Grok AI Chatbot Launches Standalone iOS App, Expanding Beyond X Platform

Grok steps out to mobile

Grok isn't just for X anymore. The AI chatbot built by Elon Musk's xAI company has debuted an iOS mobile app in the U.S., Australia, India, and several other countries. The app marks xAI's ambition to compete against AI chatbot rivals with their own standalone apps, including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude. The app runs on the same Grok-2 AI model that powers its X-based counterpart. The chatbot can rewrite and summarize text, answer queries, and generate images from text prompts. For those in search of up-to-date information, Grok can access real-time data from both the web and X. Though originally exclusive to X's paying subscribers, Grok now offers a free tier and became more accessible with the launch of Grok.com as its own website. Grok's image-generation feature is likely to entice plenty of users. xAI has touted Grok's photorealistic rendering skills using the Flux AI model and its ability to analyze photos you upload, explaining whatever objects are captured by your phone's camera. The app may also end up using the Aurora image model that xAI apparently accidentally released very briefly before removing it. For better or worse, the AI's image creation abilities have also led to some debates around copyright and ownership. Some have gotten in trouble for making copyrighted characters like Mario do things Nintendo doesn't approve of, leading to its copyright infringement hunter Tracer going after them for infringement. Grok's launch outside X represents more than just a feature expansion; it's how xAI aims to take at least some of those paying for ChatGPT and other AI chatbots. The company clearly hopes to make a bigger product ecosystem where people pay for X to get Grok or pay for Grok to get access to X's premium features. Whether it can outshine its rivals remains to be seen, but one thin

X's Grok AI Chatbot Comes to iOS as a Standalone App

Samantha Kelly is a freelance writer with a focus on consumer technology, AI, social media, Big Tech, emerging trends and how they impact our everyday lives. Her work has been featured on CNN, NBC, NPR, the BBC, Mashable and more. Grok, the AI-powered assistant that debuted on the social platform X, is now available as a standalone app. Elon Musk's startup xAI has launched Grok 2, the second iteration of its AI model, as a dedicated iOS app, allowing users to access its features without needing an X subscription. Users can log in using their email address, Apple account or other supported platforms. The app provides tools for answering questions and generating images, while also offering a tiered subscription plan for advanced features. This release is xAI's first significant step away from its exclusive partnership with X (formerly Twitter), marking a bigger push to compete more directly with AI rivals, from Google Gemini to Meta AI and Claude.ai. By far the most popular is OpenAI's ChatGPT, which in November saw its number of visitors double, to 3.9 billion, according to Similarweb. The app has drawn attention for its conversational, humorous tone. According to its App Store description, Grok also prioritizes privacy, in an effort to manage user data interactions securely. Launched in November 2023, Grok was integrated into X and made available to paying subscribers. In December 2024, a free version became available with limited usage, such as 10 daily inquiries. X CEO Musk has positioned the assistant as a direct rival to prominent chatbots but with a distinct personality. At launch, he posted on X that Grok would be "funny" and "politically neutral."

xAI's standalone Grok iOS app launches in the US -- here's how to find it

Grok has rapidly emerged as one of the leading artificial intelligence chatbot platforms on the market. In a little over a year it has grown from a novelty inside X to one easily competing with ChatGPT and Gemini in terms of capability. The one thing stopping it from truly rivaling the big players in the space was the fact it required an X account. Breaking it free from social media was a necessity for xAI (the Elon Musk-owned AI startup behind Grok) and that has now happened. The company has been testing a standalone Grok app and website for a few months in places like New Zealand, but the U.S. version is now live for iOS. The standalone Grok app is available in the App Store in the U.S., Australia and India. As well as a language and image model that beat ChatGPT in my recent test, it also has live access to X and the web. Currently the standalone Grok app is only available for iOS, although you can still use Grok within the X app on Android. It isn't clear when an Android Grok app will launch or when it will be available worldwide. The listing on the App Store describes Grok as an AI assistant designed to be "maximally truthful, useful, and curious." Key features include a conversational tone, real-time access, image generation and a privacy-focused output.

