(await video.arrayBuffer()));
  console.log("saved video.mp4, charged", task.credits.charged, "credits");
} else {
  console.log(task.status, task.error);
}

Next steps

Choose a model

Compare quality, speed, resolutions, durations and audio.

Receive webhooks

Get notified when a task finishes and verify the signature.

Handle errors

Retry what is retryable and nothing else.

Go to production

The checklist for a robust integration.

Get started

Core concepts

Guides

Build with AI

Resources

The whole flow in one script

Next steps

Choose a model

Receive webhooks

Handle errors

Go to production

​The whole flow in one script

​Next steps

Choose a model

Receive webhooks

Handle errors

Go to production

The whole flow in one script

Next steps