Grok, the AI assistant originally integrated into the social media platform X, is now available as a standalone app. Similar to its version on X, the Grok app can generate images, summarize text, and answer questions with a conversational tone that xAI, the creator of Grok, describes as “humorous and engaging.”
The standalone Grok app was initially tested with a limited group of users in December 2024, coinciding with the launch of a free tier of Grok on X, accessible to all users. Before this, access to Grok required a subscription to X Premium, costing at least $8 per month.
The free tier of Grok on X comes with certain limitations—users can make up to 10 requests every two hours and three image analysis requests per day. These restrictions may also apply to the standalone Grok app. Users can access the app without signing in or choose to sign in using an Apple account, X account, Google account, or email. It remains unclear whether an X Premium subscription provides additional benefits within the Grok app, similar to the perks offered on X.
Grok has faced challenges similar to other AI assistants like Gemini and ChatGPT, including issues with accuracy and peculiar image generation choices. However, Grok distinguishes itself from competitors by being marketed as capable of answering “spicy questions” that other AI assistants tend to avoid. Additionally, a version of the Grok AI model is open source. While the app’s ability to handle “spicy” questions remains to be seen, users now have the convenience of accessing Grok without needing to navigate through X.
