ClipCost · xAI API (Grok Imagine) pricing · Veo pricing · Runway pricing · Grok Imagine cost · Grok Imagine vs Kling cost · Grok Imagine vs Wan cost · Grok Imagine vs Seedance cost · Grok Imagine vs LTX cost · Grok Imagine vs Hailuo cost · Veo 3 cost per video · LTX vs Veo cost · Kling vs Veo cost · Seedance vs Veo cost · AI video API pricing · Published Oct 28, 2026 · Prices checked Oct 28, 2026 · Ranked rates from verified data (JSON)
Grok Imagine vs Veo cost: xAI Grok Imagine 1.5 and 1.5 Lite vs Google Veo 3.1, per second and per clip
xAI’s Grok Imagine Video 1.5 / 1.5 Lite and Google’s Veo 3.1 (Lite, Fast, Standard) both generate video with sound and bill by the second. Here is every verified rate — the xAI API, Google Vertex AI, the Runway API and the Runway app — priced per 10s, 20s, 30s and 60s clip with the retries you will actually need.
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Affiliate disclosure: some links on ClipCost may be affiliate links; if you sign up we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes the numbers — every price below comes from the official pages listed under Sources.
Quick answer
Grok Imagine is cheaper in 9 of 13 match-ups — Veo wins 3, 1 tie. Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite on xAI’s API is $0.02 per second at 480p and $0.03 at 720p, audio included — $1.80 and $2.70 per usable 30-second clip (3 attempts; #1 and #5= of all 210 rates we rank). Google’s cheapest Veo with audio, Veo 3.1 Lite 720p on Vertex AI, is $0.05 ($4.50, #20=), about 1.67× Grok Lite; with audio off Veo 3.1 Lite matches Grok at $0.03. Veo wins at 1080p and in the mid tier: Veo 3.1 Lite 1080p $7.20 vs $12.60 for Grok Lite’s upscaled 1080p; Veo 3.1 Fast $9.00 / $10.80 vs Grok Imagine 1.5 $12.60 / $22.50 at 720p / 1080p. Against Veo 3.1 Standard ($36.00) Grok Imagine 1.5 wins, and on Runway (API and app) Grok is cheaper every time. Only Veo makes 4K; only Grok makes 480p.
Checked Oct 28, 2026: Grok Imagine Video 1.5 / 1.5 Lite rates unchanged on xAI API pricing; Veo 3.1 / Fast / Lite rates (with audio and video-only) unchanged on Google Cloud Agent Platform (Vertex AI) pricing; Runway API Grok Imagine and Veo rates unchanged on Runway API pricing; Grok Imagine 1.5 and Veo 3.1 app credits unchanged on the Runway Academy credits page. The Gemini API pricing page still lists no Veo prices, so every Veo price here is Vertex AI. No data changes.
Basis: usable = 3 attempts (1 + 2 retries) at the list price per second, as in our calculator. Rank = position among the 210 verified usable-30s rates in our verified data (ties share a rank); API # = position among the 138 rates on AI video API pricing. Runway app rows use Standard annual credits ($12/mo for 625 = $0.0192 per credit, runway.com/pricing). Cost only — no quality ranking.
