Grok Imagine covers both video and stills on this canvas, and its position is mid-tier on both. The useful thing to know is where it sits against the alternatives, because on a roster this size the question is rarely "is this model good" and almost always "is this the right model for this shot."
TL;DR
- Video: 95 credits for 5 seconds at 720p, 54 at 480p
- Stills: Grok Image 2.0 at 9 credits, with a low tier at 6
- Its role is the alternative interpretation, when your default model keeps giving you the same thing
- Cheaper alternatives exist for both drafting and volume work
- Silent. Budget a separate audio pass
What it costs
Canon 8frame prices, a credit is $0.01 at pack rate:
| Output | Spec | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Video | 5s at 480p | 54 |
| Video | 5s at 720p | 95 |
| Still | Grok Image 2.0 | 9 |
| Still | low tier | 6 |
Where that sits on video, per second of output: 10.8 credits at 480p and 19 at 720p. For comparison, Wan 3.0 is 4.8 at 480p and 9.6 at 720p, Veo 3.1 Lite is 4.13 silent, and Kling v3 Standard is 11.4 silent.
So Grok Imagine is not the cheap option, and it is not the quality ceiling either. It occupies a middle that has to be justified by output rather than by price.
Where the stills sit: 9 credits against Imagen 4 Fast at 4, Seedream 4 and FLUX.2 [pro] at 5, Seedream 5 at 6, Imagen 4 at 8. Again mid-tier.
What it is actually for
The second interpretation. This is the honest answer and it is a real use. Models develop characteristic output: Wan gives you a particular kind of slow drift, Kling a particular kind of controlled move. When a shot is not working and you have already adjusted the prompt three times, running it through a different model family frequently produces a different interpretation rather than a slightly better version of the same one.
At 54 credits for a 480p test, that is a cheap way to find out whether the problem is your prompt or the model.
A different house look on stills. Grok Image 2.0's aesthetic differs from the Imagen and Seedream families, and when you want something that does not look like the rest of your feed, that matters.
How to use it
- Open a canvas, add a generation node, pick Grok Imagine.
- Set the resolution deliberately. 480p at 54 credits for testing, 720p at 95 for delivery. There is no video upscaler on this canvas, so this is the decision.
- Set the ratio. Vertical costs the same as horizontal.
- Write the prompt with concrete specifics: one camera move, named light source and direction, lens, and what stays still.
- Plan audio separately. ElevenLabs SFX at 5 credits per effect, or a music bed at 13 for 30 seconds on Lyria 2.
Where to use something else instead
Drafting and blocking. Wan 3.0 at 480p is 24 credits against Grok's 54. For finding out whether a composition works, use the cheaper one.
Volume b-roll. Same reason. Twelve cutaways is 288 credits on Wan against 648 on Grok.
Audio in the same pass. Veo 3.1 Lite at 54 credits for 8 seconds includes it, which makes it better value than Grok at 54 for 5 seconds silent.
Controlled camera work. Kling v3 Standard at 57 silent is more directable.
Physics and product labels. Seedance 2.5 at 157.
The quality ceiling. Veo 3.1 Standard at 448.
Cheapest stills. Imagen 4 Fast at 4 credits.
The honest positioning
On a canvas with this many models, a mid-tier option needs a reason, and Grok Imagine's reason is variety rather than value. That is worth something: the most common cause of a stuck shot is a model that keeps making the same choice, and switching families is a faster fix than a fourth prompt rewrite.
It is not the model to default to, and we would rather say that than pad a page.
FAQ
How much does Grok Imagine cost? 95 credits for 5 seconds at 720p, 54 at 480p. Stills are 9 credits, or 6 on the low tier.
Is it cheaper than Wan 3.0? No. Wan 3.0 is 24 credits at 480p against Grok's 54.
When should I use it? When your default model keeps producing the same interpretation and you want a different one.
Does it generate audio? No. Budget a separate pass.
Use it when you need a different answer, not a cheaper one. The 8frame canvas is free and unlimited, and generation is paid from $19/month.