The X Subscription Explained: Grok and X in One Plan

A short AI news post, written 13 October 2026. Everything below comes from the official SpaceXSI announcement, pricing page and help pages on that date. Prices and plans can change, so check the sources at the bottom before you sign up for anything.

On 12 October 2026, the company behind Grok announced The X Subscription. It's a single plan that brings together Grok, Grok Bot, Cursor and X Premium, instead of paying for each one separately. The official Grok account on X shared the news too.

If you only use Grok now and then, or you've just got a free X account, you might be wondering whether any of this affects you. I'll explain it in plain English, including what it costs and the sensible things to check before you switch.

First, who's who?

Grok is the AI assistant made by xAI. xAI is now part of SpaceX, and its official pages now use the name SpaceXSI (short for SpaceX Super Intelligence). Here are the four things the new plan covers:

Grok is the AI assistant you chat to. It can also talk out loud (Voice) and make pictures and videos (Imagine).
Grok Bot gives you AI helpers that carry out tasks for you on their own computer in the cloud. I wrote about one of its newer features in Grok Bot Gets Its Own Email Address.
Cursor is a tool for writing computer code with AI help. Most readers of this blog can safely ignore it.
X Premium is the paid version of X (the site that used to be called Twitter). It adds a checkmark next to your name, creator tools and fewer adverts.

If Grok is completely new to you, my Coming Soon post about AI, Grok and Gemini is a gentle place to start.

What's new: one plan instead of several

Until now, Grok, Cursor and X Premium were sold as separate subscriptions. The X Subscription rolls them into one plan, with one bill.

The other big change is how your AI allowance works. Paid plans come with a shared pool of usage. Whether you use Grok in the Grok app, in the Grok tab on X, or in Cursor, it all comes out of the same allowance. That allowance refreshes every week, so one busy day won't use up your whole month.

The plans and prices

These are the official list prices on 13 October 2026. They're in US dollars, and SpaceXSI says they don't include taxes such as VAT, which may be added at checkout. I haven't converted them to pounds, because the official pages don't give UK prices. Check the price shown in your own currency before you pay.

Free, $0. Limited daily access to Grok, a small starter allowance for Cursor, and standard X.
Plus, $8 a month (or $80 a year). More AI usage in Grok and Cursor, plus a checkmark, creator tools and fewer adverts on X. Plus does not include Grok Bot.
Premium, $30 a month (or $300 a year). Four times the usage of Plus. Adds Grok Bot, the latest Grok models, faster replies, AI pictures and videos, and ad-free scrolling on most of X. SpaceXSI says this matches the benefits of SuperGrok, Cursor Pro and X Premium+, which used to cost $90 a month combined.
Super, $100 a month (or $1,000 a year). Fifteen times the usage of Plus, and priority access at busy times.
Ultra, $200 a month (or $2,000 a year). Fifty times the usage of Plus.

The official pricing page suggests Premium for people new to AI, and Plus for people who mainly post on X and only use a little AI. For most of us who just want to try Grok, honestly, the Free plan is the place to start.

Why would you use it?

You already pay for more than one of these. If you pay for X Premium and a Grok subscription, one plan could work out cheaper and simpler.
You want Grok Bot. On The X Subscription, Grok Bot comes with Premium and above.
You like one bill. Everything is managed in one place.

If you only use free Grok, or you don't use X at all, there's no need to do anything.

How to try it

If you're new

Go to the official pricing page at x.ai/pricing.
Compare the plans and pick one. You can choose Free to begin with.
Follow the steps to sign up. If you choose a paid plan, read the price and renewal date carefully before you confirm.

If you already pay for SuperGrok, X Premium or Cursor

Open the billing settings for your existing account. SpaceXSI says the option to switch appears there once it's available to you.
It walks you through linking your accounts and recommends a plan.
If you go ahead, your old subscriptions are cancelled and you get a prorated refund for the time you haven't used.

Switching is being rolled out over a few days, so you may not see the option yet. And you don't have to switch at all. SpaceXSI says your current plan, price and features carry on as they are.

Limits and small print worth knowing

Switching can't be undone. The help pages say that once your accounts are combined, it's permanent, and Support can't reverse it. Take your time.
The old plans have closed to new customers. If you haven't subscribed before, The X Subscription is now the only option. Existing subscribers keep their plans for now, and SpaceXSI says it will give advance notice before moving anyone across.
If you pay through Apple or Google. Subscriptions bought through the iPhone App Store or Google Play work differently. In some cases you'll need to cancel the old one yourself in your phone's settings, or you could keep being billed for it. Read the official refunds page before switching.
Refunds arrive separately. The refund for your old plan goes back to your original payment method on its own, and can take a few days. Your new plan is charged in full at checkout.
Usage isn't unlimited. If you use up your weekly allowance, you can wait for it to refresh or buy extra usage (called top-ups).
Cancelling. The pricing page says to cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date to avoid being charged again.

Privacy and safety notes

Only buy from the official website. SpaceXSI says it doesn't authorise any resellers. Subscriptions bought anywhere else may be fraudulent and can be shut down. If you see a "cheap Grok subscription" advertised on social media, it's very likely a scam.
Watch out for fake "switch now" emails. A change like this is a gift to scammers. Don't click links in unexpected emails or messages. Type x.ai/pricing into your browser yourself, or go to your account's billing settings directly.
Linking accounts joins them together. Switching combines your Grok and Cursor accounts and can connect your X account too. Think about whether you're happy for them to be linked before you go ahead.
Keep an eye on your bank statement for a week or two after switching, to check the refund has arrived and nothing is still being charged for your old plan.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need The X Subscription to use X?

No. You can carry on using X with your normal login. The X Subscription is optional.

Is Grok still free?

Yes, there's a Free plan with limited daily access to Grok chat, Imagine, Voice and Build. Paid plans give you more usage and extra features.

What happens to my current subscription?

Nothing, unless you choose to switch. SpaceXSI says existing SuperGrok, Cursor and X Premium plans carry on with the same price and features.

Do I get Grok Bot with the $8 Plus plan?

No. According to the official documentation, Grok Bot is included with Premium, Super and Ultra, but not Plus.

How much is it in pounds?

The official pages list prices in US dollars, without tax. You'll see the actual price in your currency, including any VAT, before you pay.

Why can't I see the option to switch yet?

It's rolling out over a few days from 12 October 2026, so it may not have reached your account yet.

Just to be clear: I'm not affiliated with xAI, SpaceXSI, X or Cursor in any way, and nobody's paying me to write this. I'm not recommending you buy anything. This is just a plain-English explanation of what's changed.

Last checked: 13 October 2026.

Official sources

Are you tempted to switch, or happy sticking with free Grok? Let me know in the comments.

Speak soon,
Paul

Search This Blog

Tech Ramblings of a 50 Something