How to Use Grok Imagine Video 1.5 API
A step-by-step Grok Imagine Video 1.5 API tutorial with Python, Node.js and cURL: submit a text to video job, poll it or receive a webhook, and download the video. The example below costs $0.20.
- Endpoints
- 2
- Text to Video · Reference to Video
- Example request
- $0.20
- Text to Video
- Languages
- 3
- Python · Node.js · cURL
- Failed runs
- $0
- refunded automatically
Get an API key
Create an account, add credits (from $10) and create a key in Dashboard → API keys. Store it as CHEAPERGEN_API_KEY on your server. Every request sends it as a bearer token.
Choose a Grok Imagine Video 1.5 endpoint
Each task has its own endpoint. All of them take a JSON body and return a generation you can poll.
| Task | Endpoint | Required | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text to Video | xai/grok-imagine-video/text-to-video | prompt | $0.0248/s |
| Reference to Video | xai/grok-imagine-video/reference-to-video | prompt, reference_image_urls | $0.0248/s |
Submit a text to video job
This program submits the job, polls every 3 seconds until it finishes and prints the video URL. Swap the prompt and settings for your own.
import os, time, requests
API = "https://cheapergen.com/api/v1"
headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['CHEAPERGEN_API_KEY']}"}
# 1. Submit the job
job = requests.post(f"{API}/run/xai/grok-imagine-video/text-to-video", headers=headers, json={
"prompt": "A corgi DJ in sunglasses spins records at a beach party at sunset, crowd cheering, upbeat house music",
"aspect_ratio": "16:9",
"resolution": "720p",
"duration": 8
}).json()
# 2. Poll until it finishes (or pass "webhook_url" and skip polling)
while job["status"] in ("queued", "running"):
time.sleep(3)
job = requests.get(f"{API}/generations/{job['id']}", headers=headers).json()
print(job["status"], job["output"]["video"]["url"] if job["status"] == "succeeded" else job["error"])Set the parameters that matter
The settings for xai/grok-imagine-video/text-to-video, with what each one does to the price.
| Parameter | Type · default | What it does | Price effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| aspect_ratio | string (enum) · 16:9 | Output frame shape. 16:9 · 9:16 · 1:1 · 4:3 · 3:4 · 3:2 · 2:3 | Yes |
| resolution | string (enum) · 720p | Output resolution. Higher resolutions cost more per second. 480p · 720p · 1080p | 480p: $0.0704/s 720p: $0.0248/s 1080p: $0.22/s |
| duration | integer · 8 | Length of the generated clip in seconds (1–15s). You pay per second. | Billed per second |
Other Grok Imagine Video 1.5 endpoints take the same shape with their own inputs:
POST /api/v1/run/xai/grok-imagine-video/reference-to-video
{
"prompt": "@Image1 rides a bicycle through a field of sunflowers, wind in her hair, cheerful whistling",
"reference_image_urls": [
"https://cdn.cheapergen.com/samples/reference-1.jpg"
],
"aspect_ratio": "16:9",
"resolution": "720p",
"duration": 8
}Get the result
A job moves from queued to running to succeeded, failed or canceled. Poll GET /api/v1/generations/{id}, or pass webhook_url and we POST the result to you. Download the output and store it yourself.
{
"id": "gen_8c2QmX1nq0k4",
"object": "generation",
"model": "xai/grok-imagine-video",
"endpoint": "xai/grok-imagine-video/text-to-video",
"mode": "text-to-video",
"status": "succeeded",
"input": {
"prompt": "A corgi DJ in sunglasses spins records at a beach party at sunset, crowd cheering, upbeat house music",
"aspect_ratio": "16:9",
"resolution": "720p",
"duration": 8
},
"output": {
"video": {
"url": "https://cdn.cheapergen.com/outputs/gen_8c2Q.mp4",
"content_type": "video/mp4",
"duration": 5,
"width": 1280,
"height": 720
}
},
"error": null,
"cost": {
"amount_usd": 0.2255,
"currency": "usd",
"estimated": false,
"official_usd": 0.264,
"saved_usd": 0.0385
},
"source": "api",
"created_at": "2026-10-15T09:21:04Z",
"started_at": "2026-10-15T09:21:06Z",
"completed_at": "2026-10-15T09:22:31Z"
}Price a request before you run it
The quote endpoint is free and needs no key. It returns the price, the official price and your discount for exactly the input you send.
curl -X POST https://cheapergen.com/api/v1/quote/xai/grok-imagine-video/text-to-video \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"prompt":"A corgi DJ in sunglasses spins records at a beach party at sunset, crowd cheering, upbeat house music","aspect_ratio":"16:9","resolution":"720p","duration":8}'| Status | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | invalid_request | A parameter is missing or out of range — the message names it. |
| 401 | unauthorized | Missing, malformed or revoked API key. |
| 402 | insufficient_balance | Not enough credits for the quoted price; top up or enable auto top-up. |
| 429 | rate_limited | Too many requests or generations in progress; back off and retry. |
| 502 | upstream_error | The model provider failed; the hold is refunded and you can retry. |
| 503 | model_unavailable | No healthy route right now; retry later or pick another model. |
FAQ