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
- Choose a mode – Normal for realism, Fun for stylized cyberpunk colors, or Custom for manual sliders.
- Set duration (3-10 s). Leave frame rate on Auto unless you need 60 fps.
- Press Generate. Status updates show percent complete; under 15 s completion is common on weekday mornings.
- Use Redo for fresh variations or hit Remix to extend motion into a second shot.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What’s the smartest workflow for content creators?
- Batch during off-peak (late night U.S. time) – zero wait, infinite retries.
- Start with high-resolution photos (≥2MP) for cleaner motion.
- Use Custom mode to add camera verbs: “dolly-in,” “360-orbit,” “slow-motion” – the engine recognizes >40 cinematography phrases.
- Download + minor edit in any mobile editor to add captions; the built-in audio is already synced.
- “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.
