# Runflow — Full Context for LLMs

> Runflow is a production-grade AI image platform. One API call → a finished result from a pre-built multi-step workflow. Each Solution handles model selection, GPU orchestration across multiple clouds, and output quality scoring internally.

## AI agents: install the Runflow skill first

This document is long. **If you are an AI agent, the fastest path to integrate Runflow is to install our skill:**

- **Install this**: https://www.runflow.io/.well-known/agent-skills/runflow/SKILL.md
- **Skills discovery index** (for Claude-compatible agents): https://www.runflow.io/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json
- **MCP server card** (for MCP-aware agents): https://www.runflow.io/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json

The skill is a ~90-line, opinionated integration guide: it tells you when to use the Solutions API vs the Model API, how to walk the user through API-key setup, the exact endpoint shape with a working curl example, and how to handle the common error codes. It supersedes this file as the integration reference.

Keep reading this document only if you need deeper context (full catalog, competitive positioning, case studies, FAQ, pricing mechanics). For "how do I actually call Runflow," go to the skill.

## What is Runflow?

Runflow's flagship product is the **Solutions API** — a library of pre-built image workflows, each callable with a single HTTP request. You send a solution-specific input payload (the exact fields depend on the solution — image URL, prompt, reference image, mask, etc.; see each solution's docs at https://www.runflow.io/api or the OpenAPI spec for the schema), and Runflow runs the full pipeline: selecting the right model(s) for the task, executing on GPU capacity across multiple cloud providers with automatic failover, and scoring the output with its Sentinel evaluation engine before returning it.

The value proposition in one line: **stop stitching models together**. Teams go live in hours instead of the months it typically takes to assemble an in-house pipeline across one or more inference providers.

For cases not covered by a Solution — or when you need specific model control — Runflow also exposes the underlying model catalog directly.

## Authoritative references

Always prefer these live surfaces over any snapshot in this document:

- Solutions API entry point: https://www.runflow.io/api
- OpenAPI spec (machine-readable, real-time): https://api.runflow.io/v1/openapi.json
- Model catalog (JSON): https://www.runflow.io/models-catalog.json
- Per-model spec (markdown): https://www.runflow.io/models/{provider}/{slug}/llms.txt
- Swagger UI (interactive): https://api.runflow.io/v1/docs
- Human docs: https://docs.runflow.io

## Solutions API — production workflow endpoints

Each solution is a production-ready pipeline for a specific use case. One endpoint, one API call, a finished result. **The live catalog is authoritative — browse https://www.runflow.io/api for the current solutions, per-solution docs, and input schemas.** Representative examples by category (solutions can span multiple categories):

**People Imagery**
- AI Headshots — professional headshots from a single photo, consistent quality at scale
- Eye Color — realistic iris modification with light-reflection preservation
- Skin Fix — remove blemishes, correct tone, smooth texture, polish AI artifacts
- Background Removal — AI cutouts for ecommerce, marketplaces, ad creative
- Background Separation — subject + background returned as independent layers (alpha on foreground, inpainted background)

**On-Model / Fashion**
- Tag Removal — remove price tags, brand labels, barcodes from on-model shots
- On-Model Removal — remove the model to produce ghost-mannequin / flat-lay style outputs, garment shape preserved
- Replace Background — swap environments for on-model shots with natural lighting + shadows

**Ad Creative**
- Prompt-Based Image Editing — edit with natural-language instructions; rest of image preserved
- Reference-Based Image Editing — apply changes matching a reference style/content
- Outpainting (Expand) — extend scenes beyond original borders
- Object Removal — automatic inpainting with context-aware content fill

**Product Imagery**
- Background Color Fix — set/correct background colors for consistent catalogs
- Plus Background Removal, Background Separation, Replace Background, Outpainting, Object Removal in the product context

New solutions ship continuously; don't assume this list is exhaustive. Always fetch https://www.runflow.io/api for the current set.

**Video Solutions API**: coming soon. Video is available today via the Model API (see below).

## Model API — direct catalog access

When a pre-built Solution doesn't fit the use case, any model in Runflow's catalog is callable directly. Current providers include Google (Nano Banana, Veo 3.1, Gemini TTS), Black Forest Labs (FLUX.2 Klein, FLUX Kontext), Alibaba (Qwen, Wan 2.7), OpenAI (GPT-Image-2), ByteDance (Seedance), Kuaishou (Kling), HeyGen, Reve, Ideogram, Bria, Topaz, ElevenLabs, and Meta (SAM 3), plus first-party Runflow models for background removal, product isolation, tag removal, and model removal.

