kitio.aiGrok vs Doubao
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Doubao is completely free, while Grok is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Real-time X and web search
- DeepSearch research
- Grok Imagine images and video
- Voice mode
- Companion characters
- Voice calls
- Image and video generation
- Document reading
- Browser extension
- Photo questions
| Feature | Grok | Doubao |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Chat assistant with live X posts, web search, image and video tools | ByteDance's assistant, the most used AI chat app in China |
| Category | Chat assistants | Chat assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $8/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | SpaceX Super Intelligence (formerly xAI) | ByteDance |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Pricing compared
Doubao is completely free, while Grok is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Free
Free
- Limited Grok usage
- Web and X search
Plus
$8/mo
- X Subscription tier
- More Grok usage
- X Premium perks
Premium
$30/mo
- Higher Grok limits
- Advanced models
Super
$100/mo
- Much higher usage caps
- Priority access
Ultra
$200/mo
- Highest usage limits
- Top models and features
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Grok
- Up-to-date answers from X posts
- Bundled with X and Cursor perks
- Fast image and video generation
- Looser moderation has drawn criticism
- Plans and names changed often
- Best models sit on higher tiers
Doubao
- Very capable Chinese-language assistant
- Natural voice conversations
- Many free creative tools
- Built mainly for users in China
- Interface mostly in Chinese
- Companion features were removed
Which one should you choose?
Choose Grok if you want:
- Up-to-date answers from X posts
- Bundled with X and Cursor perks
- Fast image and video generation
Watch out: looser moderation has drawn criticism.
Choose Doubao if you want:
- Very capable Chinese-language assistant
- Natural voice conversations
- Many free creative tools
Watch out: built mainly for users in china.
Grok vs Doubao FAQ
What is the difference between Grok and Doubao?
Grok: Chat assistant with live X posts, web search, image and video tools. Doubao: ByteDance's assistant, the most used AI chat app in China. Both are chat assistants tools.
Is Grok or Doubao cheaper?
Doubao is completely free, while Grok is freemium.
Do Grok and Doubao have free plans?
Grok: Yes. Doubao: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Grok?
Grok is made by SpaceX Super Intelligence (formerly xAI), based in United States.
Who makes Doubao?
Doubao is made by ByteDance, based in China.
Which should I choose, Grok or Doubao?
Choose Grok if you value up-to-date answers from x posts and bundled with x and cursor perks. Choose Doubao if you value very capable chinese-language assistant and natural voice conversations.