Grok Imagine vs Veo head-to-head (usable 30-second clip)
| Use case | Grok Imagine: route · rate · usable 30s (rank) | Veo: route · rate · usable 30s (rank) | Cheaper | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest rate, any resolution | Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 480p · xAI API · $0.02/sec · $1.80 (#1) | Veo 3.1 Lite · 720p, no audio · Google Vertex AI · $0.03/sec · $2.70 (#5=) | Grok Imagine, $0.90 less | Grok 1.5 Lite 480p (with audio) vs Veo’s cheapest, 3.1 Lite 720p video-only; Veo has no 480p |
| Cheapest 720p with audio | Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 720p · xAI API · $0.03/sec · $2.70 (#5=) | Veo 3.1 Lite · 720p, with audio · Google Vertex AI · $0.05/sec · $4.50 (#24=) | Grok Imagine, $1.80 less | Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite vs Veo 3.1 Lite |
| Cheapest 720p silent | Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 720p · xAI API · $0.03/sec · $2.70 (#5=) | Veo 3.1 Lite · 720p, no audio · Google Vertex AI · $0.03/sec · $2.70 (#5=) | Tie | Grok has no silent discount (generate_audio=false costs the same) |
| Cheapest 1080p with audio | Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 1080p (720p upscaled) · xAI API · $0.14/sec · $12.60 (#112=) | Veo 3.1 Lite · 1080p, with audio · Google Vertex AI · $0.08/sec · $7.20 (#56=) | Veo, $5.40 less | Grok 1.5 Lite 1080p is 720p upscaled; Veo 3.1 Lite 1080p |
| Mid tier, 720p with audio | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 720p · xAI API · $0.14/sec · $12.60 (#112=) | Veo 3.1 Fast · 720p, with audio · Google Vertex AI · $0.10/sec · $9.00 (#75=) | Veo, $3.60 less | Grok Imagine 1.5 vs Veo 3.1 Fast |
| Mid tier, native 1080p with audio | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 1080p · xAI API · $0.25/sec · $22.50 (#163=) | Veo 3.1 Fast · 1080p, with audio · Google Vertex AI · $0.12/sec · $10.80 (#95=) | Veo, $11.70 less | Grok Imagine 1.5 vs Veo 3.1 Fast |
| Flagship, 720p with audio | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 720p · xAI API · $0.14/sec · $12.60 (#112=) | Veo 3.1 Standard · 720p/1080p, with audio · Google Vertex AI · $0.40/sec · $36.00 (#193=) | Grok Imagine, $23.40 less | Grok Imagine 1.5 vs Veo 3.1 Standard |
| Flagship, 1080p with audio | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 1080p · xAI API · $0.25/sec · $22.50 (#163=) | Veo 3.1 Standard · 720p/1080p, with audio · Google Vertex AI · $0.40/sec · $36.00 (#193=) | Grok Imagine, $13.50 less | Grok Imagine 1.5 vs Veo 3.1 Standard (same price at 720p and 1080p) |
| Runway API, cheapest each | grok_imagine_1_5_lite · 480p · Runway API · 2 cr/sec × $0.01 · $1.80 (not ranked; would be #1=) | veo3.1_fast · no audio · Runway API · 10 cr/sec × $0.01 · $9.00 (not ranked; would be #75=) | Grok Imagine, $7.20 less | grok_imagine_1_5_lite 480p 2 cr/s vs veo3.1_fast no audio 10 cr/s |
| Runway API, cheapest with audio | grok_imagine_1_5_lite · 720p · Runway API · 3 cr/sec × $0.01 · $2.70 (not ranked; would be #5=) | veo3.1_fast · with audio · Runway API · 15 cr/sec × $0.01 · $13.50 (not ranked; would be #121=) | Grok Imagine, $10.80 less | grok_imagine_1_5_lite 720p 3 cr/s vs veo3.1_fast 15 cr/s (Runway does not state Veo resolution) |
| Runway API, flagship | grok_imagine_1_5 · 1080p · Runway API · 29 cr/sec × $0.01 · $26.10 (not ranked; would be #173) | veo3.1 · with audio · Runway API · 40 cr/sec × $0.01 · $36.00 (not ranked; would be #193=) | Grok Imagine, $9.90 less | grok_imagine_1_5 1080p 29 cr/s vs veo3.1 40 cr/s |
| Inside the Runway app, cheapest each | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 480p · Runway app (Standard) · 10 cr/sec × $0.0192 · $17.28 (not ranked; would be #139=) | Veo 3.1 · no audio · Runway app (Standard) · 20 cr/sec × $0.0192 · $34.56 (#189=) | Grok Imagine, $17.28 less | Grok Imagine 1.5 480p 10 cr/s (with audio) vs Veo 3.1 no audio 20 cr/s (Standard annual credits) |
| Inside the Runway app, with audio | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 720p · Runway app (Standard) · 16 cr/sec × $0.0192 · $27.65 (not ranked; would be #177=) | Veo 3.1 · with audio · Runway app (Standard) · 40 cr/sec × $0.0192 · $69.12 (#207=) | Grok Imagine, $41.47 less | Grok Imagine 1.5 720p 16 cr/s vs Veo 3.1 40 cr/s |
| 480p | Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 480p · xAI API · $0.02/sec · $1.80 (#1) | Not offered (Veo 3.1 is 720p, 1080p or 4K) | Grok Imagine only | Counted above only as the overall cheapest rate |
| 4K | Not offered (Grok Imagine tops out at 1080p) | Veo 3.1 Fast · 4K, with audio · Google Vertex AI · $0.30/sec · $27.00 (#173=) | Veo only | Not counted in the win tally |
Grok Imagine wins 9 of 13 counted match-ups, Veo 3 (1080p and the Veo 3.1 Fast mid tier) and 1 is a tie (720p silent, $0.03). Every Grok Imagine rate includes generated audio; Veo rows say whether audio is on. 4K (Veo only) is not counted.
