Veo 3.1 doesn't have one price; it has one per route. On Google's Gemini API, Veo 3.1 Standard is $0.40 a second at 720p or 1080p ($3.20 for an 8-second clip) and $0.60 at 4K; Fast is $0.10 to $0.12 at 720p to 1080p; Lite is $0.05 to $0.08. On the 8frame canvas, full Veo 3.1 is 448 credits for 8 seconds with audio ($4.48 at pack rate), Fast is 168 and Lite 54. Google's AI plans include video generation in the Gemini app and Flow, with allowances that vary by country and plan.
Correction, 2026-09-30: the first version of this page put the API price at about $0.75 a second ($6 for an 8-second clip) and called the API the most expensive route. Google's pricing page lists $0.40 a second for Standard, which makes the API cheaper per Veo clip than 8frame. It also quoted Gemini plan prices, credit allowances and Flow credit costs we could not confirm, and a model count. All fixed below. It also described Veo in the Gemini app, where Google says Gemini Omni replaces it; the plan route for Veo is Flow.
The routes
1. Google AI plans: the Gemini app and Flow
Google includes video generation in its Google AI subscription tiers. For Veo, the route is Flow, Google's video tool: Google says Gemini Omni will replace Veo in the Gemini app, and one Flow help page says a Google AI Plus, Pro or Ultra plan is needed to use Flow (another describes a small daily credit allowance without one). What each plan includes and costs changes often and depends on your country; the page we checked showed prices in local currency. Check Google's subscriptions page for your region. This route makes sense if you already pay for a Google AI plan for other reasons.
2. The Gemini API: per second
From Google's pricing page, 2026-09-30, listed as the price for video with audio, the default:
| Model | 720p | 1080p | 4K | 8 s at 1080p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1 Standard | $0.40/s | $0.40/s | $0.60/s | $3.20 |
| Veo 3.1 Fast | $0.10/s | $0.12/s | $0.30/s | $0.96 |
| Veo 3.1 Lite | $0.05/s | $0.08/s | Not offered | $0.64 |
This is the cheapest route per Veo clip and the only one here that offers 4K. It needs a developer setup: an API key, code or a tool that calls the API, and your own storage for the files.
3. Credits on 8frame
On the 8frame canvas, from 8frame's pricing code:
| Model | 4 s | 8 s | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1 | 224 with audio | 448 with audio, 224 silent | 1080p |
| Veo 3.1 Fast | 84 with audio | 168 with audio | 1080p |
| Veo 3.1 Lite | 27 with audio, 17 silent | 54 with audio | 720p |
The 4-second prices are for text-to-video only: with a start image, Veo on 8frame always runs 8 seconds.
A credit is $0.01 at pack rate. Plans start at $19 a month for 1,000 credits, which roll over while you're subscribed. Output is watermark-free, and commercial use is cleared on paid plans.
Honest comparison
| Route | How it meters | 8 s Veo 3.1 with audio | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google AI plan | Subscription allowance | Depends on plan and country | People already paying for Google AI |
| Gemini API | Per second | $3.20 (1080p), $4.80 (4K) | Developers building on Veo |
| 8frame | Credits, one pool for every model | 448 credits ($4.48) | No-code teams mixing models, uneven volume |
Per Veo clip, the API is cheaper than 8frame. What 8frame adds is everything around the clip: no code, a shared canvas, the other video and image models in the same credit pool, and drafting on cheaper models before you spend on Veo.
Worked example: an ad spot of 18 eight-second shots
On the Gemini API at 1080p: 18 × $3.20 = $57.60 on Standard, or $17.28 on Fast.
On 8frame, all on full Veo 3.1: 18 × 448 = 8,064 credits, about $80.64 at pack rate.
On 8frame, drafting first: 12 losing variants on Veo 3.1 Lite with audio (12 × 54 = 648) and 6 winners on full Veo (6 × 448 = 2,688): 3,336 credits, about $33.36. Drafting on Wan 3.0 at 480p (24 credits for 5 seconds) instead brings the draft cost lower still.
The biggest lever on Veo spend is not the route, it's not generating expensive drafts you'll throw away. See AI video credits explained.
When each route is the right call
If you already pay for a Google AI plan, use its allowance first. If you're a developer, the API is the cheapest Veo and the only 4K. If your team works without code, mixes Veo with other models, or has uneven volume, the canvas is the practical route even at a higher per-clip price.
FAQ
How much does Veo 3.1 cost per video?
On the Gemini API, $0.40 a second for Standard at 720p or 1080p: $3.20 for 8 seconds. On 8frame, 448 credits for 8 seconds with audio ($4.48 at pack rate), 224 silent. Fast and Lite cost much less on both.
Is Veo 3.1 free?
Google's plans and products change what they include; check Google's pages for any free allowance in your country. On 8frame, the canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.
What's the cheapest way to use Veo 3.1?
Per clip, the Gemini API, especially Veo 3.1 Lite at $0.05 a second at 720p. On 8frame, Veo 3.1 Lite at 17 credits for 4 silent seconds or 54 for 8 seconds with audio.
Does the Veo API cost the same with and without audio?
Google lists its per-second prices as the price for video with audio, the default. On 8frame, audio is a setting: full Veo 3.1 is 448 credits for 8 seconds with audio and 224 without.
Sources
- Veo in the Gemini app and Flow: Gemini video generation, Google Flow help pages 16353333 and 16526234, checked 2026-09-30
- Gemini API pricing for Veo 3.1 Standard, Fast and Lite: ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing, fetched 2026-09-30
- Google AI plans: gemini.google/subscriptions, checked 2026-09-30 (prices shown vary by country)
- 8frame prices: the 8frame tool registry, 2026-09-30
Draft cheap, finish on Veo, whichever route you pay through. The 8frame canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.