Veo 3.1 Standard Gemini API
$0.4 source (opens in a new tab)
Per second of video
For: Final-quality output
Includes
- Highest-quality variant
- Native audio
API included
VideoDocumented overviewLast checked Oct 1, 2026
Veo 3.1: Pricing, Features & Best Use Cases
Google DeepMind's video model generating video with native audio from text or images, offered via Gemini apps and the Gemini API.
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Our take: Choose Veo 3.1 if you need video with natively generated audio, via the Gemini API for apps or Gemini and Flow for individual creation.
Main limitation: Gemini API video generation is paid-only and billed per second of output; the API free tier does not include it.
Who Veo 3.1 fits
Choose Veo 3.1 if you need video with natively generated audio, via the Gemini API for apps or Gemini and Flow for individual creation. Based on the vendor's documentation, not on a hands-on test.
Best for: Developers adding video generation
Also a good fit for
- Marketers and content creators
- Filmmakers prototyping scenes
Consider another tool if not available on the Gemini API free tier
Or if
- API billed per second of output, so costs scale with length
- 4K not supported on Veo 3.1 Lite
Veo 3.1 in the news
Headlines from US outlets, selected automatically — not endorsements. Updated Oct 12, 2026
Veo 3.1 pricing and usage limits
Prices checked Oct 1, 2026 on the official US pricing page. Official pricing ↗ Prices and limits change often.
Vendor pricing page re-checked automatically 12 days ago: no changes detected.
Free access and trial conditions
Not available on the Gemini API free tier
Paid plans: what changes as you upgrade
Veo 3.1 Fast Gemini API
$0.1 source (opens in a new tab)
Per second of video
For: Iteration
Includes
- Faster, cheaper than Standard
API included
Veo 3.1 Lite Gemini API
$0.05 source (opens in a new tab)
Per second of video
For: High-volume drafts
Limits
- No 4K
Includes
- Lowest cost
API included
Google AI Plus Gemini apps
$4.99/mo source (opens in a new tab)
Month
For: Casual creation
Includes
- Includes video generation
No API
Google AI Pro Gemini apps
$19.99/mo source (opens in a new tab)
Month
For: Regular creation
Includes
- Includes video generation
No API
Usage caps, credits and extra costs
API billed per second of generated video
What is Veo 3.1, and how does it work?
Veo is Google DeepMind's video generation model; the current version, Veo 3.1, handles text-to-video, image-to-video and text-to-audio-plus-video with realistic physics. Google publishes a model card and tech report for it. Developers can use Veo 3.1 through the Gemini API in Standard, Fast and Lite variants billed per second of video. Consumers access video generation through Google AI subscription plans such as Google AI Plus and Pro.
What you provide and what you get back
You provide
- Text prompt
- Still image
You get back
- Video clip
- Synchronized audio (dialogue, sound effects, ambient sound)
Where you can use it
- Platforms
- API, Web
- Account
- Required
- Models / versions
- Veo 3.1, Veo 3, Veo 2
- Inputs
- Text and image prompts
- Audio
- Native audio generated with video
- Resolution
- 720p, 1080p, 4K (4K not on Lite)
- Pricing basis
- Per second of output on API
- Duration
- Watermark/commercial terms
Where Veo 3.1 is most useful
Scenarios are worked out by our editors from the documentation; the actual result depends on your input and plan.