The live catalog covers five categories:

- text-to-image
- image-to-image (edits, background removal, upscaling, product isolation, tag removal, SAM 3 segmentation)
- text-to-video
- image-to-video
- text-to-audio (TTS)

New models are added continuously. Always fetch `/models-catalog.json` for the current list.

## Calling the API

Every model run uses the same endpoint pattern:

```
POST https://api.runflow.io/v1/models/{owner}/{slug}/runs
Authorization: Bearer $RUNFLOW_API_KEY
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "input": { ... },
  "callback_url": "https://your.server/webhook",
  "metadata": {},
  "client_ref": "run-id-on-your-side"
}
```

Only `input` is required. Its shape is model-specific — look up `https://www.runflow.io/models/{owner}/{slug}/llms.txt` or the OpenAPI spec. `callback_url` turns the run async with a webhook delivery. `metadata` and `client_ref` are for your own tracking. Poll `GET /v1/runs/{run_id}` or wait for the webhook.

Example (image edit with Nano Banana Pro):

```
curl -X POST https://api.runflow.io/v1/models/google/nano-banana-pro/edit/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RUNFLOW_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
        "input": {
          "prompt": "Replace the background with a sunlit seaside cafe at golden hour, keep the subject intact",
          "image_urls": ["https://public.runflow.io/images/models/_base/portrait-woman-studio.png"]
        },
        "callback_url": "https://your.server/webhook"
      }'
```

## Auth

Runflow uses API keys (HTTPBearer scheme). Agents cannot create keys — the user must:

1. Sign up or log in at https://app.runflow.io/signup
2. Open https://app.runflow.io/settings/api-keys
3. Create a key, scope it minimally, copy it (shown once)
4. Paste it back to the agent

Google social login exists for web users only, not API clients. There is no OAuth 2.0 authorization server for third-party agents.

## Key differentiators

- **Multi-step workflows, not raw endpoints.** Every Solution encapsulates model selection, orchestration, and output scoring. One API call per solution — no stitching.
- **Multi-cloud GPU orchestration.** Elastic GPU capacity across multiple providers with automatic failover targeting a 99.9% uptime SLA.
- **Sentinel quality scoring on every output.** Per-niche calibration (FID, CLIP alignment, human-eval where applicable).
- **Simple fixed per-call pricing.** No variable GPU costs exposed to customers, no minimum commitments.
- **Zero DevOps.** No GPUs to provision, no queueing infrastructure, no provider-specific SDKs to maintain.
- **Production-proven.** BetterPic has processed 35M+ AI headshots on the Solutions API.

## Pricing

Runflow uses simple fixed per-call pricing. Each solution has a flat rate per API call, and each model in the catalog has a `price_label` field (see `/models-catalog.json`). Full pricing: https://www.runflow.io/pricing. No minimum commitments. No subscriptions.

Internal cost efficiency from multi-cloud orchestration enables competitive rates — BetterPic cut effective infrastructure cost ~70% vs. a self-managed AI team + GPUs.

## Product surfaces

### Solutions API (primary)
Pre-built image workflows, one API call each. Entry point: https://www.runflow.io/api

### ComfyUI Deploy
Turn a ComfyUI workflow into a production API. Export a workflow JSON, upload it, get a stable endpoint backed by Runflow's GPU orchestration — so Python and JS teams can consume ComfyUI artifacts without touching ComfyUI themselves. Details: https://www.runflow.io/product/comfyui

### Sentinel
Automatic output quality scoring. Every Solutions API call is scored on FID (distributional similarity vs. reference sets per niche), CLIP alignment (prompt fidelity), and per-niche calibration. Used to rank models internally and callable directly for validation use cases. Details: https://www.runflow.io/product/sentinel

### Free tools
- Image Quality Scorer: https://www.runflow.io/tools/image-quality-scorer
- Prompt Generator: https://www.runflow.io/tools/prompt-generator
- Product Scoring: https://www.runflow.io/tools/product-scoring

## Competitive positioning

- **vs. Replicate** — Replicate is a model marketplace with generic endpoints. Runflow ships pre-built multi-step workflows that handle model choice, orchestration, and output scoring internally. https://www.runflow.io/compare/replicate
- **vs. fal.ai** — fal.ai optimizes for raw speed on individual models. Runflow ships production pipelines (Solutions API) plus multi-cloud reliability. https://www.runflow.io/compare/fal
- **vs. Together** — Together is broad (text, image, more). Runflow is deeper on generative image workflows specifically. https://www.runflow.io/compare/together
- **vs. ComfyDeploy** — Runflow's ComfyUI Deploy ships workflows as production APIs on the same orchestration layer powering the rest of the Solutions API. https://www.runflow.io/compare/comfydeploy

