x.ai: Speech-to-Speech Voice API pricing changed from flat rate to starting-at
What happened
Between the Jul 27, 2026 and Aug 3, 2026 captures of X's pricing page, Pulse recorded one change: Voice API Speech-to-Speech cost changed from a flat rate ($0.05/min, $3.00/hr) to "Starting at $0.05/min" — the explicit hourly-rate conversion was removed. In detail: Voice API Speech-to-Speech cost changed from a flat rate '$0.05/min ($3.00/hr)' to 'Starting at $0.05/min' — the explicit hourly-rate conversion was dropped, signaling variable/tiered pricing. Pulse files it as a packaging change (metric change) with a neutral direction. Pulse's latest capture (Oct 12, 2026) lists grok-4.3 at $1.25 per 1M input tokens + $2.5 per 1M output tokens, grok-build-0.1 at $1 per 1M input tokens + $2 per 1M output tokens, grok-imagine-image-quality at $0.01 per input image + $0.05 per output image (1K resolution), grok-imagine-image at $0 per input image + $0.02 per output image (1K resolution) and grok-imagine-video at $0.01 per input second of video + $0 per input image.
It lands 23 days after X's previous change, "X swaps flagship model — grok-4.5 costs more, sees less, drops coding model" (Jul 13, 2026). Before that Pulse recorded "xAI: Grok lineup replaced (grok-4.3, grok-build-0.1), smaller context windows" (Jul 4, 2026), "X launches Grok coding model and image/video/voice API pricing" (May 29, 2026) and "X updates capabilities: New video generation feature added with audio" (May 19, 2026). X has been tracked since 2025-10-11.
In the same window You.com, fal, Voxel51, Upstage and Together AI also changed their AI & Machine Learning pricing pages. Those moves are listed further down, and the Pulse Agent can compare them side by side.
- Voice API · Pricing modelReworded$0.05/min ($3.00/hr)Starting at $0.05/min
| Plan | Field | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice API | Pricing model | $0.05/min ($3.00/hr) | Starting at $0.05/min | Reworded |
Values as written on X's public pricing page in the two captures Pulse compared; where the page states no number, the cells give the wording before and after.
Evidence
The two captures Pulse comparedFull-page captures of X's pricing page (x.ai) from Jul 27, 2026 and Aug 3, 2026; the change is marked in the lower part of the page, where "$0.05/min ($3.00/hr)" becomes "Starting at $0.05/min".
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The two full-page captures with this change marked up are free with an account.
X, the last 90 days
Full history- Oct 12, 2026packagingX adds Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite to API from $0.02/sec, up to 1080p
- Aug 24, 2026packagingX drops grok-4.5, adds Imagine image/video models and free Playground perk
- Aug 5, 2026packagingx.ai: Speech-to-Speech Voice API pricing changed from flat rate to starting-at · this change
- Jul 13, 2026packagingX swaps flagship model — grok-4.5 costs more, sees less, drops coding model
- Jul 4, 2026improvedxAI: Grok lineup replaced (grok-4.3, grok-build-0.1), smaller context windows
- May 29, 2026improvedX launches Grok coding model and image/video/voice API pricing
- May 19, 2026improvedX updates capabilities: New video generation feature added with audio.
Across AI & Machine Learning in the same window
All AI & Machine Learning changes- You.comAug 4You.com: Web Search API now freemium (free 100/day + $5/1k after)
- falOct 19fal doubles Flux 3 Image edit price to $0.048 per megapixel
- Voxel51Oct 19Voxel51 slashes Custom-tier compute hours 71% as it adds free plan
- UpstageOct 19Upstage API deepens Solar Pro 4 promo to 70% off through Oct 19
- Together AIOct 19Together AI lists Muse Spark Open, Reflection Beam, Nemotron 3.5 Super VL
Questions about this change
Did X raise prices in August 2026?
No list-price increase was recorded between Jul 27, 2026 and Aug 3, 2026. The change Pulse detected was a packaging change: metric change.
What changed on X's pricing page between Jul 27, 2026 and Aug 3, 2026?
Voice API pricing model: $0.05/min ($3.00/hr) → Starting at $0.05/min, reworded. Pulse compared the captures it took on Jul 27, 2026 and Aug 3, 2026; the before/after table above lists each item as written on the page.
How often does X change its pricing?
Pulse recorded 4 other pricing-page changes for X in the 90 days before this one; the previous change was "X swaps flagship model — grok-4.5 costs more, sees less, drops coding model" on Jul 13, 2026; X has been tracked since 2025-10-11.