video model comparison
grok-imagine-video vs Veo 3.1 Preview
grok-imagine-video and Veo 3.1 Preview are both current video models, from xAI and Google. grok-imagine-video is 88% cheaper per video second than Veo 3.1 Preview, $0.05 vs $0.40. On Arena Text-to-Video, grok-imagine-video scores 1342 Elo and Veo 3.1 Preview 1364 Elo (Arena, measured September 22, 2026).
Data verified October 12, 2026 · Dataset 2026-10-12
Side by side
Standard-tier prices in effect today. The better value in each row is highlighted.
| Fact | grok-imagine-video | Veo 3.1 Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Price per video second | $0.05 (better) | $0.40 |
| Arena Text-to-Video | 1342 Elo (#3 of 4) | 1364 Elo (#2 of 4) (better) |
| Arena Image-to-Video | 1415 Elo (#2 of 3) (better) | 1398 Elo (#3 of 3) |
| Provider | xAI | |
| Release date | Not reported | October 15, 2025 |
| Access | API only | API only |
| Context window | Not reported | Not reported |
| Max output | Not reported | Not reported |
| Input | text, image, video | text, image |
| Output | video | video, audio |
Scores:Arena · 2026-10-12
When to choose each
grok-imagine-video
Best for
- Grok Imagine video generation and editing
Watch out for
- No exact compatible public benchmark snapshot is recorded
Veo 3.1 Preview
Best for
- Gemini API video generation with audio
Watch out for
- Preview models may change and have stricter rate limits
grok-imagine-video vs Veo 3.1 Preview FAQ
Which is cheaper, grok-imagine-video or Veo 3.1 Preview?
grok-imagine-video is 88% cheaper per video second than Veo 3.1 Preview, $0.05 vs $0.40.
Which scores higher on independent benchmarks, grok-imagine-video or Veo 3.1 Preview?
Veo 3.1 Preview leads on Arena Text-to-Video, 1364 Elo to 1342 Elo; grok-imagine-video leads on Arena Image-to-Video, 1415 Elo to 1398 Elo. Scores are independent evaluations, not either vendor's launch figures.
Related comparisons
Production evaluation
Choosing between grok-imagine-video and Veo 3.1 Preview?
Public benchmarks narrow the shortlist. We run both on your own tasks, data and cost limits, then build the routing and review controls to run the winner in production.
- A head-to-head evaluation on your real workload
- Routing between models by cost and difficulty