Every Grok Imagine and Veo route, cheapest first
| Rank (of 210) | API # (of 146) | Family | Route | Model | Rate | 30s try | Usable 30s | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not ranked (would be #1=) | #1= | Grok Imagine | Runway API | grok_imagine_1_5_lite · 480p | 2 cr/sec × $0.01 | $0.60 | $1.80 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| 1 | #1= | Grok Imagine | xAI API | Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 480p | $0.02/sec | $0.60 | $1.80 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| Not ranked (would be #5=) | #5= | Grok Imagine | Runway API | grok_imagine_1_5_lite · 720p | 3 cr/sec × $0.01 | $0.90 | $2.70 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| 5= | #5= | Grok Imagine | xAI API | Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 720p | $0.03/sec | $0.90 | $2.70 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| 5= | #5= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Lite · 720p, no audio | $0.03/sec | $0.90 | $2.70 | No (video only) |
| 24= | #20= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Lite · 1080p, no audio | $0.05/sec | $1.50 | $4.50 | No (video only) |
| 24= | #20= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Lite · 720p, with audio | $0.05/sec | $1.50 | $4.50 | Yes |
| 56= | #45= | Grok Imagine | xAI API | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 480p | $0.08/sec | $2.40 | $7.20 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| 56= | #45= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Fast · 720p, no audio | $0.08/sec | $2.40 | $7.20 | No (video only) |
| 56= | #45= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Lite · 1080p, with audio | $0.08/sec | $2.40 | $7.20 | Yes |
| Not ranked (would be #75=) | #55= | Grok Imagine | Runway API | grok_imagine_1_5 · 480p | 10 cr/sec × $0.01 | $3.00 | $9.00 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| Not ranked (would be #75=) | #55= | Veo | Runway API | veo3.1_fast · no audio | 10 cr/sec × $0.01 | $3.00 | $9.00 | No (video only) |
| 75= | #55= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Fast · 1080p, no audio | $0.10/sec | $3.00 | $9.00 | No (video only) |
| 75= | #55= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Fast · 720p, with audio | $0.10/sec | $3.00 | $9.00 | Yes |
| 95= | #70= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Fast · 1080p, with audio | $0.12/sec | $3.60 | $10.80 | Yes |
| Not ranked (would be #112=) | #82= | Grok Imagine | Runway API | grok_imagine_1_5_lite · 1080p | 14 cr/sec × $0.01 | $4.20 | $12.60 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| 112= | #82= | Grok Imagine | xAI API | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 720p | $0.14/sec | $4.20 | $12.60 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| 112= | #82= | Grok Imagine | xAI API | Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 1080p (720p upscaled) | $0.14/sec | $4.20 | $12.60 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| Not ranked (would be #121=) | #93= | Veo | Runway API | veo3.1_fast · with audio | 15 cr/sec × $0.01 | $4.50 | $13.50 | Yes |
| Not ranked (would be #129=) | #100= | Grok Imagine | Runway API | grok_imagine_1_5 · 720p | 16 cr/sec × $0.01 | $4.80 | $14.40 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| Not ranked (would be #139=) | — | Grok Imagine | Runway app (Standard) | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 480p | 10 cr/sec × $0.0192 | $5.76 | $17.28 | Yes |
| Not ranked (would be #145=) | #108= | Veo | Runway API | veo3.1 · no audio | 20 cr/sec × $0.01 | $6.00 | $18.00 | No (video only) |
| 145= | #108= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Standard · 720p/1080p, no audio | $0.20/sec | $6.00 | $18.00 | No (video only) |
| 163= | #119= | Grok Imagine | xAI API | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 1080p | $0.25/sec | $7.50 | $22.50 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| 163= | #119= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Fast · 4K, no audio | $0.25/sec | $7.50 | $22.50 | No (video only) |
| Not ranked (would be #173) | #125 | Grok Imagine | Runway API | grok_imagine_1_5 · 1080p | 29 cr/sec × $0.01 | $8.70 | $26.10 | Yes (on by default, same price) |
