Veo

Google Veo is Google DeepMind's AI video generation model, now in its Veo 3 and Veo 3.1 versions. It isn't standalone software: you access it through a Gemini subscription, the Flow creation tool, or the Vertex AI API. It produces realistic video clips from text or an image, now with sound.

What is Google Veo for?

Veo generates short video clips from a description, a starting image, or a reference shot. Veo 3 adds a soundtrack (dialogue, sound effects, ambience), a real step up from silent models. It's used for creative prototyping, short ads, social content, and animated storyboards. Consumer access runs through Gemini and Flow; developer access runs through the Vertex API, billed per second generated.

Google Veo or Sora?

Compared with OpenAI's Sora or Runway, Veo stands out for its image quality, native audio generation, and its place inside the Google ecosystem. Compared with Pika, which is lighter and more accessible, it aims for a more cinematic result. The choice mostly comes down to ecosystem fit and the need for synced sound.

How much does Google Veo cost?

There's no standalone price: it runs through Google. The Google AI Pro subscription costs $19.99/month (1,000 Flow credits, Veo 2 access), and AI Ultra costs $249.99/month (25,000 credits, Veo 3 access). Via the API, Veo 3 costs roughly $0.40/second with audio, and Veo 3.1 Lite starts at $0.03/second.