X Launches Grok AI App for iPhone in the US

Grok can also respond to real-time queries, drawing the latest information from X and the web. After beta testing the Grok app starting in December, Elon Musk's xAI has now launched the standalone Grok app for iPhone users in the US. You can now download the Grok app from the App Store (Free). It's an AI chatbot similar to ChatGPT, but "designed to be maximally truthful", and can respond to any contentious query, as we discovered during our Grok 2.0 testing. Apart from text chatting, you can use Grok to generate high-quality AI images, and ask questions on real-time developments as it supports web browsing and pulls the latest information from X. The Grok app also lets you upload files and images for AI analysis. Basically, xAI has added nearly all of the features into the Grok app, except for something like ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode or Video Mode. And all of this is available for free. Earlier, Grok was only available to X Premium subscribers. However, last month, Elon Musk made Grok entirely free to drive adoption and position itself as a potential alternative to ChatGPT. As for the Android version of the Grok app, there is currently no concrete information from xAI. xAI is also working on a dedicated website for Grok which will be available at grok.com (visit). Currently, it shows "Coming Soon" in the US. However, Grok's website is already functional in a select few regions around the world. So are you going to replace ChatGPT with Grok? Let us know in the comments below.

Grok Is Now Available as a Standalone App on iOS With These Features

Grok's iOS app has been available in beta since December Individuals can use the app without being signed in The iOS app is powered by the Grok 2 AI model Grok, xAI's native artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, is now available as a standalone iOS app. The Elon Musk-run AI firm has been testing the app in beta for nearly a month, as per reports. The standalone app comes with all the features available on the web version of the chatbot. Users can generate images and ask web search-based queries even when not being signed in to their X (formerly known as Twitter) account. Notably, while the company mentioned the app's launch in the US, it was found to be working in India as well. The official handle of xAI announced the launch of Grok's iOS app in a post on X. The post mentioned that users do not need to log in to the app to access its features. However, signing in to an X account allows the AI chatbot to personalise a user's experience while using the service. The post as well as the app listing on the App Store mentions Grok's iOS app has been launched in the US. However, Gadgets 360 staff members were able to download and use the chatbot in India as well. After installing the app, users are taken to a new chat window, where they can begin interacting with the chatbot. Grok's iOS app can have conversations with the user, generate images, search the web and X to find real-time information, and generate essays and emails. None of these features require the user to sign in to the app, something which is not possible on the web version of the chatbot. Interestingly, the iOS app allows users to sign into Grok with either their X account or via Apple account. However, an the X account allows users to connect their chats from the web client and offer a more personalised experience. In our brief testing of the iOS app, we did not find any latency issues or any bugs or glitches. The app listing highlights that the iOS app is powered by the Grok 2 AI model, the same large language model which also powers both the free and premium versions on the web. Notably, we were not able to locate the Fun mode, but that could be available to X Premium and X Premium+ subscribers.

xAI is testing a standalone iOS app for its Grok chatbot | TechCrunch

Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, is testing out a standalone iOS app for its chatbot, Grok, which was available only to X users until now. The app, currently live in multiple countries including the U.S., Australia, and India, can access real-time data from the web and X, and offers generative AI features like rewriting text, summarizing long paragraphs, a little bit of Q&A, and can generate images from text prompts, too. "Grok is an AI-powered assistant designed to be maximally truthful, useful, and curious. Get answers to any question, generate striking images, and upload pictures to gain a deeper understanding of your world," the listing reads. xAI is also preparing a dedicated site, Grok.com, to make the chatbot accessible on the web. Currently, the site says "coming soon" when you log in with an xAI account. Grok was available only to X's paying subscribers until recently. In November, the company started testing a free version of the chatbot, and rolled it out to all users earlier this month. The company says its chatbot's image generator model excels at "photorealistic rendering," and doesn't apply major restrictions on its image-generation capabilities, allowing users to create images using pictures of public figures and copyrighted material.