| 173= | #126= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Fast · 4K, with audio | $0.30/sec | $9.00 | $27.00 | Yes |
| Not ranked (would be #177=) | — | Grok Imagine | Runway app (Standard) | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 720p | 16 cr/sec × $0.0192 | $9.22 | $27.65 | Yes |
| 189= | — | Veo | Runway app (Standard) | Veo 3.1 · no audio | 20 cr/sec × $0.0192 | $11.52 | $34.56 | No (video only) |
| Not ranked (would be #193=) | #135= | Veo | Runway API | veo3.1 · with audio | 40 cr/sec × $0.01 | $12.00 | $36.00 | Yes |
| 193= | #135= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Standard · 4K, no audio | $0.40/sec | $12.00 | $36.00 | No (video only) |
| 193= | #135= | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Standard · 720p/1080p, with audio | $0.40/sec | $12.00 | $36.00 | Yes |
| Not ranked (would be #201=) | — | Grok Imagine | Runway app (Standard) | Grok Imagine 1.5 · 1080p | 29 cr/sec × $0.0192 | $16.70 | $50.11 | Yes |
| 205 | #144 | Veo | Google Vertex AI | Veo 3.1 Standard · 4K, with audio | $0.60/sec | $18.00 | $54.00 | Yes |
| 207= | — | Veo | Runway app (Standard) | Veo 3.1 · with audio | 40 cr/sec × $0.0192 | $23.04 | $69.12 | Yes |
Runway app rows on Max annual credits ($0.008 per credit): Grok Imagine 1.5 480p $7.20, 720p $11.52; Veo 3.1 with audio $28.80, no audio $14.40. Grok Imagine 1.5 app rows (image-to-video, per the Runway Academy credits page) and Runway API rows are official prices not in our usable-30s ranking (“would be #”); Runway API rows are ranked on AI video API pricing. Runway charges +1 credit per image or audio reference for Grok. Flag: the Runway Academy page lists Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite in the app at 10 / 15 / 70 credits per second while the Runway API lists 2 / 3 / 14; we could not confirm which applies in the app, so those rows are left out. Runway does not state a resolution for Veo 3.1. Google lists Veo prices per “1 count”; ClipCost reads that as per second of output. xAI also lists the older grok-imagine-video at $0.05 / $0.07 per second (480p / 720p, Oct 28, 2026), not ranked here.
Cost per 10s, 20s, 30s and 60s clip: try and usable
| Model | Route | 10s try | 10s usable | 20s try | 20s usable | 30s try | 30s usable | 60s try | 60s usable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grok Imagine: Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 480p | xAI API | $0.20 | $0.60 | $0.40 | $1.20 | $0.60 | $1.80 | $1.20 | $3.60 |
| Grok Imagine: Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 720p | xAI API | $0.30 | $0.90 | $0.60 | $1.80 | $0.90 | $2.70 | $1.80 | $5.40 |
| Veo: Veo 3.1 Lite · 720p, no audio | Google Vertex AI | $0.30 | $0.90 | $0.60 | $1.80 | $0.90 | $2.70 | $1.80 | $5.40 |
| Veo: Veo 3.1 Lite · 720p, with audio | Google Vertex AI | $0.50 | $1.50 | $1.00 | $3.00 | $1.50 | $4.50 | $3.00 | $9.00 |
| Grok Imagine: Grok Imagine 1.5 · 480p | xAI API | $0.80 | $2.40 | $1.60 | $4.80 | $2.40 | $7.20 | $4.80 | $14.40 |
| Veo: Veo 3.1 Lite · 1080p, with audio | Google Vertex AI | $0.80 | $2.40 | $1.60 | $4.80 | $2.40 | $7.20 | $4.80 | $14.40 |
| Veo: Veo 3.1 Fast · 720p, with audio | Google Vertex AI | $1.00 | $3.00 | $2.00 | $6.00 | $3.00 | $9.00 | $6.00 | $18.00 |
| Veo: Veo 3.1 Fast · 1080p, with audio | Google Vertex AI | $1.20 | $3.60 | $2.40 | $7.20 | $3.60 | $10.80 | $7.20 | $21.60 |
| Grok Imagine: Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite · 1080p (720p upscaled) | xAI API | $1.40 | $4.20 | $2.80 | $8.40 | $4.20 | $12.60 | $8.40 | $25.20 |
| Grok Imagine: Grok Imagine 1.5 · 720p | xAI API | $1.40 | $4.20 | $2.80 | $8.40 | $4.20 | $12.60 | $8.40 | $25.20 |
| Grok Imagine: Grok Imagine 1.5 · 1080p | xAI API | $2.50 | $7.50 | $5.00 | $15.00 | $7.50 | $22.50 | $15.00 | $45.00 |
| Veo: Veo 3.1 Fast · 4K, with audio | Google Vertex AI | $3.00 | $9.00 | $6.00 | $18.00 | $9.00 | $27.00 | $18.00 | $54.00 |
| Veo: Veo 3.1 Standard · 720p/1080p, with audio | Google Vertex AI | $4.00 | $12.00 | $8.00 | $24.00 | $12.00 | $36.00 | $24.00 | $72.00 |
Per-second billing for every row. Grok Imagine makes 1–15 seconds per generation (default 8, xAI video generation guide); Veo 3.1 makes 4, 6 or 8 seconds (Veo 3.1 model docs). A 30-second video is two Grok generations or four Veo generations (8 + 8 + 8 + 6) at the same per-second price.
