Yes, Grok can make videos. Its video tool is called Grok Imagine, and it turns a text prompt or a photo into a short clip with sound, right inside the Grok app, grok.com and X.
What has changed is who gets it. Since xAI’s The X Subscription launched on 12 October 2026, video sits behind the paid tiers, and every clip draws from a shared weekly usage pool.
This guide explains which plans can generate Grok videos, how to make your first video step by step, how to animate a photo, the lengths, resolutions and aspect ratios available, prompt tips that actually work, the watermark and usage rules, and how to fix the common problems.
- Does Grok generate videos? Yes, with Grok Imagine: text-to-video and image-to-video, with sound.
- Free? No. Video starts at the Premium plan ($30/month); Free and Plus do not include video.
- Clip specs (current Imagine 1.5 models): up to 15 seconds, 480p to 1080p, nine aspect ratios including 16:9 and 9:16, audio with lip-synced speech.
- Limits: no fixed video count; clips use your weekly pool, and 720p drops to 480p once you hit your tier’s 720p cap.
- Watermark: every consumer Grok video has a Grok watermark, and there is no setting to remove it.
Which Grok Plans Can Make Videos
| Plan | Price | Video | Images | Usage vs Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | No | Limited | Separate free limits |
| Plus | $8/month | No | Yes | 1x |
| Premium | $30/month | Yes | Yes | 4x |
| Super | $100/month | Yes | Yes | 15x |
| Ultra | $200/month | Yes | Yes | 50x |
Yearly plans cost ten months’ price. People who still have an older SuperGrok plan keep its video access until they switch or cancel. For the full breakdown of the free tier, see our guide on whether Grok is free.
Grok Video Specs: Length, Resolution, Audio
xAI’s developer docs (updated 10 October 2026) list what the current Grok Imagine video models can do. The app exposes these options through its own controls, which can vary by account and platform.
| Feature | Grok Imagine Video 1.5 |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 to 15 seconds (8 seconds by default in the API) |
| Resolution | 480p, 720p and native 1080p for text-to-video and image-to-video |
| Aspect ratios | 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3, 21:9, 5:2 |
| Audio | On by default: sound effects, ambience and lip-synced speech |
| Inputs | Text prompt, a start image, or reference images |
| Image-to-video | The photo becomes the first frame; aspect ratio follows the photo |
| Editing | Edit an existing clip of up to 8.7 seconds (720p max) |
| Extension | Continue a clip from its last frame |
There is also a cheaper “1.5 lite” model whose 1080p is upscaled from 720p, and the older classic model, which is still used for editing and extending clips.
How to Make a Video with Grok (Text to Video)
- Check your plan. Make sure you are on Premium, Super or Ultra (or an older SuperGrok plan). Free and Plus accounts see an upgrade prompt.
- Open Imagine. On grok.com or in the Grok app, tap Imagine in the sidebar or menu.
- Switch to Video if the tool opens on images.
- Pick your format. Choose an aspect ratio (9:16 for Reels, Shorts and TikTok; 16:9 for YouTube) and a length if the options are shown.
- Write your prompt. Describe the subject, one clear action, the camera move and the setting (see prompt tips).
- Generate. Grok makes the clip in a short while; higher resolutions and longer clips take longer.
- Review and refine. Change one thing at a time (camera, lighting or action) and generate again until it looks right.
Generating several short takes and picking the best one usually beats one long, complicated prompt.
Turn a Photo into a Video (Image to Video)
Animating a still image gives you much more control over how the video looks, because the photo becomes the first frame.
- Open Imagine > Video.
- Upload a photo with the image or attach button, or tap an image you already generated in Imagine and choose to make it a video.
- Describe the motion only. The picture already shows what things look like, so write what should move: “she turns and smiles at the camera, hair moving in the wind, slow push-in”.
- Generate. The aspect ratio follows your photo.
Extend, Edit and Download Clips
- Extend: continue a clip from its last frame to make a longer scene. Great for adding a second action without changing the look.
- Edit: change something in an existing short clip with a prompt, such as the weather or an outfit colour. Edits are capped at 720p.
- Download: open the finished clip and use the download or share button to save the MP4 to your device.
- Stitch scenes: for anything longer than 15 seconds, make several clips and join them in a video editor such as CapCut, DaVinci Resolve or Clipchamp.
Faces and outfits can drift between separate clips, so extending one clip or reusing the same start image helps keep a character consistent.
Prompt Tips for Better Grok Videos
- One action per clip. “A cat jumps onto the sofa” works; “a cat jumps, eats, then sleeps” usually turns to mush.
- Name the camera move: slow push-in, pan left, orbit, handheld, drone shot, static tripod.
- Set the scene and light: “golden hour beach”, “neon-lit street at night, rain”.
- Ask for sound: “crowd murmuring, distant thunder”. For speech, put the exact words in quotes and say who speaks.
- Add style words last: cinematic, 35mm film, anime, stop-motion, claymation.
- Avoid small text and logos. Signs and lettering come out garbled; add titles in your editor instead.
- Keep hands simple. Detailed hand work and complex dance moves often need several tries.
