Our verdict · 7.9/10 Good
A capable assistant with unusually fresh real-time information, now viable for teams via Grok Business. Its governance, integrations and compliance track record are less mature than ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot.
Key takeaways
- Best for: Research that depends on very recent events.
- Strongest area: Features & fit (8.6/10). Weakest: Integrations & ecosystem (7.0/10).
- Price: Free; Grok Business $30 / user / month — free plan available.
- Watch out for: Fewer workplace integrations than rivals.
What is Grok?
Grok is xAI's general-purpose assistant for chat, research, coding and image generation, with real-time search across the web and posts on X. Grok Business adds team workspaces, admin controls and a commitment not to train on business data. Enterprise adds SSO and SCIM.
Grok is made by xAI and is reviewed here as a AI assistant. It is priced on a freemium basis, and our editorial score is 7.9 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose Grok if
- Research that depends on very recent events
- Teams wanting a second assistant alongside ChatGPT or Claude
- Social and market monitoring using X
Not for you if
- Regulated businesses needing a long compliance track record
- Teams that need deep Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace integration
Key features
Answers grounded in current web pages and X posts.
Upload documents and keep context per project.
Create and edit images from prompts.
Team billing, usage and data controls on Business.
- X
- Google Drive
- API
Pros & cons
What we like
- Real-time web and X search
- Strong reasoning and coding models
- Self-serve business plan with admin controls
- Image generation built in
Watch out for
- Fewer workplace integrations than rivals
- Younger enterprise controls
- Output tone can be less predictable
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Up to 1 user |
| Business | ≈ $30 / user / mo | — |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | Quote |
Pricing watch-out: Enterprise pricing is by quote and adds SSO and directory sync.
True cost at 5, 10 and 25 seats
Cheapest paid plan that fits each team size, from indicative list prices checked November 5, 2026. Excludes tax, add-ons, onboarding fees and promotional discounts.
Pricing watch-outs
- Quote-only tier. Enterprise has no public price. Ask for a written quote that includes onboarding and support fees.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing, last checked November 5, 2026 (source). Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 8.6 | 2.20 | |
| Ease of use | 15% | 8.6 | 1.30 | |
| Value for money | 15% | 7.8 | 1.20 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 7.0 | 0.70 | |
| Security & privacy | 20% | 7.6 | 1.50 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 15% | 7.0 | 1.10 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for AI tools products | 7.9 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask xAI |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for Grok against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check xAI’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any AI assistant
Check Grok against the same list we use for every AI assistant — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Data is excluded from training on your plan
- Admin console and usage controls
- File and document analysis
- Integration with your office suite
- Predictable per-seat pricing
See every ranked option in AI Assistants.
Grok alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Cheaper
Google Gemini≈ $140/mo vs $300/mo at 10 users (cheapest paid plans, indicative) - Easier to use
ChatGPTEase-of-use score 9.3 vs 8.6 - Better integrations
Microsoft 365 CopilotIntegrations score 9.0 vs 7.0 - Stronger on securityAQAmazon QuickSecurity & privacy score 9.0 vs 7.6
- Higher overall scoreChatGPTOverall 8.6 vs 7.9
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as Grok. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
The most widely used AI assistant, with a broad set of tools and integrations.
A thoughtful AI assistant known for long documents, nuanced writing and coding.
An AI answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources.
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
Grok FAQ
How much is Grok Business?
xAI lists Grok Business at $30 per user per month; Enterprise is quoted.
Does xAI train on Grok Business data?
xAI says business plan data is not used for training. Review the current terms before rollout.
Does Grok have a free plan?
Yes. Grok offers a free plan. Paid plans start at Grok Business $30 / user / month (indicative — check the vendor for current pricing).
Who is Grok best for?
Grok is best for: research that depends on very recent events; teams wanting a second assistant alongside ChatGPT or Claude; social and market monitoring using X.
How much does Grok cost for a team of 10?
On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users (Business) works out at roughly $300 per month, or about $3,600 per year, before tax, add-ons and discounts.
How is the Grok score calculated?
The 7.9/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for AI products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to Grok?
Popular alternatives include ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.