How HotDance AI Video Remakes Work: TikTok/Shorts Links, Video-to-Prompt, Still Previews & Credit Billing

No—you cannot paste a YouTube Shorts, TikTok, or Instagram Reels link anywhere on HotDance AI (hotdanceai.com) to download footage or clone choreography, and live /body-swap and /effects templates accept 1 or 2 photos (JPG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC), not reference video files. Instead, every template on HotDance AI comes with pre-calibrated driving choreography built in, includes a 0-credit, no-signup OpenAI GPT Image 2.6 still-frame preview (a static frame, never a playable video), and deducts credits atomically only when you confirm and submit a paid MP4 render—with 100% automatic atomic refunds if a render fails or is blocked by moderation. Meanwhile, the free Video-to-Prompt tool is a browser-side prompt helper that inspects a local MP4/MOV file from your own device at 0 credits and never starts or previews a video render.

Because creators sometimes conflate third-party prompt tools, social video downloaders, and AI template previews, here is the exact stage-by-stage breakdown of what works, what is not supported, and when credits leave your balance.

Direct Answers to the 4 Most Common Help Questions

1. Can I paste a YouTube Shorts or TikTok URL to replicate the dance? No. HotDance AI has no social link downloader or URL-scraping input (a retired early homepage URL metadata box was removed). You cannot feed choreography from a link; instead, browse 250+ pre-calibrated viral routines across All Effects and AI Body Swap, where the motion reference and audio timing are already built in.
2. Can I upload my own reference MP4 on /body-swap to drive a custom video? No. On the live site, AI Body Swap showcases pre-calibrated full-body replacement templates that take 1 photo (solo) or 2 photos (duo) in JPG, PNG, WEBP, or HEIC.
3. What does /tools/video-to-prompt actually do? It is a 0-credit, no-login client-side utility. When you select a local video file (MP4/MOV/WebM) from your computer or phone, your browser's own <video> metadata reader checks duration, pixel dimensions, and orientation (9:16 vs 16:9), then builds a structured time-coded text prompt template ([0-3s] / [3-7s] / [7-10s]) that you can copy for external experiments. It never accepts URLs, never uploads your video to a GPU render cluster, and never produces a video preview.
4. Is the free preview a playable video? No. HotDance AI offers no unpaid full-video render tier. The free pre-pay check on / and video template pages is a static AI image (GPT Image 2.6) placing your subject into a template key frame so you can verify likeness and lighting before spending a single credit.

Stage-by-Stage Breakdown: Cost, Credits & Refunds

Step in Workflow	Where It Happens	What Runs Technically	Credit Deduction & Limits
1. Browse & Free Utilities	/effects, /body-swap, /tools/*	Client-side portrait extraction (/tools/frame-extractor), local MP4 prompt builder (/tools/video-to-prompt), UI safe-zone overlay (/tools/safe-zone-checker)	0 credits, no account or card required.
2. Free Character Still Preview	Homepage stage (/) or any video template page	OpenAI GPT Image 2.6 (gpt-image-2.6-ext) generates 1 static key frame with your uploaded portrait(s) inside that template scene	0 credits, no sign-up (capped at 3 previews per template, 15 total per visitor, 15 per IP/day, and 500/day site-wide; cached in browser across page jumps).
3. Paid Render Confirmation	Template generator paywall or logged-in account (returns to /<slug>?paid=1#generator)	Queued on Seedance 2.0 Mini (solo 720p) or Seedance 2.5 Ultra (duos / 1080p); or GPT Image 2.6 Flare/Sunburst on /gpt-image-2-6-photo-swap	Deducted atomically at submission: Solo ≤15s = 10 cr (HD 720p) / 93 cr (1080p); 2-photo duo = 17 cr (480p) / 37 cr (720p) / 93 cr (1080p); still swap = 1 cr.
4A. Successful Completion	Generated result player & download button	Watermark-free MP4 with synced .m4a AAC track (or toggle silent export)	Deduction finalized; source uploads and outputs auto-delete within 30 days.
4B. Failure, Timeout or Safety Block	Server task settlement (src/modules/ai-tasks/service.ts)	Worker crash, generation timeout, pre-dispatch cancel, or upstream OutputVideoSensitiveContentDetected rejection	100% of deducted credits refunded automatically in an atomic balance write (0 net credits spent).

Credit Packs, Subscriptions & Refund Rules Before You Buy

Every template displays the exact credit price on screen (10, 17, 37, or 93 credits depending on slot count and chosen resolution; billed per 12s duration unit with clips ≤ 12s equal to 1 unit). You never need a recurring subscription unless you render in high volume:

• One-time credit packs (never expire): Single Pack = $9.90 (10 credits) · Trio Pack = $17.99 (30 credits) · Squad Pack = $29.00 (50 credits) · Crew Pack = $99.00 (250 credits) · Studio Pack = $199.00 (600 credits) · Label Pack = $499.00 (1,800 credits).
• Optional subscriptions: Basic ($29.90/mo or $19.90/mo billed yearly, 100 cr/mo), Pro ($49.90/mo or $39.90/mo yearly, 200 cr/mo), Studio ($99.90/mo or $69.90/mo yearly, 450 cr/mo). View the full catalog on /pricing.
• Guest checkout & login: Pay without creating a password using Stripe, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, or sign in with 1-tap Google OAuth.
• Completed bad-swap policy: Cash refunds are limited to verified duplicate gateway charges (Refund Policy), while completed outputs with a verifiable defect (such as a subject failing to swap or broken audio) can be reviewed by support@hotdanceai.com for credit reimbursement.

Privacy, Consent & Automatic File Deletion

• Allowed subjects only (18+ or owner-uploaded pets/parent-approved family clips): Never upload photos of minors without guardian authorization, celebrities, or non-consenting adults (About HotDance AI).
• Browser-local tools stay on device: Neither Frame Extractor nor Video to Prompt uploads local clips for AI video rendering.
• 30-day automatic deletion: Uploaded portrait photos and generated outputs on server renders are deleted automatically within 30 days; check Privacy Policy for full data handling and cookie terms.

Ready to test a photo? Open any template in All Effects or AI Body Swap, inspect your 0-credit GPT Image 2.6 still-frame preview first, and verify the exact credit quote before starting the paid MP4 render.