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

Wan v2.6 vs Grok Imagine Video

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

  1. Alibaba (Qwen)

    Wan v2.6

    Released Dec 16, 2025

    • Text to video
    • Image to video
    • Video editing
    • Audio input
    • Native audio
    • Arena1,327
    • From$0.10/s
    • Max length10 s
    Full specs Remove Wan 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

  3. Add a model

    Make it a three-way comparison.

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 VideoWan v2.6 1,327 (#21) · Grok Imagine Video 1,342 (#18) — blind human votes
  • Preferred for image to videoGrok Imagine VideoWan v2.6 1,310 (#23) · Grok Imagine Video 1,415 (#12) — blind human votes
  • Lowest entry priceGrok Imagine VideoWan v2.6 from $0.10/s (720p) · Grok Imagine Video from $0.05/s (480p)
  • Longest clipsGrok Imagine VideoWan v2.6: 5–10 s · Grok Imagine Video: 1–15 s
  • Highest resolutionWan v2.6Wan v2.6: 1080p · Grok Imagine Video: 720p
  • NewestGrok Imagine VideoWan v2.6 Dec 16, 2025 · Grok Imagine Video Jan 28, 2026
  • Widest inputsWan v2.6Wan v2.6: Text prompts, Reference images, Audio, Video · Grok Imagine Video: Text prompts, Reference images, Video
  • Native audioWan v2.6Generates an audio track with the video: Wan v2.6 yes · Grok Imagine Video no
  • Image to videoBoth animate imagesStarts from an uploaded image: Wan v2.6 yes · Grok Imagine Video yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsSame reachWan v2.6: 1 · Grok Imagine Video: 1
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Wan v2.6 vs Grok Imagine Video specifications side by side
SpecificationWan v2.6Alibaba (Qwen)Grok Imagine VideoxAI
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,327 ±7#21 of 48 · 54,050 votes1,342 ±6#18 of 48 · 165,462 votes (best)
Image to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,310 ±7#23 of 48 · 121,082 votes1,415 ±4#12 of 48 · 554,050 votes (best)
Price
Starting price$0.10/s 720p$0.05/s 480p (best)
Top price$0.15/s 1080p$0.07/s 720p
10-second clip$1.00at the starting rate$0.50at the starting rate (best)
Extra charges—$0.002 per input image
How it is billedPer secondPer second
Output
ProducesVideo with soundVideo
Resolutions720p · 1080p480p · 720p
Highest resolution1080p (best)720p
Clip length5–10 s1–15 s
Longest clip10 s15 s (best)
SoundOptional—
Frame controlFirst frame onlyFirst frame only
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Start image (image to video)YesYes
Video inputYesYes
Audio inputYesNo
ReferencesVideo and audioUp to 7 reference images; edits existing video
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API model ID—grok-imagine-video
API hosts11
ReleasedDec 16, 2025Jan 28, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

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

For text to video, voters prefer Grok Imagine Video (Wan v2.6 1,327 (#21) · Grok Imagine Video 1,342 (#18)). For image to video, voters prefer Grok Imagine Video (Wan v2.6 1,310 (#23) · 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?

Wan v2.6 costs from $0.10/s (720p), up to $0.15/s (1080p); Grok Imagine Video costs from $0.05/s (480p), up to $0.07/s (720p). A 10-second clip at the lowest rate: Wan v2.6 $1.00, Grok Imagine Video $0.50. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

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

Wan v2.6: 5–10 s, 720p / 1080p; Grok Imagine Video: 1–15 s, 480p / 720p.

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

Wan v2.6 is a video model from Alibaba (Qwen) (Dec 16, 2025), taking text prompts, reference images, audio and video and producing video with sound. 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?

Wan v2.6 Dec 16, 2025; Grok Imagine Video Jan 28, 2026.

Which generates video with sound?

Generates an audio track with the video: Wan v2.6 yes; 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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