Grok Now Available as Standalone App in the US

Grok, the AI chatbot built into the X (Twitter) social network, is now available as a standalone app in the U.S. X owner Elon Musk rolled out Grok in 2023 after developing it under his xAI company, and it has been described as a chatbot that's more casual and "funny" than other chatbots like ChatGPT. The Grok app description says that Grok is "designed to be maximally truthful, useful, and curious." xAI has been beta testing Grok as a standalone iOS app in Australia since December, and the app is now expanding to additional countries. Grok will also be available as a web app. The Grok app features Grok 2, the latest version of the Grok chatbot. App capabilities include image generation and up-to-date information for queries using current X and web data, with xAI suggesting that it is useful for creating images, improving writing, and studying. Grok can be downloaded from the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]

iPhone users can now access Grok on the App Store

Elon Musk's xAI has launched the Grok app as a standalone AI chatbot for iOS users in the United States, expanding beyond its initial integration within the X (Twitter) social network. Grok was rolled out in 2023 and is designed to be "maximally truthful, useful, and curious." Its latest version, Grok 2, features capabilities including image generation and access to up-to-date information from current X and web data. Users can download Grok from the App Store for iPhone and iPad. After beta testing in Australia since December, Grok has rapidly emerged as a competitive artificial intelligence platform, easily competing with other chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini due to its conversational tone and engaging personality. Previously, the app required an X account, but its recent release as a separate application was deemed a necessity for its broader accessibility. Musk's Grok-2 is fast, free and full of flaws Currently, the standalone Grok app is available for iOS in the U.S., Australia, and India, while Android users can still access Grok within the X app. The app is described as providing a conversational experience that blends humor and knowledge. Users can start their experience by visiting the Grok page on the Apple App Store and downloading it.

Grok is now a standalone AI app for everyone, not just an X app feature - 9to5Mac

What do ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini all have in common? Dedicated apps on iPhone. Meanwhile, Grok has been shoehorned into the social media app before now. Starting today, the standalone Grok AI app is available on the iPhone and iPad for everyone. The app release follows a brief period of testing in select global markets. Grok is a generative AI tool similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. It supports conversational input and output as well as image generation and text summarization. Somewhat confusingly, Grok is a product of xAI, Elon Musk's company dedicated to competing with OpenAI. The xAI chatbot has lived inside the X app and website, which is the social media network previously known as Twitter that Elon Musk also owns. xAI recently launched Grok 2, its latest model: Compared to its predecessor, Grok-2 is more intuitive, steerable, and versatile across a wide range of tasks, whether you're seeking answers, collaborating on writing, or solving coding tasks. In collaboration with Black Forest Labs, we are experimenting with their FLUX.1 model to expand Grok's capabilities on X. Grok for iPhone and iPad launches with a handful of platform-specific features like integration with Control Center, Siri, and Shortcuts. Today's release also introduces a Lock screen widget. Here's the rundown on Grok for iOS from xAI:

X's Grok AI assistant is now a standalone app

Grok, the AI assistant that's for some reason baked into X, is now available as a standalone app. Like the version that exists as a tab on the social media platform, the Grok app can be used to generate images, summarize text and answer questions, with a conversational tone xAI, the AI assistant's creator, calls "humorous and engaging." The app was first tested with a limited set of users in December 2024, right around the same time X debuted a free tier of Grok that's available to anyone. Prior to that, you needed to pay at least $8 a month for X Premium to have the privilege of using the AI. The limitations of that free access -- 10 requests every two hours, three image analysis request per day -- may also apply to the Grok app. You can use the app without signing in, or sign-in with an Apple account, X account, Google account, or a plain old email. It's not clear whether an X Premium subscription gets you added benefits in the Grok app in the same way it does X. Grok has struggled with similar issues around accuracy and bizarre image generation choices as other AI assistants like Gemini and ChatGPT. The chatbot mainly stands out from its competitors because xAI pitched it as being able to answer "spicy questions" other AI assistants avoid, and a version of the Grok AI model is open source. You'll have to see for yourself how "spicy" the Grok app ultimately is, but at least you don't have to go to X to use it now.

