FrameSurfer publishes this guide and is one of the tools covered.
Grok Imagine is the image and video generator inside Grok, made by xAI (its pages now sign off as SpaceXAI). It turns a text prompt or a photo into a short video clip with sound. In the Grok app, video creation is listed on paid SuperGrok plans starting at $10 a month, as of September 2026 (Grok plans). Developers can call it through the xAI API from $0.05 per second of video (xAI docs).
Below: how it works, who can use it, the real limits, and what the API costs.
How Grok Imagine video works
You describe a shot, or upload a still image and describe how it should move. Grok then makes the picture and the sound in one pass. xAI says Video 1.5 generates sound effects, ambience and dialogue together with the action.
One detail explains a lot. On Video 1.5, a text-only request runs in two steps behind the scenes. Grok first makes a still frame from your prompt, then animates it, according to the xAI video guide. You still send one request.
The model has changed quickly this year:
| Date | Release | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| January 28, 2026 | Grok Imagine API | Text to video, image to video and video editing in one API, as the grok-imagine-video model |
| June 16, 2026 | Grok Imagine Video 1.5 | Better motion, physics and audio. A faster "Video 1.5 Fast" version went into the Grok apps. |
| July 31, 2026 | Video 1.5 with References | Text to video without a start image, native 1080p, up to seven reference images, and voice references |
Reference images lock one thing in place, such as a face, a product or a location. You can then keep a character and change the scene, or keep the scene and change the action. xAI also says Video 1.5 Fast makes a 6-second 720p clip in about 25 seconds.
Who can use Grok Imagine video
You use it at grok.com/imagine or in the Grok iOS and Android apps. Video sits on paid plans. This is what the Grok plans page said on September 24, 2026:
| Plan | Price | What the plan page says about video |
|---|---|---|
| SuperGrok Lite | $10 a month | Try out AI image and video creation |
| SuperGrok | $30 a month | Make AI images and videos, with HD 720p and 30-second video |
| SuperGrok Plus | $100 a month | Create 1080p videos, with much higher usage across Chat, Imagine, Voice and Build |
| SuperGrok Heavy | $300 a month | Highest usage at the fastest speed, and X Premium+ at no extra cost |
X subscribers have a second route. X's Premium help page says Premium+ includes SuperGrok access, with Imagine for videos and images. Basic X Premium lists "increased usage limits on Grok" but does not spell out video.
Is Grok Imagine free?
Not for video, based on xAI's own pages. The plans page lists video creation starting at SuperGrok Lite. The Grok FAQ describes the free tier only in terms of Chat and Voice limits. If a site offers free Grok Imagine video, check who runs it before you sign up.
Grok Imagine video limits
The app and the API work differently, so the limits differ too.
| Grok app (web, iOS, Android) | xAI API | |
|---|---|---|
| Clip length | Up to 30 seconds listed on SuperGrok | 1 to 15 seconds per request |
| Resolution | 720p on SuperGrok, 1080p on Plus and Heavy | 480p (the default) or 720p, and 1080p on grok-imagine-video-1.5 |
| Starting points | Text, a photo, reference images and voices | Text, an image, reference images, or a video to edit |
| Sound | Made with the video | On by default, and you can ask for a silent clip |
| How you pay | A shared weekly usage pool | Per second of video |
A few app limits catch people out:
- One weekly pool. Since June 2026, paid plans draw from one weekly allowance shared by Chat, Imagine, Voice and Build. A video uses far more of it than a chat message. When it runs out, paid features pause until the weekly reset.
- Top-ups. You can buy Extra Usage Credits from $5, on the web only, as of September 2026. xAI notes these cost more per action than your plan's included usage.
- 720p fallback. Once you hit the 720p cap for your tier, 720p videos drop to 480p automatically.
And a few API limits:
- Aspect ratios. 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2 and 2:3, with 16:9 as the default. For image to video, the clip follows your image's shape. If you set a different ratio, the image gets stretched.
- Editing. You can edit a source video of up to 8.7 seconds. The result keeps that length and is capped at 720p.
- References. Reference-to-video output is capped at 720p.
Grok Imagine API pricing (as of September 2026)
The API bills per second of finished video, by model and resolution. These rates come from xAI's model pages for grok-imagine-video and grok-imagine-video-1.5.
| API model | 480p | 720p | 1080p | Each input image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| grok-imagine-video | $0.05 per second | $0.07 per second | Not offered | $0.002 |
| grok-imagine-video-1.5 | $0.08 per second | $0.14 per second | $0.25 per second | $0.01 |
What that means for one 10-second clip:
| Clip | grok-imagine-video | grok-imagine-video-1.5 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 seconds at 480p | $0.50 | $0.80 |
| 10 seconds at 720p | $0.70 | $1.40 |
| 10 seconds at 1080p | Not offered | $2.50 |
Other pricing notes from the same pages:
- Text input is free.
