Google Veo 3.1 Complete Guide: Features, Pricing & Best Prompts

The model that pioneered native audio in AI video — and still leads on spatial sound, 4K output, and 60-second clips.

Why Veo 3.1 Is the AI Video Model Everyone's Talking About

In October 2025, Google's Veo 3 became the first major AI video model to generate synchronized audio natively — dialogue, sound effects, and ambient sound, all in one pass. That single feature changed the entire industry.

By February 2026, competitors have caught up: Kling 2.6/3.0, Sora 2, and Seedance 2.0 all offer their own native audio capabilities. But Veo 3.1, upgraded with 4K output and "Ingredients to Video" in January 2026, still holds key advantages — it's the only model combining spatial audio, 4K resolution, and 60-second generation in a single package.

So is Veo 3.1 still worth your attention? Yes — but for different reasons than six months ago. It's no longer the only option for audio-synced video. It's the most complete option.

In this complete guide, we cover what Veo 3.1 can do, how much it really costs, how to write prompts that get cinematic results, and an honest comparison with Sora 2 and Runway Gen-4.5.

Veo 3.1 Key Features: What Makes It Different

Native Audio Generation

Veo 3 pioneered this category in October 2025, and the 3.1 update refined it significantly. While Kling, Sora, and Seedance have since added their own audio generation, Veo 3.1's implementation remains distinctive. The model generates three types of audio simultaneously with the video:

• Dialogue: Characters speak with lip-synced audio that matches their movements
• Sound effects: Footsteps, door slams, rain, glass breaking — contextually appropriate to the scene
• Ambient sound: Background noise that matches the environment (city traffic, forest sounds, room tone)

What sets Veo 3.1 apart from newer competitors is spatial audio — generating three-dimensional sound environments where a car passing from left to right actually sounds like it's moving across the stereo field. As of February 2026, no other major model offers this level of audio spatialization.

4K Resolution Output

Veo 3.1 is the first mainstream AI video model to support true 4K output at 3840x2160 pixels. Native generation happens at 1080p, with state-of-the-art upscaling to 4K that preserves detail and sharpness. This makes Veo 3.1 broadcast-ready — suitable for professional presentations, advertising, and large-screen displays.

"Ingredients to Video" — Reference Image Control

One of the most powerful additions in Veo 3.1 is Ingredients to Video. Upload up to 4 reference images and Veo uses them to guide generation:

• Character consistency: Keep characters looking the same across different scenes
• Object persistence: Reuse specific objects, props, or products
• Style transfer: Maintain visual style, color palette, and aesthetic
• Background continuity: Reuse settings and environments across shots

This is crucial for multi-shot content — product videos, mini-series, or brand campaigns — where visual consistency matters.

Scene Extension

Veo 3.1 can extend existing videos by generating new footage based on the final frames of your previous clip. Each extension maintains visual continuity, enabling longer sequences by chaining multiple generations together. Combined with the 60-second maximum generation length — the longest of any major model — this opens up true long-form AI video creation.

Native Vertical Video (9:16)

No more cropping horizontal video for social media. Veo 3.1 generates native 9:16 vertical video optimized for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. It also supports standard 16:9 for traditional content and frame rates of 24, 30, or 60 fps.

Veo 3.1 vs Veo 3: What Changed

Veo 3 launched at Google I/O in May 2025. Veo 3.1 followed in October 2025 with audio and quality improvements, then received a major 4K and creative control update in January 2026. Here's what changed:

The upgrade is substantial across the board, and since pricing stays the same, there's no reason not to use 3.1 if you have access.

How to Access Veo 3.1: 5 Methods

Veo 3.1 is available through multiple entry points, each suited to different workflows:

1. Gemini App (Easiest for Individuals)

The simplest path. Available with a Google AI Pro ($19.99/month) or Ultra ($249.99/month) subscription. Open the Gemini app, type a video prompt, and generate. The Ultra plan unlocks 4K output, watermark removal, and priority processing.

2. YouTube Shorts (via YouTube Create)

Google has integrated Veo 3.1 directly into YouTube Shorts through the YouTube Create app. Creators can generate AI video clips with native 9:16 vertical output optimized for the platform — the most seamless path for YouTube creators.

