What Veo 3.1 Lite is
Lite is the budget member of Google's Veo 3.1 family. Google added it in spring 2026, months after Veo 3.1 Fast and the full Veo 3.1 (which we call Quality), and lists it as Preview on Google Cloud, while Fast and Quality are generally available. It keeps the things that make Veo 3.1 useful, such as native audio and image-to-video, but tops out at 1080p and gives less detail than Quality. On imaginary.app, Lite calls Google's veo-3.1-lite-generate-001 model on Google Cloud.
Unlike Fast and Quality, Lite is staying in Google Flow after December 5, 2026. So the case for using Lite here is not "it's disappearing elsewhere"; it's pay-as-you-go pricing, one account with all three variants, and the same web app and API you'd use for the bigger models.
Veo 3.1 Lite specs on imaginary.app
| Veo 3.1 Lite here | |
|---|---|
| Clip length | 4 s, 6 s, 8 s |
| Resolution | 720p, 1080p (no 4K) |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9, 9:16 |
| Audio | Optional; "With Audio" toggle |
| Modes | Text-to-video, image-to-video, first and last frame |
| Image upload (web app) | PNG or JPEG, up to 20 MB |
| Prompt length | Up to 2,000 characters |
| Reference images, extend | Not offered |
Our generator describes audio as experimental: some clips come back without sound, and it notes that the high-quality mode is more likely to generate sound. If sound is the point of the clip and a Lite take comes back silent, try Quality.
Veo 3.1 Lite credit costs
Credits cost $0.21–$0.25 each depending on the pack or plan. Every Lite combination, from our pricing catalog:
| Resolution and audio | 4 seconds | 6 seconds | 8 seconds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 720p, no audio | 1 credit $0.21–$0.25 | 2 credits $0.43–$0.50 | 2 credits $0.43–$0.50 |
| 720p, with audio | 2 credits $0.43–$0.50 | 3 credits $0.64–$0.75 | 3 credits $0.64–$0.75 |
| 1080p, no audio | 2 credits $0.43–$0.50 | 3 credits $0.64–$0.75 | 3 credits $0.64–$0.75 |
| 1080p, with audio | 3 credits $0.64–$0.75 | 4 credits $0.85–$1.00 | 5 credits $1.07–$1.25 |
- Unlike Fast and Quality, Lite charges more for 1080p than 720p: 3 vs 5 credits for 8 seconds with audio.
- Silent 8-second 720p drafts cost 2 credits, so the $9.99 Basic Pack (40 credits) covers 20 of them.
- For comparison, an 8-second 1080p clip with audio is 5 credits on Lite, 10 on Fast and 26 on Quality.
Work out a full project with the Veo 3.1 cost calculator.
Honest price comparison: Google Cloud, Flow and us
| Clip | imaginary.app | Google Cloud list price | How many times Cloud list we cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 720p, with audio | 3 credits ($0.64–$0.75) | about $0.40 | 1.6–1.9× |
| 720p, no audio | 2 credits ($0.43–$0.50) | about $0.24 | 1.8–2.1× |
| 1080p, with audio | 5 credits ($1.07–$1.25) | about $0.64 | 1.7–2.0× |
| 1080p, no audio | 3 credits ($0.64–$0.75) | about $0.40 | 1.6–1.9× |
For an 8-second 720p clip with audio we cost about 1.6–1.9× Google Cloud's list price. In Google Flow a Lite video is 10 Flow credits (5 on Ultra), about $0.20 at the value of a fully used Google AI Pro plan. Flow also gives everyone 50 free credits a day, enough for 5 Lite videos, and those daily credits don't roll over.
| Google Flow | imaginary.app | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per video | 10 Flow credits (5 on Ultra) | 3 credits for an 8-second 720p clip with audio |
| Dollar value per video | $0.20 on Google AI Pro ($19.99/month); $0.05 on Google AI Ultra ($99.99/month) | $0.64–$0.75 |
| Commitment | Monthly subscription for paid credits | One-time packs or monthly plans |
| Availability | Google is keeping this model in Flow | Available |
When Lite on imaginary.app makes sense
- You're drafting prompts that you'll later render on Fast or Quality, and want all three in one account with one balance.
