Grok 4 was already available to free users by August 11, 2025, according to a report published that day. The report described the rollout as limited-time access with usage caps, but gave no end date. So you don’t need to wait for a future free-release date based on that report. It does not confirm whether xAI currently offers the original Grok 4 model to free consumer users.
As of November 12, 2026, xAI lists a Free plan at $0 per month with limited AI usage. Its pricing page does not specify that the original Grok 4 is included. A later model, Grok 4.1, was announced as available to all users on xAI’s consumer surfaces in November 2025; that announcement does not establish that the original Grok 4 is selectable today.
What free Grok 4 access meant
The August 2025 report described two ways free users could access Grok 4 at the time: Auto mode could route complex questions to it, or users could choose “Expert” directly. These are historical reported access paths, not current instructions. The report said limits were unclear and temporary. It mentioned estimates of five queries per day or ten messages per 12 hours, but those were unconfirmed reports—not official limits to rely on for planning.
Does free Grok chat mean the original Grok 4 API is free?
No. The consumer plan and API are separate. xAI’s API documentation says the original API model slug, grok-4-0709, was retired on May 15, 2026. Requests using that slug are redirected to grok-4.3 and billed at Grok 4.3 rates—not the original model’s rates.
For standard global pricing on requests below the long-context threshold, xAI lists $1.25 per million input tokens and $2.50 per million output tokens for Grok 4.3. Long-context rates apply to all tokens in a request once its prompt reaches the model’s long-context threshold. The US regional endpoint has a 10% premium. Check the applicable pricing for your endpoint and request size before budgeting; the old slug continuing to resolve does not mean it still serves the original Grok 4 model.
The current consumer Free plan does not establish that the original Grok 4 is included. If you want to try Grok at no monthly subscription cost, check which model the current consumer interface offers. If you need the original model through the API, xAI’s retirement notice says it is no longer served as that model; choose a currently listed model and budget at its applicable rate instead.
A token-cost example for a different model
For comparison—not as a Grok 4 price—xAI lists Grok 4.5 at $2 per million input tokens and $6 per million output tokens under standard global pricing below the long-context threshold. At those listed rates, 1 million input tokens plus 250,000 output tokens comes to $3.50: $2.00 + (0.25 × $6.00). This is a conditional, token-only illustration; it does not establish the total cost for a particular workload or include any other applicable charges. Verify current pricing for the exact model, endpoint, and request size before budgeting.
For production, check the exact model name and current API rates, estimate your input and output token volumes, and test the model on representative tasks. Free consumer access is not evidence of free API calls or accuracy for your workload.
Bottom line
- When was Grok 4 reported free? By August 11, 2025. The report did not give the exact start date or a free-access end date.
- Is the original Grok 4 confirmed free to consumers now? No current xAI source cited here confirms that specific model is included in the $0 plan. Check the current model picker; don’t assume the free plan includes Grok 4.
- Can you still call the original Grok 4 through its API slug? The slug
grok-4-0709was retired on May 15, 2026 and now redirects to Grok 4.3, billed at the replacement model’s applicable rates. - Does free chat mean a free production API? No. Consumer plan access and API billing are separate.
Sources
Elon Musk’s xAI opens Grok 4 access to free tier as GPT-5 backlash grows