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Posted on • Originally published at apidog.com

Grok Imagine Video vs Sora 2, Veo 3, Seedance, WAN, and Vidu: 2026 comparison

TL;DR

Grok Imagine Video ($0.05/second) is price-competitive with Seedance 1.5 Pro but capped at 720p, while most rivals deliver 1080p. Unique features include 1-second duration increments (up to 15s) and no cold starts. For budget social content where 720p suffices, Grok is viable. For 1080p output, WAN 2.6 Flash ($0.125-0.25/5s) or Kling provide better value.

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Introduction

xAI’s Grok Imagine Video entered the video generation space in early 2026. This guide breaks down how it stacks up against six established competitors: Sora 2, Veo 3.1, Seedance 1.5 Pro, WAN 2.5, WAN 2.6 Flash, and Vidu Q3.

Key question: Is Grok’s pricing enough to offset its 720p resolution limit?

Specifications at a glance

Model Max duration Max resolution Pricing (approx)
Grok Imagine Video 15s (1s increments) 720p $0.05/second
Sora 2 20s 1080p ~$0.10/5s
Veo 3.1 8s 1080p $1.00-2.00/video
Seedance 1.5 Pro 12s 720p $0.13-0.26/video
WAN 2.5 10s 1080p capable ~$0.10/5s
WAN 2.6 Flash 15s 1080p capable $0.125-0.25/5s
Vidu Q3 16s 1080p support ~$0.15/5s

Grok’s advantages

  • Granular duration control: Set video length in 1-second increments, up to 15s. This is ideal for social media content with precise timing (e.g., 7-second stories, 12-second clips).
  • No cold starts: Grok’s API keeps models warm, so first-request latency is as fast as subsequent calls.
  • Competitive pricing: $0.05/second means a 10s clip costs $0.50—matching Seedance 1.5 Pro and undercutting Sora 2, Veo 3.1, and Vidu Q3.
  • Multiple aspect ratios: 7 preset aspect ratios—more choices than most alternatives.
  • Synchronized audio: Audio generation is included in the base price for every video.

The 720p constraint

Grok Imagine Video is capped at 720p. All major rivals support 1080p output.

720p is generally adequate for mobile-first social media content. However, consider other models if you need:

  • Desktop or TV-ready output
  • Professional-grade production
  • Crisp text in video
  • Footage for further editing or compositing

For these scenarios, 720p can present noticeable quality loss compared to 1080p.

Cost comparison: 10-second clip at 720p with audio

Model Approx cost Notes
Grok Imagine Video $0.50 720p cap
Seedance 1.5 Pro $0.50 Also 720p
WAN 2.6 Flash $0.25 1080p capable, cheaper
WAN 2.5 $1.00 1080p
Vidu Q3 $1.50 1080p support
Sora 2 $1.00+ 1080p
Veo 3.1 $2.00+ 1080p, premium

WAN 2.6 Flash stands out: it’s cheaper than Grok, supports 1080p, and allows up to 15s duration.

When to use each model

Use Grok Imagine Video for:

  • Social media video at scale where 720p suffices
  • Budget-limited rapid prototyping
  • Precise, non-standard durations
  • Projects needing generated audio

Use WAN 2.6 Flash for:

  • 1080p output on a budget
  • Longer clips at lower cost than Grok

Use Seedance 1.5 Pro for:

  • Reference-guided generation with ByteDance’s model
  • Comparable pricing to Grok, with ByteDance’s motion quality

Use Sora 2 for:

  • Premium cinematic quality
  • Complex, multi-element scenes
  • Up to 20-second duration

Use Veo 3.1 for:

  • Google’s highest quality
  • Short, premium hero content

Testing with Apidog

All models can be accessed via WaveSpeedAI’s API. Here’s how to test Grok and compare with WAN 2.6 Flash using Apidog:

Grok Imagine Video:

POST https://api.wavespeed.ai/api/v2/xai/grok-imagine-video
Authorization: Bearer {{WAVESPEED_API_KEY}}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "prompt": "A city street at dusk, people walking, neon signs reflecting on wet pavement",
  "duration": 7,
  "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
}
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WAN 2.6 Flash (for comparison):

POST https://api.wavespeed.ai/api/v2/alibaba/wan-2-6-flash
Authorization: Bearer {{WAVESPEED_API_KEY}}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "prompt": "A city street at dusk, people walking, neon signs reflecting on wet pavement",
  "duration": 7,
  "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
}
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Add both requests to an Apidog collection, using the same prompt. Compare the output—specifically the difference in resolution (720p vs 1080p).

Assertions for both:

Status code is 200
Response body has field id
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Both APIs are asynchronous. Poll the predictions endpoint for completion. Once ready, download and compare the outputs at 100% zoom—this will clearly show the difference between 720p and 1080p.

FAQ

Does Grok Imagine Video support image-to-video?

Check the current WaveSpeedAI documentation for supported modes. Text-to-video with audio is confirmed.

Is 720p enough for mobile content?

For mobile viewing, 720p is generally sufficient. The limitation is relevant for larger screens or when quality is critical.

How does Grok’s motion quality compare to Kling or Seedance?

Grok’s motion model is newer. Initial results are competitive for standard scenes, but complex motion and character consistency are less benchmarked compared to established models.

Can I generate a 15s, 720p clip with audio for $0.75?

Yes—15 seconds × $0.05/second = $0.75, audio included.

What aspect ratios does Grok support?

There are 7 aspect ratio presets. Refer to WaveSpeedAI documentation for the latest list, as options may expand.

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