Example Prompts
| Use | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Product teaser (9:16) | “A matte black wireless earbud case opens slowly on a marble table, soft studio light, slow orbit, subtle electronic whoosh sound.” |
| Travel B-roll (16:9) | “Drone shot gliding over turquoise water toward a white sand beach at sunrise, gentle waves, seagulls in the distance.” |
| Talking character | “A friendly cartoon robot in a workshop looks at the camera and says, ‘Welcome back to the channel!’, warm lighting, static shot.” |
| Animate a photo | “Leaves drift down, she brushes hair from her face and laughs, slow push-in, light breeze sound.” |
| Food | “Close-up of syrup pouring over a stack of pancakes, steam rising, shallow depth of field, slow motion.” |
Usage Limits and the Weekly Pool
xAI does not sell a fixed number of videos. Instead:
- Shared weekly pool: paid plans get one pool that covers Grok Chat, Imagine, Voice, Grok Bot and Cursor. A high-quality video uses far more of it than a chat message.
- Bigger tiers, bigger pools: Premium has 4x the Plus pool, Super 15x and Ultra 50x.
- 720p cap: once you reach your tier’s 720p allowance, videos fall back to 480p until the pool resets.
- Extra usage: you can buy Extra Usage Credits on the web from $5 (they expire after a year), or upgrade.
- Check your usage: Settings > usage or billing shows how much of the pool is left and the reset date.
To stretch your pool, draft ideas at 480p and short lengths, then render only the winners at 720p or 1080p.
Watermark, Ownership and Content Rules
- Watermark: xAI’s FAQ says consumer-generated Grok images and videos include a Grok watermark, and there is no setting to remove it.
- Ownership: per xAI’s consumer FAQ, you own your inputs and outputs and may use outputs commercially, with attribution requested under its brand guidelines. You are still responsible for rights to anything you upload.
- Not allowed: deceptive impersonation, non-consensual intimate content, copyright or trademark infringement, and misleading content. Prompts with real people, famous characters or brand logos are often refused.
- AI labels: platforms like YouTube and TikTok ask you to label realistic AI video. Our guide on how to tell if an image is AI explains how watermarks and content credentials work.
Grok Video via the API
Developers can generate videos through the xAI API without a consumer subscription, paying per use instead. The current models are grok-imagine-video-1.5, grok-imagine-video-1.5-lite and the classic grok-imagine-video for editing and extension. Audio can be turned off with generate_audio=False.
Our Grok Imagine API guide walks through the code, and the note on the Grok API watermark default covers how watermarking works there.
Free Alternatives
If you do not want to pay $30 a month for video, you have options:
- Run video models locally with ComfyUI if you have a decent NVIDIA GPU. Our ComfyUI image-to-video guide shows how, with no watermark and no limits beyond your hardware.
- Free online tools with daily credits; see our roundup of free photo-to-video AI tools.
- Grok images on the free tier can be animated elsewhere, as long as that tool’s terms allow it.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| No Video option in Imagine | Your plan does not include video (Free or Plus); upgrade to Premium or check you are signed in to the paid account |
| “Upgrade” or “limit reached” message | Weekly pool used up; wait for the reset shown in Settings, buy extra usage or upgrade |
| Videos suddenly in 480p | You hit your tier’s 720p cap; it resets with the pool |
| Prompt rejected | Remove real people’s names, brands, famous characters, violence or sexual content |
| Clip ignores the action | Simplify to one action; name the camera move; try image-to-video |
| Garbled text or logos | Leave text out of the prompt; add titles in an editor |
| Character looks different each clip | Reuse the same start image or extend the first clip |
| Unwanted sound | Ask for “no music” or silence in the prompt, or mute in your editor; the API can turn audio off |
| Bought on iPhone but no access on web | Sign in with the same account; restore purchases in the app |
My Take
Grok Imagine is one of the easiest ways to make short AI clips with sound, and image-to-video gives surprisingly controllable results. The catch is price: video now starts at $30 a month, and the watermark cannot be removed.
If you make short social clips every week, Premium is fair value, especially since it also bundles Cursor and X Premium. For occasional use, try the API or a local ComfyUI workflow instead.
FAQ
Does Grok AI generate videos?
Yes. Grok Imagine creates videos with sound from text prompts or photos, on the Premium plan and above.
Can I make Grok videos for free?
No. Video is not included in Grok Free or Plus. Free users can make a limited number of images.
How long can a Grok video be?
Up to 15 seconds per clip with the current Imagine 1.5 models. Extend clips or join several in an editor for longer videos.
Do Grok videos have sound?
Yes, audio is on by default, including sound effects, ambience and lip-synced speech.
Can I remove the Grok watermark?
No. xAI says consumer Grok images and videos include a watermark and there is no setting to remove it.
How many videos can I make per day?
There is no fixed count. Videos draw from your plan’s weekly usage pool, and higher-quality clips use more.
Can I use Grok videos commercially?
xAI’s consumer FAQ says you own your outputs and may use them commercially, with attribution requested. Make sure you have rights to any photo you animate.
Sources
- xAI docs: Video generation (models, duration, resolution, aspect ratios, audio; updated 10 Oct 2026)
- xAI docs: Grok FAQ (Imagine usage pool, watermark, 720p cap)
- xAI docs: The X Subscription plans and usage
- Fello AI: Is Grok free (video from Premium; updated 6 Nov 2026)
- Zeely: Grok Imagine video features, prompts and limits
