Veo 3.1 Fast vs Veo 3.1
Google's Veo 3.1 Fast and Google's Veo 3.1 both target video generation, but they price and behave differently. Here is the side-by-side.
Pricing checked against provider documentation on . How we verify
The short answer
Veo 3.1 Fast is the cheaper option — roughly 2.7x less on a blended workload, and it suits veo quality at a working budget. Veo 3.1 justifies its premium when you need best all-round generated video.
Google • Veo 3.1
$0.15 / $
/ video sec (input / output)
The practical default in the Veo line: native audio included, video extension and reference-image support intact, at roughly a third of the standard model's price. Supports text-to-video, image-to-video, and generation from first and last frames, with C2PA content credentials attached to output.
Google • Veo 3.1
$0.40 / $
/ video sec (input / output)
The strongest general-purpose video model available through a stable API: 4K output, native audio, strong prompt adherence, and controls for character and style consistency, plus extension and seamless transitions for sequences longer than one clip. Google lists a retirement date of November 2026 or later, so track the successor.
Input price
Veo 3.1 is 2.7x the price than Veo 3.1 Fast on input tokens.
Specification comparison
| Attribute | Veo 3.1 Fast | Veo 3.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Input (/ video sec) | $0.15 | $0.40 |
| Output (/ video sec) | — | — |
| Cached input | — | — |
| Context window | — | — |
| Max output | — | — |
| Native reasoning | No | No |
| Knowledge cutoff | — | — |
| Relative latency | medium | high |
| Open weights | No | No |
| API model ID | veo-3.1-fast-generate-001 | veo-3.1-generate-001 |
| Status | stable | stable |
Veo 3.1 Fast: Audio included. Video-only routes are cheaper at roughly $0.08–$0.10/sec, and third-party resellers vary. Clips are 4, 6, or 8 seconds.
Veo 3.1: 720p/1080p with audio included. Video-only routes run about $0.20/sec and 4K is priced separately. Clips are 4, 6, or 8 seconds; maximum 4 outputs per request.
Choose Veo 3.1 Fast if…
- Social and marketing clips with audio
- Image-to-video animation
- Extending existing footage
- Volume production on a budget
Choose Veo 3.1 if…
- Client-facing and broadcast-adjacent work
- 4K deliverables
- Character and style consistency across shots
- Longer sequences via extension
Frequently asked
Is Veo 3.1 Fast or Veo 3.1 cheaper?
Veo 3.1 Fast is cheaper. On a blended 3:1 input-to-output workload it costs about 2.7x less than Veo 3.1.
Which has the larger context window, Veo 3.1 Fast or Veo 3.1?
Both accept up to — tokens, so context is not a differentiator here.
Should I use Veo 3.1 Fast or Veo 3.1?
Pick Veo 3.1 Fast for veo quality at a working budget. Pick Veo 3.1 for best all-round generated video. If cost dominates the decision, Veo 3.1 Fast wins; if you need the capability ceiling, benchmark both on your own evals before committing.