Grok

What Is It, In Plain Words?

Grok is an AI assistant made by xAI, the company behind X (formerly Twitter). You type or talk to it, and it answers in everyday words.

It can look things up on the web and on X, so it's handy for questions about what's in the news today. As with any chatbot, check anything important.

What You Can Use It For

• Today's news. "What's happening with the rail strikes this week?" It can search for recent reports.
• Everyday questions. "How do I get candle wax out of a tablecloth?"
• Voice chats. In the app you can talk to it out loud, which helps if typing is a struggle.

Getting Started Step By Step

On A Computer

1. Open your web browser and go to grok.com. Check the address carefully, because look-alike sites exist.
2. Click Sign up or Sign in. You can use an email address, or an X, Google or Apple account.
3. Type your question in the box and press Enter.

On A Phone Or Tablet

1. Open the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android).
2. Search for Grok and check it's made by xAI. Copycat apps exist.
3. Tap Get or Install, then open it.
4. Tap the microphone or voice button to talk instead of typing.

Things To Try Typing

Copy any of these, or change the details to suit you.

What It Costs

Grok has a free version with limits. Paid plans give more use.

We couldn't confirm the price of Grok's paid plans on the official site when we checked on 16 October 2026, so we're not printing a figure. Please check the official site for the current price where you live.

Privacy And Safety

• What it keeps. Grok saves your chats to your account. You can delete them in the app's settings.
• Check the data and privacy settings to choose whether your chats are used to improve the AI.
• Never type passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, your National Insurance number (UK) or Social Security number (USA).
• Check important answers about health, money or the law with your doctor, pharmacist, bank or a qualified adviser.

Good Points And Watch-Outs

Good Points

• Good for questions about recent news.
• Voice mode lets you talk instead of typing.
• On a computer, hold Ctrl (or Cmd on a Mac) and press + to make the words bigger. On a phone, it follows your text size setting.

Watch-Outs

• It can repeat things people post on X that aren't true. Check news against a trusted source such as the BBC.
• It can be wrong and sound sure.
• Paid plans renew automatically until you cancel.

Similar Tools

• ChatGPT: the best-known chatbot, with a simple app and voice mode.
• Perplexity: an AI search engine that shows where each answer came from.
• Gemini: Google's assistant, handy if you use Gmail or an Android phone.

Common Questions

Is Grok free?

Yes, there's a free version with limits. Paid plans give more use.

Do I need an X account to use Grok?

No. You can sign up at grok.com with an email address or a Google or Apple account.

Can Grok tell me today's news?

Yes, it can search the web and X for recent reports. Check important news with a trusted news source.