Grok Beginner tutorial

Beginner · step 1 of 7

What Grok is (and isn't)

Grok is xAI’s AI assistant, available on the web, in apps and inside X. On Oct 30, 2026, x.ai/pricing lists plans from Free to Ultra, sold directly through X Subscription Corp. Paid tiers raise usage (Premium 4x, Super 15x, Ultra 50x), and the usage pool is shared across Grok and Cursor and refreshes weekly. Premium includes Grok Bot, the agent covered in our Grok Bot tutorial.

Good for:

• What’s happening right now, with links
• Drafting short posts
• Quick explanations

Not good for:

• News you won’t verify
• Buying through resellers
• Confidential data on a personal account

Why this step matters: Knowing what it is good and bad at stops you using it for jobs where it will fail quietly.

Beginner · step 2 of 7

Get the official app

1. Start from x.ai or grok.com, or the official app.
2. Subscribe only through the official checkout (X Subscription Corp).
3. Sign in and open a new chat.

Why this step matters: Copycat apps and unofficial installers are common; starting from the official source protects your account and data.

Beginner · step 3 of 7

Your first useful prompt

Give it a situation, a task and the format you want. Try this:

What are the 3 biggest tech news stories this week? For each: one-sentence summary, date, and a link to the original source.
Say "unverified" for anything without a source.

Then ask one follow-up that narrows it down.

A good result: output in the format you asked for, built only on what you gave it. If it drifts into generic advice, add the situation sentence again.

Why this step matters: A prompt with situation, task and format gets a usable answer first time, so you learn what the tool can actually do.

Beginner · step 4 of 7

Check the answer

1. Ask for the source of any fact you'll reuse.
2. Open the link and find the exact sentence (Ctrl+F).
3. If you can't find it, treat the claim as unverified.
4. For files, check two page or row references yourself.

Before you answer: separate what you checked from what you're assuming. Write "unknown" instead of guessing. Give a link for every number.

Why this step matters: Chatbots state wrong facts in the same confident tone as right ones. Checking is the only way to tell them apart.

Beginner · step 5 of 7

Privacy basics

• Don't paste passwords, ID numbers, card numbers or other people's private details.
• Assume the company can read and keep your chats unless its official policy says otherwise.
• For health, money or legal decisions, confirm with a professional or an official source.
• Check data and training settings in your account.
• Posts you make on X are public; chats are separate, but treat both carefully.

Why this step matters: Anything you paste may be stored and read. Deciding what never goes in is easier than undoing a leak.

Beginner · step 6 of 7

What it costs

• Free: $0, limited.
• Plus: $8/month.
• Premium: $30/month; Grok Bot, latest models, 4x usage.
• Super: $100/month; 15x usage.
• Ultra: $200/month; 50x usage.

The usage pool is shared across Grok and Cursor and refreshes weekly. Plans are sold only directly through X Subscription Corp (x.ai/pricing, checked Oct 30, 2026).

Full details: Grok step-by-step tutorial.

Why this step matters: Paying for features you don't use is the most common waste. Knowing the limits first tells you if the free tier is enough.

Beginner · step 7 of 7

Your first week

1. Day 1: three real tasks from your week.
2. Day 3: compare its results with what you'd have done yourself.
3. Day 7: decide if it's worth paying, based on what you actually used.

Why this step matters: A week of real tasks gives you evidence for whether it saves time, instead of a first impression.