Elon Musk’s xAI has made its latest artificial intelligence (AI) language model, Grok 4, absolutely free for all users. This decision taken by xAI has taken industry experts by surprise, since the Grok 4 AI model was launched by the company last month. Anyone with an xAI account can now use Grok 4 without a subscription. However, there is a catch: there are usage limits for users.
For free access to Grok 4, free-tier users are limited to a small number of queries per day – five every 12 hours. These limits may change over time, though.
Additionally, Elon Musk’s Grok AI is now also offering its new Imagine feature for free to all Android users in the US. The feature was already available to iOS users without any cost. The tool allows people to create AI-generated photos and videos from simple prompts, whether typed or spoken.
In a post on X, Musk confirmed that the feature will be free for a limited time. Grok Imagine can also turn still images into moving visuals, making it a versatile creative tool. Musk claims users have already generated over 44 million images using the feature, with the number continuing to grow. The Imagine feature, however, is only free to use for people in the US, while people globally will have to wait a little more
How to use Grok Imagine
To start creating, you need the Grok app — available on the Play Store for Android and the App Store for iPhone. Once installed, the process is straightforward:
1. Open the Grok app.
2. Select ‘Imagine’ from the top menu.
3. Enter a text prompt for the image you want to generate.
4. Alternatively, upload a photo from your device and customise it using AI.
Grok Imagine can also transform any AI-generated picture into a short video. Once the image is ready, tap the ‘Make video’ option to get started. The app offers four modes: Normal, Fun, Custom, and a controversial Spicy mode.
This feature could appeal to creators looking for quick, AI-powered animations without complex editing tools. The ability to go from still image to motion in a few taps makes it competitive in a market where speed and creativity matter.
Grok vs OpenAI GPT-5
The decision to make Grok AI free for all users worldwide and the Imagine feature in the US is multifaceted. Primarily, it’s due to the AI race heating up as big tech-giants are now releasing more advanced AI models like OpenAI released GPT-5 recently, after which there are comparisons between ChatGPT and Musk’s Grok 4 model. Grok 4, launched in July, was described by Musk’s xAI as “the world’s most powerful AI model”, a claim made before GPT-5 hit the market.
GPT-5 promises fewer AI hallucinations, an issue both companies are working to reduce. Musk has already teased Grok 5, expected before the end of 2025, which he says will be “crushingly good”. For now, Grok Imagine’s free period offers a chance for Android and iOS users to test the feature without cost. With its growing user base and the added capability to make videos, Grok is positioning itself as a strong contender in the AI creative tools space.