Which to pick (on cost)
- Cheapest drafts and Shorts with sound: Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite on xAI, $1.80 at 480p or $2.70 at 720p per usable 30s — see xAI API (Grok Imagine) pricing and Grok Imagine cost.
- 1080p with audio on a budget: Veo 3.1 Lite 1080p on Vertex AI ($7.20); Grok Lite’s 1080p is 720p upscaled ($12.60) — see Veo pricing.
- Silent B-roll at 1080p: Veo 3.1 Lite video-only, $4.50.
- Mid tier: Veo 3.1 Fast ($9.00 at 720p, $10.80 at 1080p) beats Grok Imagine 1.5 ($12.60 / $22.50).
- Premium tier: Grok Imagine 1.5 native 1080p ($22.50) vs Veo 3.1 Standard ($36.00, or $18.00 silent) — see Veo 3 cost per video.
- 4K: Veo only — Veo 3.1 Fast 4K ($27.00).
- Already paying for Runway: Grok Imagine on the Runway API (Lite at the same price as xAI) or Grok Imagine 1.5 in the app ($27.65 at 720p) over Veo 3.1 ($69.12); both are cheaper bought direct. See Runway pricing and Runway models ranked by cost.
Related: calculator · Runway vs Kling vs Pika vs Veo · AI video pricing comparison · AI video API pricing · Cheapest AI video API · Cheapest AI video generator · Grok Imagine cost · Veo 3 cost per video · LTX vs Veo cost · Kling vs Veo cost · Seedance vs Veo cost · Runway API pricing · AI video for TikTok/Shorts cost · 1 minute of AI video cost · FAQ.
Sources (checked Oct 28, 2026)
- xAI API pricing —
grok-imagine-video-1.5$0.08 / $0.14 / $0.25 andgrok-imagine-video-1.5-lite$0.02 / $0.03 / $0.14 per second at 480p / 720p / 1080p, +$0.01 per input image; legacygrok-imagine-video$0.05 / $0.07 (480p / 720p). Model pages: Grok Imagine Video 1.5, 1.5 Lite (1.5 Lite 1080p is rendered at 720p and upscaled, checked Oct 27, 2026). xAI video generation guide — 1 to 15 seconds per generation; audio on by default,generate_audio=falsefor a silent clip. - Google Cloud Agent Platform (Vertex AI) pricing — Veo 3.1 video + audio $0.40 (720p/1080p) / $0.60 (4K), video only $0.20 / $0.40; Veo 3.1 Fast $0.10 / $0.12 / $0.30 (720p / 1080p / 4K), video only $0.08 / $0.10 / $0.25; Veo 3.1 Lite $0.05 / $0.08, video only $0.03 / $0.05 (720p / 1080p), each per “1 count”. Veo 3.1 model docs — 4, 6 or 8 seconds per generation. Gemini API pricing — no Veo prices listed as of Oct 28, 2026.
- Runway API pricing —
grok_imagine_1_5_lite2 / 3 / 14,grok_imagine_1_510 / 16 / 29 credits per second (480p / 720p / 1080p, +1 credit per reference);veo3.140 / 20,veo3.1_fast15 / 10 credits per second (audio / no audio); $0.01 per credit. Runway Academy credits page — Grok Imagine 1.5 10 / 16 / 29 credits per second; Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite 10 / 15 / 70 (conflicts with the API, see flag); Google Veo 3.1 20 (no audio) / 40 (with audio). runway.com/pricing — plan prices (last re-checked Oct 25, 2026).
FAQ
Is Grok Imagine or Veo cheaper?
