Grok AI Complete Guide 2026: How to Use the xAI Chatbot? Free Version, SuperGrok Subscription, and Grok 3 New Features at a Glance

If you’ve heard about Grok AI recently, you’re not alone. Developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, this AI chatbot has rapidly built a loyal global following since its debut in late 2023, thanks to its bold personality, the unique advantage of integrating real-time X (Twitter) data, and the continuously evolving Grok 3 model.

Compared to ChatGPT or Claude, Grok AI’s biggest highlight is its real-time access to discussions on the X platform—not just old training data, but actual real-time internet buzz. This article will provide a complete guide on how to use Grok AI, the differences between the free version and SuperGrok, the latest features of Grok 3, and 5 advanced tips to help you get started from scratch!

What is Grok AI? A Next-Gen Chatbot Built by Elon Musk’s xAI

The Origins and Development of Grok AI

Grok AI was developed by xAI, an AI company founded by Elon Musk in 2023 with the goal of exploring the true nature of the universe. The name “Grok” comes from Robert A. Heinlein’s 1961 science fiction novel *Stranger in a Strange Land*, meaning “to understand something profoundly.”

Since the launch of its first version in November 2023, Grok has iterated rapidly:

• Grok 1 (November 2023): First public release, limited to X Premium+ users
• Grok 2 (August 2024): Significant performance boost, opened to more users
• Grok 3 (February 2025): xAI claimed it was the most powerful AI model at the time, introducing Think mode, DeepSearch, and more

Core Features of Grok AI — How Does It Differ from ChatGPT and Claude?

The biggest differences between Grok and other AI chatbots lie in three areas: personality, data real-timeliness, and platform integration.

First, unlike the cautious and conservative ChatGPT, Grok is designed to be bold, a bit rebellious, and even humorous—sometimes its answers will leave you in stitches. Second, Grok is the only AI natively integrated with the X platform, allowing it to pull real-time discussions from social media. Finally, Grok’s free plan is relatively generous, allowing users to experience many core features without paying.

How to Use Grok AI? 5-Step Complete Beginner Tutorial

Step 1: Go to grok.com or Download the App

You can enter the web version directly by typing grok.com in your browser, or search for “Grok” in the App Store / Google Play to download the official app. Additionally, if you already have an X (Twitter) account, you can find the Grok entry point directly in the left sidebar menu of X.

Step 2: Free Registration, Sign in with X or Google

Grok supports signing in with an X account, Google account, or Apple account. If you don’t have an X account, no problem—you can create a new account directly using Google login. New users can immediately enjoy all the features of the free plan without entering credit card information.

Step 3: Choose a Conversation Mode

After entering Grok, you will see several conversation mode options:

• Regular Mode: For daily conversations, Q&A, and writing; the fastest speed
• Think Mode: Suitable for complex problems; Grok will display its step-by-step thinking process
• DeepSearch Mode: Performs in-depth web searches, ideal for questions requiring real-time information

Step 4: Enter Your Question (Traditional Chinese Supported)

Just type directly in the input box. Grok’s understanding of Traditional Chinese is excellent, so there’s no need to ask questions in English. You can ask it anything, including current events analysis, programming, article writing, mathematical calculations, and even ask it to respond using local slang—it can do it all.

Step 5: Use Aurora to Generate AI Images

Type “Generate an image: [your description]” in the chat box, and Grok will call the Aurora model to generate an image for you. Aurora’s image quality is quite impressive, especially in realistic styles and illustrations, and free users have a certain daily generation quota.

Detailed Explanation of Grok AI’s Six Core Features

1. Grok 3 Intelligent Conversation — Critical Thinking Unafraid of Challenges

Grok 3 is currently xAI’s most powerful language model, performing excellently in multiple academic tests. It doesn’t just answer questions; it truly has its own “perspective”—it won’t shy away from controversial topics but will provide deep, thoughtful responses. If you find ChatGPT’s answers too conservative or overly safe, Grok might be more to your taste.

2. Aurora Image Generation — Turn Words into Images

Aurora is an image generation model trained by xAI, integrated into Grok’s chat interface. You only need to describe the image you want, and Aurora can generate high-quality visuals. Compared to DALL-E (used by ChatGPT), Aurora performs exceptionally well in realistic photo styles and supports Chinese descriptions, so you don’t need to learn English prompts.

3. DeepSearch — More Than Just Answers, It Researches

DeepSearch is Grok’s in-depth search feature. When enabled, Grok automatically crawls multiple sources on the web and integrates them to provide a comprehensive answer. This isn’t just “citing an article,” but true multi-source cross-verification—especially suitable for research, comparing product reviews, or inquiring about academic topics.

4. X Real-Time Data — Grok’s Most Unique Advantage

This is the biggest differentiator between Grok and all its competitors: it has real-time access to posts, discussions, and public opinion on the X platform. This means you can ask “What news is everyone in Taiwan discussing right now?” or “How are users on X evaluating a certain brand recently?” and get real, real-time answers. ChatGPT and Claude cannot do this.

5. Think Mode — Step-by-Step Reasoning for Complex Problems

Similar to OpenAI’s o3 model, Grok’s Think mode displays a complete chain of thought before providing the final answer. This is particularly useful for complex mathematical calculations, logical reasoning, and code debugging—you don’t just get the answer; you see how it was derived step-by-step.

6. Voice Mode — Use AI Just by Speaking

Grok supports voice input and voice responses, allowing you to talk to the AI as if you were on a phone call. Voice mode supports multiple languages, including Chinese. It’s especially suitable for driving, doing housework, or any scenario where typing is inconvenient. Currently, voice mode performs best on the app version.