3. Google Flow (For Creative Projects)

Flow is Google's dedicated AI creative tool. It provides a more focused video generation interface than Gemini, with features designed specifically for multi-shot creative projects and iterative workflows.

4. Gemini API / Google AI Studio (For Developers)

Build Veo 3.1 into your own applications. Pricing is per-second: $0.50/second for video only, $0.75/second for video with audio. Access through Google AI Studio or programmatically via the Gemini API.

5. Vertex AI & Third-Party Platforms

Enterprise customers can access Veo 3.1 through Vertex AI on Google Cloud. Third-party platforms like Freepik have also integrated the model, making it accessible worldwide without technical API setup.

Important: Full Veo 3.1 features (4K, watermark removal) currently require the Google AI Ultra subscription. Availability is primarily in the US, with global expansion ongoing.

Pricing Breakdown: What Veo 3.1 Actually Costs

API pricing:

• Video only: $0.50 per second
• Video + audio: $0.75 per second

Real-world cost: An 8-second Quality video on the Pro plan uses roughly 100 credits — about $2 per video, but you're limited to ~10 per month. On Ultra, the same video costs around $1.60 each with a much higher monthly cap. Via API, 8 seconds with audio runs $6.

How It Compares to Competitors

Veo 3.1 is the most expensive at the top tier. While Sora 2 and Kling 3.0 now also offer native audio at lower price points, Veo's combination of spatial audio, 4K output, and 60-second clips remains unmatched. Whether the premium is worth it depends on whether you need those specific capabilities.

How to Write Veo 3.1 Prompts That Get Cinematic Results

Veo 3.1 is trained on professional cinematography data — it responds better to technical film language than vague descriptions. Here's how to get the most out of it.

The 5-Element Prompt Framework

Structure every prompt using these five elements, in this order:

1. Camera: Movement and framing (dolly, crane, close-up, wide shot)
2. Subject: Who or what the camera focuses on
3. Action: What's happening in the scene
4. Environment: Setting, time of day, weather, lighting
5. Audio: Dialogue, music style, sound effects

Example Prompts: Basic to Advanced

Basic (product demo):

"Slow tracking shot of a barista pouring latte art in a warm, morning-lit cafe. Sound of milk steaming and soft acoustic guitar in the background."

Advanced (cinematic scene):

"Low-angle dolly-in on a rain-soaked Tokyo street at night, neon signs reflecting in puddles. A woman with a transparent umbrella walks into frame from the right, pauses, looks up at a flickering sign. Ambient sound: rain hitting pavement, distant traffic, electric buzz of neon. No dialogue."

Dialogue scene:

"Medium two-shot in a sunlit kitchen. A mother and daughter baking cookies. The daughter says 'I think we added too much sugar' while laughing. The mother tastes the dough and nods. Warm afternoon light, shallow depth of field. Sound: mixing bowls clinking, oven humming."

Camera Terms Veo 3.1 Understands

• Movement: dolly, track, pan, tilt, crane, orbit, steadicam, handheld
• Framing: extreme close-up, close-up, medium shot, wide shot, establishing shot
• Lighting: golden hour, blue hour, Rembrandt lighting, high-key, low-key, rim light
• Lens effects: anamorphic, shallow depth of field, wide-angle, telephoto, rack focus

Pro Tips for Better Results

• Start simple, then iterate. A concise prompt often outperforms an overloaded one — add detail incrementally
• Include audio cues explicitly. Veo won't always infer appropriate audio from visuals alone — describe what you want to hear
• Say "no dialogue" when you don't want speech. The model sometimes generates unprompted speech; being explicit helps
• Specify "no text, no captions." Text rendering remains unreliable — add overlays in post-production
• Use color palettes. Define 3-5 dominant colors for consistent mood (e.g., "warm amber, deep teal, soft cream")
• Use "Quality" mode for published content. Fast mode saves credits but audio reliability drops significantly

Veo 3.1 vs Sora 2 vs Runway Gen-4.5: Honest Comparison

Choose Veo 3.1 if: You need the longest clips (60 sec), 4K output, or spatial audio. Best for creators who want the most complete single-generation package.