Grok Imagine, in most cases (checked Oct 28, 2026). Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite on xAI's API is $0.02 per second at 480p and $0.03 at 720p with audio included: $1.80 and $2.70 per usable 30-second clip with 2 retries. Google's cheapest Veo with audio, Veo 3.1 Lite 720p on Vertex AI, is $0.05 per second ($4.50 usable). Grok wins 9 of 13 match-ups we price, Veo 3, with 1 tie. Veo is cheaper at 1080p (Veo 3.1 Lite $0.08 vs $0.14 for Grok Lite's upscaled 1080p) and in the mid tier (Veo 3.1 Fast $0.10 / $0.12 vs Grok Imagine 1.5 $0.14 / $0.25 at 720p / 1080p). Only Veo offers 4K; only Grok offers 480p.
How much does a 30-second video with sound cost on Grok Imagine vs Veo?
With 2 retries (3 attempts), a usable 30-second clip with audio costs $1.80 on Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite 480p, $2.70 at 720p, $12.60 on Grok Imagine 1.5 720p and $22.50 at native 1080p. On Vertex AI it is $4.50 with Veo 3.1 Lite 720p, $7.20 at 1080p, $9.00 / $10.80 with Veo 3.1 Fast and $36.00 with Veo 3.1 Standard. One 30-second try is a third of that. Grok Imagine makes 1 to 15 seconds per generation and Veo 3.1 makes 4, 6 or 8 seconds, so 30 seconds is two Grok generations or four Veo generations at the same per-second price.
Is Veo cheaper than Grok Imagine if I don't need audio?
Only at 1080p and in the mid tier. Vertex AI lists cheaper video-only Veo prices: Veo 3.1 Lite $0.03 per second at 720p and $0.05 at 1080p, Veo 3.1 Fast $0.08 / $0.10 / $0.25 and Veo 3.1 Standard $0.20 / $0.40. Grok Imagine has no silent price: generate_audio=false gives a silent clip at the same price. So at 720p it is a tie ($0.03, $2.70 usable 30s), Grok Lite 480p ($0.02) is still the cheapest of all, and at 1080p silent Veo 3.1 Lite ($4.50) is far cheaper than Grok Lite ($12.60).
Which is cheaper at 1080p and 4K, Grok Imagine or Veo?
At 1080p, Veo, unless you want the top tier. Veo 3.1 Lite 1080p with audio is $0.08 per second ($7.20 usable 30s) and Veo 3.1 Fast 1080p $0.12 ($10.80), against $0.14 for Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite 1080p, which xAI renders at 720p and upscales ($12.60), and $0.25 for native 1080p Grok Imagine 1.5 ($22.50). Against Veo 3.1 Standard ($0.40, $36.00) Grok Imagine 1.5 is cheaper. Grok Imagine has no 4K; Veo 3.1 Fast 4K is $0.30 per second ($27.00) and Standard 4K $0.60 ($54.00).
Is Grok Imagine or Veo cheaper on Runway?
Grok Imagine. On the Runway API grok_imagine_1_5_lite costs 2 / 3 / 14 credits per second (480p / 720p / 1080p) at $0.01 a credit, the same as xAI direct, and grok_imagine_1_5 10 / 16 / 29, against 10 / 15 for veo3.1_fast and 20 / 40 for veo3.1 (without / with audio). In the Runway app Grok Imagine 1.5 is 10 / 16 / 29 credits per second and Veo 3.1 20 without audio and 40 with (Runway Academy credits page, Oct 28, 2026); on Standard annual credits ($12 for 625) a usable 30-second clip is $27.65 with Grok Imagine 1.5 720p vs $69.12 with Veo 3.1 with audio. The app lists Grok Imagine 1.5 Lite at 10 / 15 / 70 credits, which conflicts with the API's 2 / 3 / 14, so check the credit cost in the app before you generate.
How do Grok Imagine and Veo bill you, and is Veo still on the Gemini API?
xAI's API bills US dollars per second of generated video from prepaid API credits, with one price per resolution, audio included (lip-synced speech on by default), and $0.01 per input image; failed requests that break xAI's usage guidelines are still charged. Veo 3.1 is billed per second of output on Google Cloud Vertex AI (Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform), which lists the price per '1 count' with separate video-with-audio and video-only rates. As of October 28, 2026 the Gemini API pricing page lists no Veo prices, so every Veo price on ClipCost comes from Vertex AI.