You no longer need the Twitter/X app to use Grok

Launched in early 2023, X's generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Grok, has made a significant leap with its availability as a standalone app for iPhone and iPad users. In its beta phase, Grok for iOS offers free access to xAI's latest model, Grok 2, which boasts improvements in natural language understanding and generation capabilities. The Grok app provides an intuitive conversational interface that enables users to engage in dynamic dialogues while creating high-quality images tailored to their specifications. This feature enhances creative expression and leverages real-time data from X and the broader web, making it a powerful tool for information retrieval and creative brainstorming. In addition to its robust functionality, X emphasizes user privacy. The app is designed with secure data interactions in mind. Recommended Videos Until December, Grok was available only through a paid X subscription. The service can be accessed for free, though with certain limitations. Users can send up to 10 messages every two hours and analyze up to three images daily. The paid version does not have these restrictions. Please enable Javascript to view this content Grok provides tools similar to ChatGPT, Microsoft CoPilot, and other AI chatbots. Additionally, it can analyze social media content directly. This functionality allows Grok to monitor trending topics, track social media discussions in real time, and gather insights that may not be accessible through other AI chatbots. When you try to download Grok on your iPhone or iPad, make sure you are downloading the official app. Unfortunately, the App Store is filled with third-party apps that resemble the official one currently appearing at the top of search results. As a longtime user of Grok, I find it great to see a standalone app has finally been released. This could certainly increase the tool's popularity, although more users may lead to service disruptions, at least in the short term. Still, that's just speculation.

Elon Musk Startup xAI Launches App Offering Access to Grok Chatbot | PYMNTS.com

Grok Beta for iOS offers access to xAI's latest model, Grok 2, for free, according to its description in Apple's App Store. "Grok is an AI-powered assistant, developed by xAI, designed to be maximally truthful, useful and curious," the description said. "Get answers to any question, generate striking images, and upload pictures to gain a deeper understanding of your world." The app's key features include image generation; real-time information powered by its access to current data from the web and Musk's social media platform, X; an "engaging and humorous" conversational tone; and a focus on privacy, according to the description. The chatbot was previously available only through X, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Thursday (Jan. 9). The new app is available for free and doesn't seem to have a subscription option, according to the report. Its description in Apple's App Store suggested the product was in beta and was being released in the U.S. The launch of the Grok app followed the December launch of a free version of the chatbot for all users on X, as PYMNTS reported Dec. 15. "Over the past few weeks we have been quietly testing a new version of the Grok-2 model, which is three times faster and offers improved accuracy, instruction-following and multilingual capabilities," xAI wrote in a Dec. 12 blog post. The post added that while the new version is available to all users on X for free, Premium and Premium+ users get higher usage limits and first access to any new capabilities. On Dec. 23, xAI announced that it raised $6 billion in a Series C funding round to support its development of advanced AI systems. "The funds from this financing round will be used to further accelerate our advanced infrastructure, ship groundbreaking products that will be used by billions of people, and accelerate the research and development of future technologies enabling the company's mission to understand the true nature of the universe," xAI said in a Dec. 23 blog post.

Grok Is Now Available Without an X Account

It's 2025, which means every tech company needs to have its own AI bot, of course. X is no exception: Since late 2023, the site has offered a chatbot to its Premium subscribers, developed by sibling company xAI. While blue check accounts may enjoy their built-in AI solution, the vast majority of users with even a passing interest in AI will undoubtedly look towards other options, free or not, like ChatGPT or Gemini. Perhaps that will change this year: In December, xAI announced a free version of Grok, specifically the newest Grok-2 model, available to anyone with an X account. Today, if you click on the Grok tab on X, you'll be able to access Grok, much like any other chatbot you've used before. That's fine and well for the curious among us still on X. But those who have fled for greener pastures haven't been able to take advantage of this perk. That is, until now. As of this week, Grok is now available as a free app on iOS -- no strings attached. You don't need an X account to use Grok, nor do you need to sign into any account at all. (Of course, you can connect your X account, or sign in via Apple, Google, or email.) Once you download the app, you can immediately ask Grok whatever it is you'd ask an AI chatbot. If you don't sign in with X Premium, it seems the app is working off similar limitations to the free plan. That's 10 requests every two hours, with three image analysis requests and four image generations per day. Of course, now the question is, will people actually use Grok? It's possible. As I write this, the app is the fourth most popular free app on the iOS App Store -- one spot below ChatGPT, and well above Gemini at 49. (X is number 31, by the way.) However, I am a bit skeptical about its staying power. I obviously understand X and Elon Musk fans flocking to Grok, but most people who care about AI, I think, will stick with what they know (i.e., ChatGPT) unless Grok can do something different, better, or both. I'll admit, Grok is fast: I hadn't tried it myself until now, and the speed at which it responds to text-based queries is impressive. That said, I haven't spent too much time with it, so I can't swear by how accurate the results are -- and as a relative AI-skeptic, I'm not likely to use it much. However, the one area I see Grok having an advantage (and not necessarily in a good way) is its lack of filter. This is an X Corp product, after all, which means Grok doesn't have some of the restrictions and limitations that other services have put into place to prevent abuse. When it comes to image generation, you can make some wild stuff with Grok. When Lifehacker associate tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt tested out the Grok-2 beta in August, she was taken aback by some of the images she was able to get Grok to generate: violent, offensive, and weird. Even in some brief testing, I was able to make Grok infringe on copyrights without even having to trick it: With Google's Imagen 3, for example, I was able to generate images of Mario by prompting the bot with vague workarounds, like "an Italian plumber wearing a red hat with the letter M." Asking it to draw Mario wouldn't work. Grok is the opposite: Try a workaround, and it spits out weird images of men wearing Mario's clothes. Ask it to draw Mario, and it will -- for better, or worse.