- On
grok-imagine-video, a video you send in as input costs $0.01 per second. - On
grok-imagine-video-1.5, preset voice audio input is free. - xAI says video extension pricing is a promotional rate and may change.
Watermarks, moderation and commercial use
These rules come straight from xAI's pages, as of September 2026.
- Watermark. Images and videos made in the Grok website and apps carry a Grok watermark that marks them as AI-made. There is no setting to remove it. The Grok FAQ says removing or hiding it breaks xAI's Acceptable Use Policy.
- Moderation. The Imagine API page says all generated images and videos go through automatic content moderation. Content that breaks xAI's usage policies may be blocked. API results also include a moderation flag.
- Ownership. The Grok Imagine page says what you create is yours, including for commercial use.
Tips for better Grok Imagine clips
These follow from how the model works:
- For image to video, describe the change. The photo already sets the look. Spend your words on motion, camera and sound.
- Pick the shape first. Choose 9:16 for Reels and TikTok before you generate, or start from an image that already has the right shape.
- Plan in shots. Each API request tops out at 15 seconds, so write a longer video as a list of clips.
- Use references for continuity. Reference images are the tool for keeping one face or product steady across shots.
Grok Imagine in the app, the API or FrameSurfer
| Route | Best for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Grok app | Quick clips, references, and 1080p on Plus | Video shares a weekly pool with chat. Every clip carries a watermark. |
| xAI API | Developers who want per-second billing | You build the editing, captions and voiceover yourself. |
| FrameSurfer | Finished short videos | Grok Imagine runs at 720p for 1 to 15 seconds. No 1080p or reference images. |
On FrameSurfer, Grok Imagine makes clips of 1 to 15 seconds at 720p. It starts from text or a start image and generates native audio. You can set the aspect ratio, including when you start from an image, plus the resolution and duration. It is one of more than a dozen models on the same plan. Pick Grok for sound-on shots at 720p, and another model where you need 1080p or a longer clip.
FrameSurfer also does the parts a single clip leaves out. Give it an idea, a photo, a script or a product link, and it writes the script, generates every shot, and adds voiceover, captions and music. You refine the result in a visual editor and export an MP4 at up to 1080p for TikTok, Reels, Shorts or ads.
To try Grok Imagine on one shot, open FrameSurfer's text to video tool and pick the model.
How Grok Imagine compares with other models
- MiniMax H3, the model behind Hailuo AI, adds 2K output and mixed image, video and audio references. See the Hailuo AI video guide.
- Alibaba Wan 3 makes single clips of up to 30 seconds. See the Wan AI video generator guide.
- Sora 2 users looking for a replacement can start with Sora 2 pricing and alternatives.
- For every model FrameSurfer runs, side by side, see AI video models compared. For whole tools, see the best AI video generators.
Starting from a product shot or a portrait? FrameSurfer's image to video tool makes your photo the first frame and animates it with Grok Imagine or any other model on your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grok Imagine video free?
Not on xAI's own pages. As of September 2026, the Grok plans page lists video creation from SuperGrok Lite at $10 a month. The Grok FAQ describes free-tier limits only for Chat and Voice.
How long can Grok Imagine videos be?
Each API request makes a clip of 1 to 15 seconds. In the Grok app, the SuperGrok plan lists 30-second video.
Does Grok Imagine video have sound?
Yes. Clips include an audio track by default, with sound effects, ambience and dialogue generated with the picture. The API can also return a silent clip if you ask for one.
Can I remove the Grok watermark?
No. xAI's FAQ says videos made in the Grok website and apps carry a Grok watermark, with no setting to remove it. Removing it breaks xAI's Acceptable Use Policy.
How much does the Grok Imagine API cost?
As of September 2026, grok-imagine-video costs $0.05 per second at 480p and $0.07 at 720p. grok-imagine-video-1.5 costs $0.08, $0.14 and $0.25 per second at 480p, 720p and 1080p.
Do I need X Premium to use Grok Imagine?
No. You can subscribe to SuperGrok directly on grok.com. X Premium+ also includes SuperGrok access with Imagine, according to X's help page.
