Grok vs Kimi
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Grok has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $19 for Kimi.
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
- Long-document reading
- Research reports
- Slide creation
- Agent mode
- Web search
| Feature | Grok | Kimi |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Chat assistant with live X posts, web search, image and video tools | Moonshot AI's assistant for long documents, research and agent tasks |
| Category | Chat assistants | Chat assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $8/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | SpaceX Super Intelligence (formerly xAI) | Moonshot AI |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Grok has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $19 for Kimi.
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
4 plans
Adagio
Free
- Free Kimi chat
- Limited agent usage
Moderato
$19/mo
- More agent and coding usage
- Priority access
Allegretto
$39/mo
- Higher usage limits
Vivace
$199/mo
- Highest usage limits
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
Kimi
- Handles very long inputs
- Useful free plan
- Strong agent and coding models
- Paid plans are pricey for casual use
- Some features launch in Chinese first
- Data stored in China
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 Kimi if you want:
- Handles very long inputs
- Useful free plan
- Strong agent and coding models
Watch out: paid plans are pricey for casual use.
Grok vs Kimi FAQ
What is the difference between Grok and Kimi?
Grok: Chat assistant with live X posts, web search, image and video tools. Kimi: Moonshot AI's assistant for long documents, research and agent tasks. Both are chat assistants tools.
Is Grok or Kimi cheaper?
Grok has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $19 for Kimi.
Do Grok and Kimi have free plans?
Grok: Yes. Kimi: Yes.
Who makes Grok?
Grok is made by SpaceX Super Intelligence (formerly xAI), based in United States.
Who makes Kimi?
Kimi is made by Moonshot AI, based in China.
Which should I choose, Grok or Kimi?
Choose Grok if you value up-to-date answers from x posts and bundled with x and cursor perks. Choose Kimi if you value handles very long inputs and useful free plan.