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

Kling v2.6 vs Grok Imagine Video

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.

  1. 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

  2. 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

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

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Kling v2.6 vs Grok Imagine Video specifications side by side
SpecificationKling v2.6Kling AIGrok Imagine VideoxAI
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,216 ±7#29 of 48 · 73,362 votes1,342 ±6#18 of 48 · 165,462 votes (best)
Image to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,294 ±8#26 of 48 · 202,113 votes1,415 ±4#12 of 48 · 554,050 votes (best)
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
ProducesVideoVideo
Resolutions—480p · 720p
Highest resolution—720p
Clip length—1–15 s
Longest clip—15 s
Frame control—First frame only
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Start image (image to video)YesYes
Video inputNoYes
Audio inputNoNo
References—Up to 7 reference images; edits existing video
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API model ID—grok-imagine-video
API hosts11
ReleasedDec 3, 2025Jan 28, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

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

For text to video, voters prefer Grok Imagine Video (Kling v2.6 1,216 (#29) · Grok Imagine Video 1,342 (#18)). For image to video, voters prefer Grok Imagine Video (Kling v2.6 1,294 (#26) · Grok Imagine Video 1,415 (#12)). 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?

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

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

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

Which is newer?

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

Which generates video with sound?

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

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

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

04 — Keep comparing

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