Video model comparison · 2 models · Updated Nov 2, 2026

Grok Imagine Video vs Kling v2.6

Preferred for text to video: Grok Imagine Video · Preferred for image to video: Grok Imagine Video · Newest: Grok Imagine Video. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

xAI
Grok Imagine Video
Released Jan 28, 2026
- Text to video
- Image to video
- Video editing
- Arena1,415
- From$0.05/s
- Max length15 s
Full specs Remove Grok Imagine Video
Kling AI
Kling v2.6
Released Dec 3, 2025
- Text to video
- Image to video
- Arena1,294
- From—
- Max length—
Full specs Remove Kling v2.6
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01 — At a glance

Where they differ

Quality is the arena score from blind, side-by-side human votes. Price, length and resolution come from each lab’s own listings.

Preferred for text to videoGrok Imagine VideoGrok Imagine Video 1,342 (#18) · Kling v2.6 1,216 (#29) — blind human votes
Preferred for image to videoGrok Imagine VideoGrok Imagine Video 1,415 (#12) · Kling v2.6 1,294 (#26) — blind human votes
NewestGrok Imagine VideoGrok Imagine Video Jan 28, 2026 · Kling v2.6 Dec 3, 2025
Widest inputsGrok Imagine VideoGrok Imagine Video: Text prompts, Reference images, Video · Kling v2.6: Text prompts, Reference images
Native audioNo native audioGenerates an audio track with the video: Grok Imagine Video no · Kling v2.6 no
Image to videoBoth animate imagesStarts from an uploaded image: Grok Imagine Video yes · Kling v2.6 yes
Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
Most API hostsSame reachGrok Imagine Video: 1 · Kling v2.6: 1

02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Grok Imagine Video vs Kling v2.6 specifications side by side
Specification	Grok Imagine VideoxAI	Kling v2.6Kling AI
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better	1,342 ±6#18 of 48 · 165,462 votes (best)	1,216 ±7#29 of 48 · 73,362 votes
Image to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better	1,415 ±4#12 of 48 · 554,050 votes (best)	1,294 ±8#26 of 48 · 202,113 votes
Price
Starting price	$0.05/s 480p	—
Top price	$0.07/s 720p	—
10-second clip	$0.50at the starting rate	—
Extra charges	$0.002 per input image	—
How it is billed	Per second	—
Output
Produces	Video	Video
Resolutions	480p · 720p	—
Highest resolution	720p	—
Clip length	1–15 s	—
Longest clip	15 s	—
Frame control	First frame only	—
Inputs
Text prompts	Yes	Yes
Start image (image to video)	Yes	Yes
Video input	Yes	No
Audio input	No	No
References	Up to 7 reference images; edits existing video	—
Access
Weights	Proprietary	Proprietary
API model ID	`grok-imagine-video`	—
API hosts	1	1
Released	Jan 28, 2026	Dec 3, 2025

03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Grok Imagine Video or Kling v2.6?

For text to video, voters prefer Grok Imagine Video (Grok Imagine Video 1,342 (#18) · Kling v2.6 1,216 (#29)). For image to video, voters prefer Grok Imagine Video (Grok Imagine Video 1,415 (#12) · Kling v2.6 1,294 (#26)). Arena scores come from blind, side-by-side human votes on the same prompts; when the gap is inside both models’ error margins we call it a tie. Test your own prompts before you commit.

Which is cheaper?

Grok Imagine Video costs from $0.05/s (480p), up to $0.07/s (720p). A 10-second clip at the lowest rate: Grok Imagine Video $0.50. Kling v2.6 has no published per-second price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

How long can the videos be, and at what resolution?

Grok Imagine Video: 1–15 s, 480p / 720p; Kling v2.6: length not published.

What is the difference between Grok Imagine Video and Kling v2.6?

Grok Imagine Video is a video model from xAI (Jan 28, 2026), taking text prompts, reference images and video and producing video. Kling v2.6 is a video model from Kling AI (Dec 3, 2025), taking text prompts and reference images and producing video.

Which is newer?

Grok Imagine Video Jan 28, 2026; Kling v2.6 Dec 3, 2025.

Which generates video with sound?

Generates an audio track with the video: Grok Imagine Video no; Kling v2.6 no.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

No open weights. Both are available only through APIs and apps.