Google said on Sept. 23 that anyone with a Google account can now generate full HD video for free inside Google Vids, the company’s browser-based video editor.
Free 1080p generation inside Google Vids
The feature runs on Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash, an AI model that can turn text prompts, photos, audio, or existing clips into new video footage. Until now, that kind of generation was mostly kept behind a subscription.
Users can go to vids.new, sign in with any Google account, and start generating 1080p video at no cost. Decrypt described that resolution as the same full HD standard used by most streaming platforms.
In its own test, Decrypt said the creation process was straightforward. Even so, the outlet said it was only able to generate 720p videos in both horizontal and vertical formats.
New editing controls added
Google also introduced several editing controls that previously tended to require paid software.
- Scene extension: lets users lengthen a clip while keeping lighting, characters, and setting consistent.
- Exact scene duration: allows a clip to line up with a script or voiceover.
- 1080p upscaling: older, lower-resolution AI clips can be upgraded to 1080p instead of being regenerated from scratch.
SynthID watermark and detection
Every video produced by the tool carries SynthID, a Google DeepMind watermark that is invisible to the eye but readable by machines and embedded directly into the video frames.
Users can also run clips through Google’s SynthID Detector to check whether a video was made with AI. Decrypt said the detector is meant to identify AI-generated content that is presented as real footage.
Speed, access tiers, and rollout timing
Decrypt said it generated a short video in less than 30 seconds during testing, a bit faster than the usual speeds it sees with Google Flow.
Free generation limits are not the same across all account types. Personal Google accounts get a standard allowance. Google’s paid AI plans unlock more generation. Workspace Business and Enterprise subscribers get larger generation pools and admin controls for managing usage across teams.
Gemini Omni first launched in May 2026 as a paid feature for Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers, with free access limited to YouTube Shorts and YouTube Create. Bringing a free tier into Vids marks the broadest release of the technology so far.
Competitive backdrop and next feature
Decrypt noted the timing. OpenAI shut down the consumer Sora 2 app and website in April 2026, and its developer API, the last remaining piece still running, went offline for good on the same day Google’s free Vids rollout arrived.
Google has also been competing on price. The company recently cut the API rate for Veo 3.1 Lite to $0.05 per second, underpricing some developer-focused rivals while facing pressure from Chinese competitors including Kling and Hunyuan Video.
Google said a companion feature, Gemini 3.8 Flash-Lite text-to-speech, is coming next. It will turn written scripts into voiceover narration in more than 100 languages.