Is Grok Imagine free? Pricing and limits explained (2026)
What Grok Imagine costs, what you get free, and how its per-second video pricing works.
Updated 2026-05-30
Key takeaways
- Grok Imagine is accessed through Grok (free tier + X Premium paid tiers).
- Video uses per-second pricing — duration and resolution drive cost.
- For heavy use, compare cost against Sora, Kling or Luma.
Grok Imagine is available inside Grok with a free tier, while higher limits come with X Premium. Video generation is billed per second, so both clip length and resolution affect what you pay. Here's how it breaks down and when a rival is cheaper.
What you get free
Grok's free tier includes some image and short video generation; heavier use and higher quality move you to paid X Premium tiers.
How video pricing works
Grok Imagine uses per-second video pricing — longer clips and higher resolution cost more. Budget by the seconds you actually need, not by 'unlimited' expectations.
When a rival is cheaper
For lots of short social clips, Luma or Pika can be more economical; for cinematic scenes, compare against Sora. Test the same prompt to compare real cost and quality.
Tools mentioned
Grok Imagine
xAI's text- and image-to-video generator with native audio.
Sora
OpenAI's text-to-video model for realistic short clips.
Kling AI
AI video generator known for realistic motion and longer clips.
Luma Dream Machine
Fast text- and image-to-video generation with smooth motion.
Pika
Playful AI video generator with fun effects and edits.
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Best AI tools for YouTubers and video creators in 2026
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Best AI video generators in 2026: Sora vs Kling vs Runway
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FAQ
Is Grok Imagine free to use?
There is a free tier via Grok with limited image/short-video generation; more usage and higher quality require paid X Premium tiers.
How does Grok Imagine charge for video?
Per second — both clip duration and resolution affect the total cost.