Grok AI Free vs. SuperGrok: Which Plan is Right for You?

Free Version Features and Limitations

Grok’s free plan is quite practical, and new users can use it without linking a credit card. The free version includes: a limited number of daily Grok 3 conversations, basic Aurora image generation (with daily limits), real-time search functionality (limited uses), and X platform data access.

The main limitations are: a lower daily conversation limit (about 10-20 messages), limited opportunities to switch to Think or DeepSearch modes, and about 3-5 image generations per day. For light users, the free version is sufficient; but if you need heavy usage, you should consider upgrading.

SuperGrok Subscription Plan (US$30/month)

SuperGrok is Grok’s paid plan, costing US$30 per month (approx. NT$960), offering the following features:

• Unlimited Conversations: No daily limits
• Full Grok 3 Model: Includes the most powerful version
• Unlimited Aurora Image Generation: Generate as many as you want
• Full DeepSearch: No limits on in-depth searches
• Unlimited Think Mode Usage
• Priority Access to New Features: Early experience with new models and features

Compared to ChatGPT Plus (US$20/month), SuperGrok is significantly more expensive. However, if you need real-time X data, have high demands for Aurora image quality, or prefer Grok’s “truth-telling” personality, the value of SuperGrok is compelling.

Grok AI vs. ChatGPT vs. Claude: 2026 Most Complete Feature Comparison

If you’re still deciding whether to use Grok or stick with ChatGPT or Claude, the following comparison dimensions can help you decide:

Reasons to choose Grok: You need real-time X/Twitter data, want an AI with personality and opinions, like Aurora’s image quality, or want to use it within the X platform ecosystem.

Reasons to choose ChatGPT: You need a complete GPT plugin ecosystem, OpenAI API integration, or advanced features like Code Interpreter. For a detailed comparison, refer to our Claude vs. ChatGPT Complete Comparison Article.

Reasons to choose Claude: You particularly value long document analysis (200K context window), code quality, or Anthropic’s safety-oriented design philosophy.

Grok AI 5 Advanced Tips (Use It Smarter Than Others)

Once you’ve learned the basic operations, these advanced tips can significantly boost your Grok efficiency:

Tip 1: Force Enable Think Mode for Complex Problems
When encountering problems that require multi-step reasoning (math, logic, legal analysis), remember to switch to Think mode. This way, Grok doesn’t just give you the answer but also lets you see its reasoning process, making it easier for you to verify and learn.

Tip 2: Use Keywords Like “Now” for Real-Time Topics
When asking about current events, add keywords like “now,” “latest,” or “today” to trigger Grok to pull real-time data instead of relying on old training data. For example, “What are people on X saying about GPT-5 right now?”

Tip 3: Generate Images with Detailed Prompts
Aurora fully supports descriptive prompts. The more specific the description, the better the quality. For example, “A Taiwanese girl sitting by a cafe window using a laptop, rainy day, cinematic lighting, 16:9” works much better than a vague “a person in a cafe.”

Tip 4: Have Grok Role-Play for Practice
Grok has fewer restrictions than ChatGPT. You can have it play an interviewer for a mock interview or act as an expert in a specific field to give you deeper analysis.

Tip 5: Use DeepSearch for Competitor Research
“How has [Brand Name] been reviewed on X recently?” Combined with DeepSearch, Grok can help you quickly aggregate market reactions, which is more efficient than manually checking social media. This feature is particularly useful for marketers, entrepreneurs, and product managers.

Grok AI Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Grok AI free?

Yes, Grok AI offers a free plan that allows you to use basic features without a credit card, including a limited number of daily Grok 3 conversations, limited image generation, and search functions. For unlimited use, you can upgrade to SuperGrok (US$30/month).

Where can I download Grok AI?

You can search for “Grok” in the iOS App Store or Google Play to download the official app for free. You can also go directly to grok.com in your browser to use the web version without downloading anything.

Does Grok AI support Traditional Chinese?

Absolutely! Grok’s understanding of Traditional Chinese is excellent. You can ask questions in Chinese, and the answers will be presented in Traditional Chinese. Aurora image generation also accepts Chinese descriptions.

Which is better, Grok AI or ChatGPT?

It depends on your needs. If you need real-time X platform data, want an AI with more personality, or prefer Aurora image generation, choose Grok. If you need a rich plugin ecosystem, more complete programming tools, or the OpenAI API, choose ChatGPT. Most users can use both, as they excel in different scenarios. For details, refer to the ChatGPT 4o Complete Guide.

Is SuperGrok worth subscribing to?

If you use AI for work every day, SuperGrok’s US$30/month is a worthwhile investment. In particular, unlimited image generation (Aurora) and unlimited DeepSearch are very valuable for content creators and researchers. However, for light users, the free plan is quite sufficient, and there’s no rush to upgrade.

Summary: Who is Grok AI for? Wenyue’s Honest Review

After using Grok AI for a while, Wenyue’s conclusion is: Grok is currently the most personality-driven AI chatbot on the market. Its real-time X data integration is a true killer feature, and Aurora’s image quality is very competitive.

Groups best suited for Grok:

• Heavy X (Twitter) users who want AI to keep up with social trends in real-time
• Content creators who need to quickly generate high-quality AI images
• Those dissatisfied with ChatGPT’s “excessive caution” and wanting a more direct AI
• Researchers or analysts who need real-time information aggregation capabilities

If you haven’t tried Grok yet, it’s recommended to experience it with the free version first, especially Think mode and DeepSearch. You’ll likely be impressed by its depth. To learn more about other AI tools, you can also refer to our Perplexity AI Complete Guide or Suno AI Music Generation Tutorial.