Does Grok Build have a free tier?

The official Build page lists early access for SuperGrok and X Premium+ subscribers. Docs also show browser sign-in and an API key for machines without a browser. Confirm the live seat rule on grok.com/build before you install for a team.

When should I skip Grok Build?

Skip it when you want a desktop editor as the daily driver, or when the account does not include SuperGrok or X Premium+. Cursor is the on-site overview for an editor-centered agent. DeepSeek Harness is the overview for a forkable agent runtime.

Is this page affiliated with xAI?

No. This is an independent overview with links to grok.com/build and the Grok Build docs. Install, sign-in, and billing stay on the official sites.

What is the grok CLI versus the grok agent?

They are the same install. grok opens the interactive session; headless flags and ACP are how that agent runs outside the fullscreen UI. grok inspect shows skills and MCP servers for the current directory.

Grok Build — terminal coding agent and CLI

Install the Grok CLI, plan repo edits in the terminal, and run the same agent headlessly in scripts.

Coding Agent
CLI
Terminal
MCP

Publisher: xAI
Type: Coding Agent
Pricing: Paid
Reviewed: 25 September 2026

Official site

Quick verdict

Use when

Terminal-first coding agent
Plan mode before edits
Headless runs in scripts
Skills, hooks, and MCP

Skip when

GUI editor as daily driver
No SuperGrok or Premium+ seat
Fully local model only

Try instead

Grok Build vs common coding agents

Grok Build next to two agents developers already cross-shop: install shape, plan gate, how far a run goes, and where the repo is processed.

Tap a dimension to focus

Pricing

Grok BuildThis page
- Early access
- SuperGrok or X Premium+
Cursor
- Free Hobby tier
- Paid for higher limits
Claude Code
- Usage-based
- Claude account billing

Dimension	Grok Build	Cursor	Claude Code
Pricing	Early access SuperGrok or X Premium+	Free Hobby tier Paid for higher limits	Usage-based Claude account billing

Preview of Grok Build - not the live app. Confirm details on the official site.

Does this overview help you decide?

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Learn more

Details below the decision summary—features, workflow, and scope notes.

What is Grok Build?

Install the Grok CLI, plan repo edits in the terminal, and run the same agent headlessly in scripts.

What it costs

Access gate before you install the CLI. Confirm the live seat requirement on the official page.

Free tier: No
Pricing summary: Grok Build is a terminal coding agent. The official page lists early access for SuperGrok and X Premium+ subscribers. Docs also document browser sign-in on first launch and an API key for non-browser environments. Seat rules and request caps change—check grok.com/build and the plans page rather than a fixed quota.

Reviewed on 25 September 2026 · Grok Build — official page

What the CLI actually does

Capabilities documented for the grok command, not the chat app.

Interactive terminal session
Running grok with no arguments opens a fullscreen, mouse-friendly session in the current repo. First launch signs in through the browser.
Plan mode before edits
Larger tasks can start in plan mode so you approve, comment, or rewrite steps before the agent applies a diff.
Headless grok agent runs
The -p flag runs a prompt without the UI, including streaming JSON, which is the path for scripts and CI rather than a separate automation product.
Skills, plugins, and MCP
grok inspect lists skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP servers discovered in the directory. Those are the extension points for tools the agent can call.
Custom models
A user config file can point the CLI at another model endpoint. The same Grok model family is also available on the xAI API for your own loop.

How to start with the Grok CLI

Install path from the official Build page and docs.

Install the command
On macOS, Linux, or WSL, the official page uses curl -fsSL https://x.ai/cli/install.sh | bash. Windows uses the PowerShell installer on the same host.
Open a repo and sign in
cd into the project and run grok. The first session opens a browser login. Headless machines can use an API key instead.
Plan, then let it edit
For a multi-file change, start in plan mode and approve the steps. Smaller questions can go straight to the prompt.
Check what the repo already configures
Run grok inspect to see skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP servers before you assume a blank agent.

Who Grok Build is for

Roles that already work from a terminal.

Developers who stay in the shell
You want repo edits, shell commands, and a reviewable diff without switching into a desktop editor.
Teams scripting an agent
Headless prompts fit repeatable checks in scripts once the account can authenticate without a browser.
People extending the agent
Skills, hooks, and MCP servers matter when the agent should follow repo conventions and call tools you already run.

When Grok Build is the right pick

Choose Grok Build when you want the agent in the terminal: plan a change, approve the diff, and reuse the same command in a script. Skip it when your team already lives in a desktop editor, or when the account does not include SuperGrok or X Premium+.

Platform notes

Facts from the official Build page and docs.x.ai.

Seat gate: The product page describes early access for SuperGrok and X Premium+ subscribers, and names Grok 4.7 as the model behind the agent.
Where it runs: The agent is a local CLI and terminal UI. Model calls go to the cloud. Docs also cover ACP so other apps can host the agent.
Not the chat composer: This page is the coding CLI. Image and video generation live on Imagine, not in the grok install command.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about this tool—open a question to read more.