xAI has expanded its Grok 4 artificial intelligence model to all global users, regardless of subscription status, as of Sunday. This initiative provides broader access to the AI model, which was initially released last month.
The Grok 4 model, previously exclusive to paid subscribers, is now accessible to individuals utilizing the free tier of the platform. This expansion permits free tier users to engage with Grok 4’s Auto and Expert modes. The Auto mode automatically assesses prompts to determine whether additional processing is required for a more accurate or detailed response, or if a faster, default response is sufficient.
The Expert mode grants users manual control, allowing them to activate a more intensive reasoning mode when they perceive Grok’s initial response as insufficient. Grok 4 Heavy, the most performant model within the Grok 4 family, remains exclusively available to SuperGrok Heavy subscribers. Furthermore, Grok Imagine‘s image and video generation capabilities are not accessible to users outside the United States.
Grok 4 is now free for all users worldwide!
Simply use Auto mode, and Grok will route complex queries to Grok 4. Prefer control? Choose "Expert" anytime to always use Grok 4.
For a limited time, we are rolling out generous usage limits so you can explore Grok 4’s full… pic.twitter.com/VW1Pn3ivke
— xAI (@xai) August 10, 2025
xAI’s decision to expand access to Grok 4 follows OpenAI’s release of its GPT-5 AI model to all registered users just days prior. The official xAI account on X announced the global availability of Grok 4, emphasizing that free tier users would receive “generous usage limits” for a limited duration to explore the large language model. This announcement occurred three days after Elon Musk, owner of xAI, made the Grok Imagine video generation feature available to all US users without charge.
Paid subscribers will continue to benefit from higher rate limits across all Grok models and features. Last week, Elon Musk discussed plans during a Spaces discussion to integrate advertisements within Grok’s interface, encompassing both its website and mobile applications. This move aims to establish a new revenue stream for the chatbot, which currently generates income primarily through subscriptions and application programming interfaces. Musk cited the necessity of funds to cover the operational costs associated with the “expensive” GPUs that power Grok.