- You want Lite behind a simple API key: the Gemini API Veo previews shut down on October 22, 2026, and Lite on Google Cloud (Preview) needs a Cloud project, billing and a service account.
- You want 1080p Lite output and don't want to set up Google Cloud.
When it doesn't
- You only need a few Lite videos a day: Flow's free daily credits may be enough.
- You run high volume on Google Cloud already: list price is lower.
- You need 4K: pick Fast or Quality.
Real Veo 3.1 Lite videos from our gallery
Lite was the second most-shared model in our gallery when we checked (39 of 155 videos on November 8, 2026). The range below runs from a six-word prompt to a full ad brief:
Veo 3.1 Lite · 4 s · vertical · no sound track
“a dog barking at a cat”
A 4-second clip on this model costs 1–3 credits, depending on resolution and audio.
Watch it in the galleryVeo 3.1 Lite · 4 s · vertical · no sound track
“smartphone video, UGC style, handheld with slight natural shake. Close-up of soaking wet hiking boots being dropped onto a doormat … Audio: rain pattering outside, a frustrated sigh, the wet squelch of the boot.”
A 4-second clip on this model costs 1–3 credits, depending on resolution and audio.
Watch it in the galleryVeo 3.1 Lite · 8 s · vertical · with sound
“Scene: a sleek matte-black home-office desk at night, shot in extreme shallow depth of field … Camera: slow, smooth dolly push-in that settles gently. Style: high-end tech-ad meets breaking-news teaser.”
An 8-second clip on this model costs 2–5 credits, depending on resolution and audio.
Watch it in the galleryVeo 3.1 Lite · 8 s · landscape · with sound
“A medium shot, historical adventure setting: Warm lamplight illuminates a cartographer in a cluttered study … Cartographer: "According to this old sea chart, the lost island isn't myth! …"”
An 8-second clip on this model costs 2–5 credits, depending on resolution and audio.
Watch it in the gallery
Videos and prompts were made and shared publicly by our users; prompts are quoted as written, shortened with “…”. The gallery does not record the resolution a clip was made with; we checked each file for a sound track.
The dog-and-cat clip shows Lite will make something from almost nothing, but a short prompt leaves every choice (framing, lighting, sound) to the model. The boots and desk prompts spell out camera, light and an Audio: line, which is the habit worth copying. Only the desk file came back with a sound track, though; the boots clip is silent, so check every take before you rely on it. The cartographer prompt was also run on Fast; compare the two on the Veo 3.1 Fast page. For structure, see the prompting guide.
How to generate with Veo 3.1 Lite
Open the generator and sign in with Google
Go to the generator. No credit card is needed to sign up.Pick Text-to-Video or Image-to-Video
For image-to-video, upload a first frame and optionally a last frame; the image-to-video guide covers the details.Click Lite under Model
The resolution row then shows 720p and 1080p only. The generator notes Lite is the most affordable option and has no asset images.Set aspect ratio, duration and audio
Choose 16:9 or 9:16, 4s, 6s or 8s, and the With Audio toggle. The credit cost appears next to Generate Video.Generate, review, then upgrade the winner
Click Generate Video. When a prompt works, switch the model to Fast or Quality and generate again for the final. Failed generations are refunded.
On the API, send "model": "veo3-lite" to POST /api/generate with a veo_ key; the API docs have the full request format.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Veo 3.1 Lite video cost?
Does Veo 3.1 Lite support 4K?
How long can a Veo 3.1 Lite video be?
Can Veo 3.1 Lite do image-to-video?
Is Veo 3.1 Lite free anywhere?
Sources
Prices, model specs and dates on this page were checked on November 8, 2026. Third-party prices change; check the source before you rely on a number.
How we checked: credit costs come from our pricing catalog; Google and Flow prices come from the Google pages above; gallery examples were pulled from our public gallery on November 8, 2026.
Draft your next video on Veo 3.1 Lite
3 credits for an 8-second 720p clip with audio. Upgrade the best take to Fast or Quality in the same account.
Sign in with Google to create an account; buy credits only when you need them.