Choose Sora 2 if: Narrative storytelling and creative direction are your priority.

Choose Runway Gen-4.5 if: Visual quality is paramount and you're comfortable adding audio separately.

Choose Genra if: You want an end-to-end workflow — from script to storyboard to finished video with music — without manually prompting each shot. Genra integrates multiple top models including Veo, selecting the best model for each scene automatically.

Limitations You Should Know

No honest guide would skip the rough edges. Here's what to expect:

Audio Reliability

Despite being Veo's headline feature, audio generation isn't always consistent. User reports indicate that audio can sometimes fail to generate entirely, and dialogue quality can vary — occasionally sounding muffled or garbled. Always use Quality mode for important content, and be prepared to regenerate if audio doesn't meet your standards.

Text and Caption Artifacts

Veo 3.1 sometimes inserts garbled text or nonsensical captions into videos, even when not requested. This is a known issue. Include "no text, no captions, no subtitles" in your prompts to reduce this, and plan to add any text overlays in post-production.

Character Consistency Across Clips

While "Ingredients to Video" improves consistency, maintaining identical character appearance across separate generations remains challenging. For multi-shot projects, expect to regenerate some clips to achieve a cohesive look.

Regional Availability

Full Veo 3.1 features are primarily available in the US. Google is expanding access globally, but rollouts happen in waves. Some regions have partial access or default to older model versions. Third-party integrations like Freepik offer an alternative access path in some regions.

Daily Generation Limits

Even on the Ultra plan ($249.99/month), daily generation caps apply. Users report approximately 4-5 Quality videos per day before hitting limits. High-volume production workflows may need to plan around this constraint or use the API for additional capacity.

Who Should Use Veo 3.1?

Ideal for:

• Social media creators who need complete videos with synchronized sound
• Marketers creating product demos and ads with dialogue
• Educators building instructional content with narration
• Anyone who wants to skip audio post-production entirely
• YouTube Shorts and TikTok creators leveraging native vertical output

Consider alternatives if:

• You're on a tight budget — Kling AI starts at $7/month
• Maximum visual quality matters more than audio — Runway Gen-4.5
• You're outside the US and need reliable access today
• You want a complete script-to-video pipeline — Genra handles the entire workflow from idea to finished video

Key Takeaways

• Veo 3.1 pioneered native audio in AI video (Oct 2025) and remains the only model with spatial audio
• Supports 4K output and 60-second generations — longest in the industry
• "Ingredients to Video" enables multi-shot character consistency with up to 4 reference images
• Pricing starts at $19.99/month (Pro) with full features at $249.99/month (Ultra)
• Ranked #2 globally at 1,226 Elo, behind Runway Gen-4.5 but ahead of Sora 2
• Best for creators who need the most complete single-generation package (audio + 4K + long clips)
• Key limitations: audio reliability, text artifacts, US-centric availability, daily generation caps

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google Veo 3.1 free to use?

Veo 3.1 is not free. It requires a Google AI subscription: Pro at $19.99/month or Ultra at $249.99/month (first 3 months discounted to $124.99). Developers can use the Gemini API with pay-per-second pricing at $0.75/second for video with audio.

Can I use Veo 3.1 videos for commercial purposes?

Yes. Google's terms allow commercial use of videos generated with paid subscriptions. However, AI-generated content generally cannot be copyrighted in the US, meaning competitors could legally reuse your output. Enterprise users should consult Google's Vertex AI licensing for additional protections.

How long can Veo 3.1 videos be?

Veo 3.1 generates up to 60 seconds of continuous footage per generation — the longest of any major AI video model. The Scene Extension feature lets you chain multiple clips with visual continuity for even longer sequences.

Is Veo 3.1 available outside the United States?

Availability is expanding but currently limited. Full features including 4K are primarily available in the US. Google has confirmed plans to expand to Canada and other countries. Some regions can access Veo 3.1 through the Gemini API or third-party platforms like Freepik.

What's the difference between Veo 3 "Fast" and "Quality" modes?

Fast mode generates videos quickly using ~20 credits but produces less detailed visuals and less reliable audio. Quality mode uses ~100 credits but delivers significantly better results. For any content you plan to publish, always use Quality mode.