Grok's New Standalone AI App Is Actually Well-Designed and Easy to Use

As previously rumored, you can now download a standalone app for your iPhone or iPad to access Elon Musk's Grok AI. Simple and Easy to Use Getting started is easy. Just like other chatbot apps, including ChatGPT, you can ask pretty much anything and receive an answer. Optionally, you can snap a picture or import a photo or file directly from the app. You can also ask the AI to create different images. All the answers use the recently launched Grok 2 model. Asking questions about the weather or a restaurant will show an informational card. The text and images generated can easily be shared with others on social media, email, messages, or elsewhere. You don't need an account to start using the app, but you'll be limited on how many responses you'll receive. Without an account login, you also won't be able to see responses to previous questions. Sign-in as available with an X account, email, or with Google or Apple. There is also a lock screen widget available for quick access to the app. The app is available to download now on the App Store for free. Expanding the Chatbot's Reach A standalone app for Elon Musk's AI was rumored late last year. In early December, the Grok became free for anyone with an X account. Previously, you needed a paid subscription to X that started at $7 per month. Grok launched in late 2023, but has lagged behind some other popular choices in both users and features. Introducing a standalone app that doesn't require any X account could help expand its reach to more users. Unlike competitors, Grok has a huge dose of sarcasm and wit, thanks to Musk's influence on the chatbot. But while the chatbot is free, it is substantially different than ChatGPT and others and has a few key issues. It has weak ethical safeguards and the image generation has a substantial lack of content moderation. It also trains itself using information from X, which is full of bots and scams.

Elon Musk's xAI launches Grok app as chatbot race heats up

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI launched a Grok app as it seeks to catch up to rivals like Google and OpenAI. Grok, the name of xAI's flagship chatbot that can be used via Musk's social media platform X, was available as a standalone app in Apple's App Store on Thursday morning. Apple users were able to download and use the Grok app for free. There did not appear to be a subscription version immediately available. A representative for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk's xAI launched the Grok chatbot on X last month for free. Premium and Premium+ X users who paid for a subscription had higher usage limits for the chatbot. Apple's description of the Grok app called it a "beta" product, indicating it's an early version of the app. The app had more than 100 ratings by Friday afternoon and an average rating of nearly five stars. Musk has slammed OpenAI's wildly-popular ChatGPT as being too politically correct and, prior to launch, referred to his own AI model as "TruthGPT." He has since boasted that Grok has access to the latest information because of its ties to X. "Launching a stand-alone app gives it a chance to build a broader audience, beyond X users," Meghana Dhar, a former Snap and Instagram executive, told The Wall Street Journal. While a separate app could draw users away from X, Dhar said it's likely not a major concern. "I think there's more stickiness to X users than that," she told the Journal. "X users are very loyal to the platform." Musk launched xAI in 2023 to compete with OpenAI as ChatGPT became a roaring success. He quickly raised billions of dollars from investors and built a massive data center in Tennessee. The world's richest person -- with a net worth of $413.2 billion, according to Forbes - is a longtime rival of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Musk, one of OpenAI's co-founders, cut ties with the firm in 2018.