Grok Imagine Alternatives: Seven Video Models Tested Against Grok Imagine Video 1.5, Without a Grok Plan (November 2026)
Live figures last changed · 4 min read · The GenMagic team
In our test of eight video models on October 29, 2026, Grok Imagine Video 1.5 was among the fastest (under a minute a clip) and made a clean catch with sand flying, but it added a reply nobody wrote to a scripted line. Wan 3.0, HappyHorse 1.1 and Veo 3.1 Fast kept to the script for less, and Wan 3.0 and Seedance 2.5 hold takes twice as long. On xAI's own price page, video in Grok starts with the Premium plan; the alternatives here run per clip.
This guide covers the alternatives side by side, which to pick instead of Grok Imagine, Grok Imagine itself without a plan, and questions.
A note on who wrote this: GenMagic runs Grok Imagine and every alternative here; the test was made in its studio, with each clip's cost as billed that day and the price today from the live catalog. Every clip from the test: the best AI video generator, tested. Grok's plans and xAI's API: is Grok Imagine free?
Table of contents
- The alternatives side by side
- Which to pick instead of Grok Imagine
- Grok Imagine itself, without a plan
- Questions
The alternatives side by side
Two scenes, the same prompt for every model: a dog catching a frisbee, and a barista saying "Your usual, Maya. Extra foam." Cost in the test is what each clip was billed on October 29 for about five seconds at 720p with sound; the price today is the same clip at today's prices.
| Model | Maker | The spoken line | The action shot | Cost in the test | Render time in the test | Price today | Longest take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grok Imagine Video 1.5 (the reference) | xAI | Word for word, plus a reply nobody wrote | Catch, landing, sand spray | $0.91 | 58 / 49 s | $1.05 | 15 s |
| Wan 3.0 | Alibaba | Word for word | Leap and mid-air catch | $0.55 | 3.1 / 2.2 min | $0.64 | 30 s |
| HappyHorse 1.1 | Alibaba | Word for word | Leap and mid-air catch | $0.64 | 1.7 / 1.8 min | $0.74 | 15 s |
| Veo 3.1 Fast | Word for word | Rears up to catch, then runs | $0.78 (6 s) | 49 / 48 s | $0.90 (6 s) | 8 s | |
| Hailuo 3 | MiniMax | Word for word | Catches on the run, no leap | $0.85 (2K) | 2.9 / 4.1 min | $0.98 (2K) | 15 s |
| Kling 3.0 Pro | Kuaishou | Word for word | Leap and catch, wide shot | $1.09 | 1.7 / 2.2 min | $1.26 | 15 s |
| Seedance 2.5 | ByteDance | Word for word | Highest leap, splash landing | $1.51 | 2.5 / 2.6 min | $1.73 | 30 s |
| Runway Gen-4.5 | Runway | No sound | A tumble, and the frisbee vanishes | $0.78 | 4.2 / 2.0 min | $0.90 | 10 s |
Which to pick instead of Grok Imagine
- As fast, and on script: Veo 3.1 Fast, under a minute in the test, and it said the line exactly.
- On script for less: Wan 3.0 or HappyHorse 1.1, both with a clean leap and catch and the scripted line word for word.
- Longer takes: Wan 3.0 or Seedance 2.5, up to 30 seconds in one take, against Grok's 15.
- Faces and a steady camera: Kling 3.0.
- The cheapest Grok-style drafts: Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite itself, at $0.03 a second at 480p on GenMagic today.
How the three most compared models did: Seedance vs Kling vs Veo 3.1. How to prompt Grok and the others: Grok Imagine prompt guide, Veo 3.1, Wan 3.0.
Alternatives to other video models: Veo 3, Kling, Seedance, Runway, Hailuo, Sora.
Grok Imagine itself, without a plan
On xAI's comparison table, video generation in Grok is included from the Premium plan ($30 a month) and not on Free or Plus ( is Grok Imagine free?). Per clip on GenMagic, with no plan, today:
| A clip | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 s at 480p | Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite | $0.15 |
| 5 s at 720p | Grok Imagine Video 1.5 | $1.05 |
Every model above runs from one balance, each clip priced before you generate, with top-ups from $5 that never expire: the pay-as-you-go AI video generator.
Questions
What is the best alternative to Grok Imagine? For speed with the script kept, Veo 3.1 Fast; for the lowest cost in our test, Wan 3.0, which also holds takes of up to 30 seconds.
Is there a free alternative to Grok Imagine? Every video model costs something to render. On GenMagic, a new account gets $0.50 of credit once its email is verified, about 16 seconds of Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite at 480p.
Why did Grok Imagine add a line I did not write? In our test it gave the customer an unscripted reply. Add "no one else speaks" to the prompt, and check the soundtrack before you use a clip.
Can I use Grok Imagine without SuperGrok? Per clip, yes: on GenMagic, with no Grok plan. In Grok itself, video starts with the Premium plan by xAI's comparison table.