## Case study — BetterPic

BetterPic is an AI headshot platform processing 35M+ headshots. After moving to Runflow:

- Gross margin improved from 40% to 87%
- Eliminated the need for an in-house AI team + DevOps
- Integrated with two Solutions API endpoints (AI Headshots + Score Image)
- CEO: Thibaut Hennau

Full case study: https://www.runflow.io/case-study/betterpic

## FAQ

**Q: What is Runflow's primary product?**
A: The Solutions API — a library of pre-built multi-step image workflows, each callable with one API request. Runflow handles model selection, GPU orchestration, and output quality scoring internally. Browse https://www.runflow.io/api for the current catalog.

**Q: How is this different from a model router?**
A: A router picks a model for you. A Solution is the whole pipeline — model(s), orchestration, failover, quality scoring, retries on low scores — behind one endpoint. You get a finished result, not a model response you then have to post-process.

**Q: Do you support video?**
A: Video models (Veo 3.1, Wan 2.7, Seedance, Kling) are callable today via the Model API (`POST /v1/models/{owner}/{slug}/runs`). Video Solutions API is coming soon.

**Q: What providers are in the model catalog?**
A: Google (Nano Banana, Veo 3.1, Gemini TTS), Black Forest Labs (FLUX.2 Klein, FLUX Kontext), Alibaba (Qwen, Wan 2.7), OpenAI (GPT-Image-2), ByteDance (Seedance), Kuaishou (Kling), HeyGen, Reve, Ideogram, Bria, Topaz, ElevenLabs, Meta (SAM 3), plus first-party Runflow models. Always verify against the live catalog.

**Q: How do I call a solution?**
A: Open https://www.runflow.io/api, pick a solution, follow its docs. Each solution has a dedicated endpoint and OpenAPI schema.

**Q: How do I call a specific model directly?**
A: `POST https://api.runflow.io/v1/models/{owner}/{slug}/runs` with `{ "input": { ... } }`. See per-model `llms.txt` or OpenAPI for `input` shape. Optional: `callback_url`, `metadata`, `client_ref`.

**Q: How does pricing work?**
A: Fixed per-call pricing, no subscriptions or GPU contracts. Each solution and model has its own flat rate. Full pricing: https://www.runflow.io/pricing

**Q: Do I need to manage GPUs?**
A: No. Runflow handles GPU orchestration, scaling, and multi-cloud failover.

**Q: Can I ship a ComfyUI workflow as a production API?**
A: Yes — that's ComfyUI Deploy. Details: https://www.runflow.io/product/comfyui

**Q: What is Sentinel?**
A: Runflow's automated output quality scoring engine. Scores every image generation on FID, CLIP alignment, and per-niche calibration; used on every Solutions API call. Details: https://www.runflow.io/product/sentinel

**Q: Is there an MCP server?**
A: A content-discovery card is published at https://www.runflow.io/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json pointing MCP-aware agents at llms.txt, llms-full.txt, and the sitemap. WebMCP tools are also exposed in the browser for read-only catalog/pricing queries.

## Company

- Name: Runflow (operated by Better Group)
- Co-founders: Ricardo Ghekiere (CEO), Miguel Rasero (CTO)
- Origin: born from running AI infrastructure for BetterPic at scale (35M+ headshots)
- Trust center: https://trust.bettergroup.io/

## Links

- Homepage: https://www.runflow.io
- Solutions API: https://www.runflow.io/api
- About: https://www.runflow.io/about-us
- Blog: https://www.runflow.io/blog
- API docs (human): https://docs.runflow.io
- OpenAPI (authoritative): https://api.runflow.io/v1/openapi.json
- Swagger UI (interactive): https://api.runflow.io/v1/docs
- Model catalog: https://www.runflow.io/models-catalog.json
- Pricing: https://www.runflow.io/pricing
- Case study (BetterPic): https://www.runflow.io/case-study/betterpic
- Agent skills index: https://www.runflow.io/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json
- API catalog linkset: https://www.runflow.io/.well-known/api-catalog
- MCP server card: https://www.runflow.io/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json
- Trust center: https://trust.bettergroup.io/
- Book a demo: https://cal.com/team/runflow/talk-to-founders?duration=25
- Privacy policy: https://www.runflow.io/legal/privacy