Grok Imagine Quality Pricing & Cost
Grok Imagine Quality is the premium tier of xAI's image generation lineup. Higher fidelity than standard Grok Imagine at a higher credit cost. Best when you want Grok's compositional strengths but in a single deterministic shot rather than 6 variations.
This page breaks down the credit cost for Grok Imagine Quality when called via the AetherWave MCP server from Claude Code, Cursor, Continue, or any MCP-aware agent. Credits map to USD at a fixed rate, so the cost is predictable.
Full cost breakdown
Tiered pricing by resolution. 16 credits for 1K output, 22 credits for 2K. Single deterministic image. The premium tier of the Grok Imagine family.
Cost scenarios in USD
Here is what common workflows cost in USD at Grok Imagine Quality's rate:
| Workflow | Credits | USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 generation | 16 cr | $0.08 |
| 10 generations | 160 cr | $0.80 |
| 100 generations | 1,600 cr | $8.00 |
| Studio sub fits | 106 generations/mo (1,700 cr) | - |
How Grok Imagine Quality compares
vs grok-imagine-t2i at 6 cr / 2 images: Quality tier delivers one premium image at 16-22 cr instead of 2 variable ones. Worth the premium when production quality matters.
16 cr at 1K, 22 cr at 2K
Best for: premium single-output Grok generation
grok-imagine-t2i at 6 cr / 2 images
See the comparison above for when each one wins.
Run aetherwave_list_image_models from Claude Code to see the full live pricing across all models in one call. The MCP rubrics in each tool's description also route the agent automatically when a budget hint is in the prompt.
Where credits come from
You can fund your AetherWave account three ways:
- Free: Starter credits on signup plus up to 80 credits from one-time community quests (Discord, social shares, follow channels)
- Studio subscription: $9.99/mo for 1,700 credits monthly. Cancel any time.
- One-time bundles: starting at $4.99 for 500 credits, up to $79.99 for 9,000 credits. Bundle credits never expire.
Quick install
To run Grok Imagine Quality from Claude Code, install the AetherWave MCP server with one command:
Get your free API key at your Profile page (Developer tab). The MCP exposes 31 tools total; aetherwave_generate_image is the one that gives the agent access to Grok Imagine Quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Grok Imagine Quality cost per generation?
Tiered pricing by resolution. 16 credits for 1K output, 22 credits for 2K. Single deterministic image. The premium tier of the Grok Imagine family.
How do AetherWave credits convert to USD?
Credits map to USD at a fixed rate, so Grok Imagine Quality's 16 cr at 1K, 22 cr at 2K translates to the per-generation figures in the scenario table above. Credits come from a Studio subscription, one-time bundles, or starter credits + community quests on the free tier.
Is Grok Imagine Quality worth the cost vs cheaper alternatives?
vs grok-imagine-t2i at 6 cr / 2 images: Quality tier delivers one premium image at 16-22 cr instead of 2 variable ones. Worth the premium when production quality matters. The right call depends on what matters most for your workflow: variation count, deterministic output, latency, or absolute quality ceiling.
Start running Grok Imagine Quality
Free API key plus starter credits. One MCP install. First Grok Imagine Quality generation in under five minutes.
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