Google Cuts Veo 3.1 Fast Prices 33% Today — Free AI Video for All Google Users
April 7, 2026 · 7 min read · Happycapy Guide
Effective today (April 7, 2026), Google cut Veo 3.1 Fast video generation prices by 33%: 720p drops from $0.15/sec to $0.10/sec. Standard Google account holders now get 10 free video generations per month via Google Vids. The timing is pointed — OpenAI shut down Sora this week, and Google's developer advocate openly mocked the move. Here is everything that changed and the complete comparison table.
What Changed Today
Google announced two changes to its Veo video AI pricing that take effect on April 7, 2026:
- Veo 3.1 Fast price cut: 720p drops from $0.15/sec to $0.10/sec — a 33% reduction. 1080p drops from $0.27/sec to $0.18/sec. Prices are charged per second of generated video, rounded up to the nearest second.
- Free tier expansion: Standard Google account holders (the free tier — no subscription required) now get 10 free video generations per month via Google Vids. Each generation supports up to 8 seconds at 720p. This replaces the previous trial credit system which expired after 30 days.
These changes come one week after Google launched Veo 3.1 Lite on March 31 — a lower-cost tier priced at approximately $0.05/sec for 720p, roughly 50% below the previous Veo 3.1 Fast price. The combination of Lite launch and today's Fast price cut represents Google's most aggressive AI video pricing action since Veo launched.
Full Veo Pricing After April 7 Cuts
| Tier | 720p (per sec) | 1080p (per sec) | 8-sec clip cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1 Lite | $0.05 | $0.09 | $0.40 | High-volume, draft quality, social media |
| Veo 3.1 Fast (new price) | $0.10 | $0.18 | $0.80 | Production quality, fast turnaround |
| Veo 3.1 Standard | $0.22 | $0.40 | $1.76 | Highest fidelity, complex scenes |
| Free (Google Vids) | Free (10/mo) | N/A | $0 | Casual creators, trying the platform |
The Sora Context: Google's Moment
The timing of today's price cut is not accidental. OpenAI shut down its Sora video-generation app this week, citing unsustainable costs and declining user demand. Sora launched to massive hype in late 2024 but failed to retain users against Kling AI and Google Veo.
Google developer advocate Logan Kilpatrick responded to the Sora shutdown announcement on X with: "Video is not going away. Some of us have been building it for years." The post reached 2.4M impressions in 24 hours.
The competitive dynamics are now clearly in Google's favor in the AI video space. Veo 3.1 Standard remains the highest-quality text-to-video model on publicly available benchmarks, and the new pricing makes it directly competitive with Kling AI and RunwayML on cost.
Veo vs Competitors: Updated April 2026 Comparison
| Platform | Price | Max Resolution | Max Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Veo 3.1 Fast | $0.10/sec | 1080p | 60 sec | Active — price cut today |
| Google Veo 3.1 Lite | $0.05/sec | 720p | 30 sec | Active — launched Mar 31 |
| Kling AI 2.0 | $0.06/sec | 1080p | 60 sec | Active |
| RunwayML Gen-4 | $12–$28/mo | 1080p | 16 sec | Active |
| Pika 2.1 | Free / $8/mo | 720p | 10 sec | Active |
| OpenAI Sora | Discontinued | 1080p | 60 sec | Shut down April 2026 |
| Midjourney Video | Included in $10+/mo | 720p | 5 sec | Beta |
Who Benefits Most from the Price Cut
Independent creators: The 10 free generations/month removes the barrier entirely for hobbyists and small creators. At 8 seconds per clip, that is 80 seconds of free AI video per month — enough for YouTube shorts, Instagram reels, and TikTok tests.
Developers and agencies: At $0.10/sec, a 30-second product demo clip costs $3.00 instead of $4.50. At volume (100 clips/month), the monthly savings are $150 — meaningful for production budgets.
Enterprise Google Workspace customers: Google Vids is bundled into Business and Enterprise Workspace tiers. The AI generation quota for these tiers increases starting today, with Business Standard getting 50 generations/month and Enterprise getting 200 generations/month.
How to Access the New Pricing
- Google Vids (free tier): Go to vids.google.com with any Google account. Free generations are allocated automatically — no coupon or upgrade needed.
- API access (developers): The new prices apply automatically to new requests in the Google AI Studio and Vertex AI APIs as of today. No action needed — existing integrations receive the lower price.
- Google One AI Pro subscribers: Your generation quota increases from 100 to 150 per month at no additional cost. The subscription remains $19.99/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Google Veo 3.1 Fast cost after the April 2026 price cut?
After the April 7, 2026 price cut, Veo 3.1 Fast costs $0.10 per second for 720p video generation, down from $0.15/sec. A standard 8-second clip now costs $0.80 instead of $1.20. The cheaper Veo 3.1 Lite tier starts at $0.05/sec for 720p.
How do I get free AI video generation from Google?
Standard Google account holders get 10 free video generations per month via Google Vids. Each generation is up to 8 seconds at 720p resolution. Generations reset monthly. Access through vids.google.com — no Google One or AI Pro subscription required.
What is the best alternative to Sora now that OpenAI shut it down?
The top Sora alternatives in April 2026 are: Google Veo 3.1 Fast (best quality, $0.10/sec), Kling AI 2.0 (best value, $0.06/sec), RunwayML Gen-4 (best for editors, $12–$28/month subscription), and Pika 2.1 (easiest for beginners, free tier available).
Can Happycapy generate AI videos?
Yes. Happycapy Pro and Max plans include AI video generation skills powered by leading video models. You can generate short clips from text prompts directly inside the Happycapy platform without managing separate API accounts. Pro plan starts at $17/month.
Sources: Google AI Studio — Pricing · Google Workspace Blog — Vids Updates · Google Developers Blog · Happycapy — AI Platform