Grok review
xAI's assistant with live access to posts on X
- xAI
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Web
Does it deserve #7?
The verdict
Grok, from xAI, stands out for real-time knowledge pulled from X, so it is quick on breaking news and trending topics. It also offers image and video generation, voice mode and a reasoning mode for harder questions. It is looser with content limits than most rivals, which some like and others don't. Privacy is the weak spot: it is closely tied to X, and its data practices have drawn scrutiny from EU regulators.
- Real-time X integration
- Grok Imagine image and video
- Voice mode
- Think mode for reasoning
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Up-to-the-minute answers on news and trends
- Strong reasoning models on paid plans
- Image and video generation in one app
What could be better
- Closely tied to X and its data practices
- Looser content limits have caused public controversies
X users and news followers who want fast takes on what is happening right now
you want strict content safeguards or minimal data sharing
Questions about Grok
Is Grok free?
Yes, Grok has a free tier with usage limits on the web, in its mobile apps and inside X. A SuperGrok subscription or an X Premium plan raises limits and unlocks xAI's most capable models.
Do I need an X account to use Grok?
No, Grok has its own website and apps, so you can use it without an X account, though it also works inside X.
What are the best alternatives to Grok?
The closest alternatives are ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. See all of them ranked on our Grok alternatives page.
Where does Grok rank?
Grok ranks #7 of 8 in our AI Assistants ranking, with an overall score of 8.0 out of 10.