xAI's Grok Imagine 0.9 Offers Free AI Video Generation

xAI's Grok Imagine 0.9 provides powerful, free AI video generation, allowing creators to produce high-quality, watermark-free clips from text or images in seconds. The tool emphasizes speed and ease of use, with free unlimited generation available during non-peak hours. xAI's 0.9 build, released in October, focuses on rapid multimodal generation. Tests show 1080p, 10-second clips render in just 20-45 seconds. An Indian Express report confirms the tool's free status in the U.S. as of December 2025, and a recent Intuition Labs pricing analysis lists the cost at $0 for basic access.

Getting Started: Account and Interface

Sign in on X or visit grokimagine.ai, then toggle Imagine under the sidebar. The canvas splits into four tabs: Text-to-Video, Image-to-Video, Remix, and Library. Tap the microphone icon if you prefer the new voice-first mode; you can enable it in Settings - Open App in Voice Mode.

Grok Imagine 0.9 transforms text prompts or still images into 1080p videos in under a minute. Users access a simple interface featuring tabs for text-to-video, image-to-video, and remixing. Generations are unlimited during off-peak hours and can be downloaded as watermark-free MP4s for immediate use.

Crafting Effective Prompts

Clear, concrete prompts reduce render time and improve output quality. For best results, write a single sentence with a clear subject, setting, motion, and style, such as: "Golden retriever splashing through autumn leaves, slow motion, cinematic lighting." When using Image-to-Video, provide a high-resolution image and use a shorter text prompt to let the visual guide the AI.

Step-by-Step Generation Workflow

1. Choose a mode - Normal for realism, Fun for stylized cyberpunk colors, or Custom for manual sliders.
2. Set duration (3-10 s). Leave frame rate on Auto unless you need 60 fps.
3. Press Generate. Status updates show percent complete; under 15 s completion is common on weekday mornings.
4. Use Redo for fresh variations or hit Remix to extend motion into a second shot.
5. Click the download arrow to save MP4 with embedded AAC audio.

Advanced Controls and Customization

Apply these optional controls for a more polished, studio-quality result:
- Motion Curve: Use the slider to smooth camera acceleration for professional-looking tracking shots.
- Style Lock: Enforce a consistent color palette and aesthetic across multiple video clips, ideal for creating a series.
- Voice Dubbing: Upload a 10-second WAV audio file, and the tool will automatically sync mouth movements in the video.

Exporting, Sharing, and Usage Rights

All videos are exported as watermark-free MP4 files. To optimize for vertical platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels, set the aspect ratio to 9:16 before generating. Your library automatically stores the last 100 renders, with older files being archived after 30 days.

Understanding the Free Tier

Generation is unlimited during non-peak hours. During peak times (approximately 6-10 p.m. PST), you may encounter a short queue. Free users can wait a few minutes or generate during off-peak windows. The paid SuperGrok subscription ($30/month) only offers queue-skipping; video quality is identical to the free tier.

Performance Benchmark: Grok Imagine vs. Competitors

These December 2025 benchmarks highlight Grok Imagine's unique position as the only tool offering sub-minute renders with unlimited, watermark-free exports on its free tier.

Tool (free tier)	Generation Time	Max Clip	Watermark
Grok Imagine	20-45s	10s	None
Kling AI 1.6	30-180min	10s	None
Runway Gen-4	10-60s	5s	Yes
Synthesia Sora	~10s	8s	None* (360 credits/mo)

Common Troubleshooting Tips

• Warped Faces: If faces appear distorted, try lowering the Style Strength to 40%.
• Audio Glitches: Audio issues can often be resolved by re-rendering the clip. For best lip-sync results, keep clips under eight seconds.
• Content Moderation: Generating images of explicit celebrities is prohibited and may lead to account blocks.

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Is Grok Imagine 0.9 still free in December 2025?

Yes - every U.S. visitor can open grok.com or the Grok mobile app and tap "Imagine" without entering a credit card.
Non-peak hours give unlimited 1080p, 10-second clips; during peak you may wait in a short queue.
xAI warns the no-cost window is "at least for now", so treat it as an extended beta rather than a permanent promise.

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How long does it take to make one video and what can I upload?

A finished sound-on MP4 lands in your library in 20-45 seconds on average.
Supported starting points:

• 1-5 photos (family shots, product stills, memes)
• Text prompt ("Tokyo neon alley, night, light rain")
• Existing video for style-remix (video-to-video)

Pick a mode - Normal, Fun, Custom - and hit "Imagine". No editing timeline needed.

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Which free rivals come close to Grok's speed?

December 2025 benchmarks show:

Tool (free tier)	Generation Time	Max Clip	Watermark
Grok Imagine	20-45s	10s	None
Kling AI 1.6	30-180min	10s	None
Runway Gen-4	10-60s	5s	Yes
Synthesia Sora	~10s	8s	None* (360 credits/mo)

Grok is the only service combining sub-minute renders with unlimited, watermark-free output.

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Can I use the videos commercially?

xAI's December 2025 terms grant you a "broad, royalty-free license" for anything you create while the free flag is on.
Keep local copies: the company does not guarantee long-term cloud storage, and policy may change when paid tiers appear.

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What's the smartest workflow for content creators?

1. Batch during off-peak (late night U.S. time) - zero wait, infinite retries.
2. Start with high-resolution photos (≥2MP) for cleaner motion.
3. Use Custom mode to add camera verbs: "dolly-in," "360-orbit," "slow-motion" - the engine recognizes >40 cinematography phrases.
4. Download + minor edit in any mobile editor to add captions; the built-in audio is already synced.
5. "Redo" button keeps your source assets, letting you A/B test styles in under a minute.

Pro tip: Old family portraits are the #1 viral format on X right now - users report 3× engagement versus static throwbacks.