Data March 31, 2026

Video generation costs fall: Google prices Veo 3.1 Lite below half of Fast

On March 31, 2026, Google released Veo 3.1 Lite, its lowest-cost video generation model, as a paid preview via the Gemini API. Priced below half of Veo 3.1 Fast, it supports text-to-video and image-to-video, producing 4-8 second clips in 16:9 and 9:16 ratios at 720p/1080p. Google also announced a price cut for Veo 3.1 Fast effective April 7.

Stepping ribbons of shrinking film frames tracing a falling cost curve, underscored by a single emerald line

On March 31, 2026, Google opened Veo 3.1 Lite, the most economical member of its video generation family, to developers as a paid preview via the Gemini API. The model supports text-to-video and image-to-video at less than half the price of Veo 3.1 Fast, producing 4-8 second clips in 16:9 and 9:16 aspect ratios at 720p and 1080p resolution.

In the same announcement cycle, Google also cut the price of Veo 3.1 Fast effective April 7. As reported by Marktechpost, the move targets low cost and high speed together; this drop in video generation cost makes high-volume ad variant production — particularly in 9:16 vertical social formats — economically more accessible.