Generating short clips from text prompts
- Who
- Marketers, creators
- You provide
- Text prompt describing scene, camera and audio
- Expected result
- Short video clip with sound
- Plan needed
- Google AI plan or paid Gemini API
- Limitation
- Cost scales with clip length on API source (opens in a new tab)
Animating still images into video
- Who
- Designers, filmmakers
- You provide
- Still image plus motion prompt
- Expected result
- Animated video from the image
- Plan needed
- Google AI plan or paid Gemini API
- Limitation
- Output follows prompt quality source (opens in a new tab)
Creating video with synchronized audio
- Who
- Filmmakers, storytellers
- You provide
- Prompt with dialogue and sound cues
- Expected result
- Video with matching speech and effects
- Plan needed
- Google AI plan or paid Gemini API
- Limitation
- Audio quality not guaranteed per prompt source (opens in a new tab)
What Veo 3.1 does, and where it stops
Text-to-video generation
Creates video from a written prompt Turns ideas into clips without filming
Image-to-video generation
Animates a supplied image Brings existing visuals to life
Native audio generated with video
Generates sound effects, ambience and dialogue with the video Removes separate audio work
Standard, Fast and Lite API variants
Offers Standard, Fast and Lite tiers on API Trade quality for per-second cost
Veo 3.1 pros and cons
Reasons to choose Veo 3.1
- Generates audio together with video One generation yields a finished clip with sound documented source (opens in a new tab)
- Lite variant starts at $0.05 per second (720p) Cheap entry for testing at scale documented source (opens in a new tab)
- Available both via API and Google AI consumer plans Same model fits developers and individuals documented source (opens in a new tab)
- Published model card and tech report Capabilities and safety can be checked before adoption documented source (opens in a new tab)
Check before paying for Veo 3.1
- Not available on the Gemini API free tier Developers must enable billing to try it via API documented source (opens in a new tab)
- API billed per second of output, so costs scale with length Long clips cost more documented source (opens in a new tab)
- 4K not supported on Veo 3.1 Lite Lite is unsuitable where 4K is needed documented source (opens in a new tab)
- Consumer video generation requires a paid Google AI plan Individuals must subscribe to use it documented source (opens in a new tab)
How to use Veo 3.1 for generating a short video clip with audio
Set up Veo 3.1
- Sign in with a Google account
- Open Gemini or Flow, or get a Gemini API key with billing enabled
- Select Veo 3.1
- Choose the variant (Standard, Fast or Lite) if using the API
Example: generating a short video clip with audio
- Write a prompt with scene, camera and audio cues
- Optionally add a starting image
- Generate the clip
- Refine the prompt and regenerate
Review and export the result
- Check that audio matches the prompt
- Check motion and details for artifacts
A medium shot of an old sailor at a ship's railing gesturing at a grey sea. Audio: waves, wind, creaking wood.
Veo 3.1 API
API access and separate billing
Veo 3.1 has no public API in its official documentation. Standard, Fast and Lite variants API documentation ↗
Privacy, data use and commercial rights
Summarized from the vendor's current policies; this is not legal advice and a vendor's badge is not an independent audit.
How your inputs and outputs are handled
Gemini API: free tier content is used to improve products, paid tier is not (per pricing page)
Commercial use and plan restrictions
Training-use terms differ between free and paid API tiers
Controls for business users
- Enterprise tier with advanced security and compliance
Policies: ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing
Veo 3.1 alternatives by need
"Better suited" is based on documented features and pricing, not on a head-to-head test.
Runway: better suited to
Kling AI: better suited to
Luma: better suited to
Synthesia: better suited to
Explore Veo 3.1 further
Veo 3.1 pricing, plan by planEvery plan with USD prices, limits and what is free.Best Veo 3.1 alternativesTools for the same job, by need and starting price.Best AI video generator toolsOur picks in this category, compared by price and free tiers.Prompts for Veo 3.1Ready-to-copy prompts with their sources.
Tools and guides near Veo 3.1
More video tools
Guides and comparisons
Veo 3.1 user reviews
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Veo 3.1 FAQ
Is Veo free?
No. Gemini API video generation is not on the free tier, and consumer use requires a paid Google AI plan. source (opens in a new tab)
How is the API priced?
Per second of video: Standard $0.40, Fast $0.10-$0.30, Lite $0.05-$0.08 (seed data from official pricing). source (opens in a new tab)
Does Veo create audio?
Yes. Veo 3 and 3.1 generate sound effects, ambient noise and dialogue natively. source (opens in a new tab)
What does Google AI Plus cost?
$4.99 per month on the US page; Google AI Pro is $19.99 per month. source (opens in a new tab)
Where can I try Veo?
In Gemini, in Google Flow, or via the Gemini API. source (opens in a new tab)
Sources and review methodology
Official sources and verification dates
- Veo 3.1 — Google DeepMind homepage · checked Oct 1, 2026
- Gemini Developer API pricing pricing · checked Oct 1, 2026
- Google AI Pro & Ultra subscriptions pricing · checked Oct 1, 2026
- Models / engine, vendor page docs · checked Oct 11, 2026 · what_it_is.models_versions
Not verified: Max duration and resolution options per mode; Watermark and commercial-use terms; Data retention and privacy for consumer plans; Official changelog entries; Plan usage limits (credits) for Google AI plans; Veo rows on the pricing page were not in fetched text; prices from seed.
How we documented and maintain this page
Every fact about Veo 3.1 above comes from the 4 official pages listed here, last compared on Oct 1, 2026; we have not run Veo 3.1 ourselves, so it has no editorial score. How we check and re-check pages.
Article updated Oct 2, 2026; prices checked Oct 1, 2026. Outbound links to vendors are plain links; we do not earn commissions. How we review · Report an error