The way to use Veo 3 today is through Google Flow, Google's AI filmmaking tool. Open Flow in Chrome, start a project, describe your scene, click the model name, choose Video and pick a Veo 3.1 model (Lite, Fast or Quality), then click Generate. Each clip uses Flow credits.
Veo is Google's AI video model, and the current version is Veo 3.1. A lot of guides still tell you to open the Gemini app and press Video, which is why people get confused. As of October 2026, Google's Gemini help page says video in the Gemini app now runs on Gemini Omni, a newer model. If you specifically want Veo, Flow is where you choose it by name. Here's how.
Who can use Google Flow
Google's Flow help page sets out the requirements:
- You must be 18 or over, with your age verified.
- You must be in a supported country or region. Google says a VPN won't get you access from somewhere unsupported.
- You need Google AI Plus, Pro or Ultra for the full Flow experience. Some Workspace business and education plans include Flow with 50 daily credits.
Google's credits page also says everyone gets 50 Flow credits a day to try it, with or without a subscription. The catch: during peak hours, roughly 2 PM to 5 PM UTC, people without a subscription may not be able to generate videos.
For a tour of Flow itself, including image tools, see my guide on how to use Google Flow. Use a Chromium-based browser such as Chrome or Edge on a computer. Google says Flow may work on other browsers and phones but isn't fully optimised for them yet, and there's a Flow app for creating on the go.
Step by step: make a video with Veo 3.1
- Go to Google Flow and open a project, or start a new one.
- In the prompt box, describe the scene in detail: the subject, the action, the environment, the lighting and the style.
- Click the model name. Flow defaults to Nano Banana Pro, which is an image model, so this step matters.
- Click Video.
- Choose your aspect ratio, the number of outputs, the model (pick a Veo 3.1 option) and the length.
- Click Generate.
Copy this prompt
A slow tracking shot through a small florist's shop at golden hour. A woman in a green apron wraps a bouquet of white tulips in brown paper. Soft window light, shallow depth of field, warm cinematic colour, gentle ambient shop sounds.
If a feature you've asked for doesn't exist on the model you picked, Flow switches you to a compatible model automatically. Check the model and its credit cost in Settings, at the top right of the prompt box, before you confirm.
Which Veo 3.1 model should you pick?
Flow offers three Veo 3.1 versions. Here's what each costs per clip, as listed on Google's credits page in October 2026.
| Model | Clip lengths | Credits per clip (non-Ultra) | Credits per clip (Ultra) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1 Lite | 4, 6 or 8 seconds | 10 | 5 |
| Veo 3.1 Fast | 4, 6 or 8 seconds | 20 | 10 |
| Veo 3.1 Quality | 8 seconds | 100 | 100 |
The detail people miss is that these costs are per generation, not per request. Google's example is a single request that makes two videos, which costs twice. Set the number of outputs to one while you're testing prompts.
When the clips are ready to cut together, our CapCut Pro trial guide covers a popular editor and how its Pro trial works.
How to keep characters and products consistent
Flow has three ways to steer Veo beyond the text prompt:
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- Frames: click the model name, then Video Frames, and drag in a start image and an end image. Describe what happens between them.
- Ingredients: click Video Ingredients and add reference images or videos of a character or product, then describe how to use them. Google suggests references on a plain background.
- Characters: type @ followed by a character's name in the prompt, or @me to use your own avatar.
For product videos, ingredients are the most useful. Upload a clean product shot and every clip keeps the same bottle, box or bag.
How many credits do you get?
| Plan | Flow credits |
|---|---|
| No subscription | 50 a day |
| Google AI Plus | 50 a day plus 200 a month |
| Google AI Pro | 50 a day plus 1,000 a month |
| Google AI Ultra | 50 a day plus 10,000 or 25,000 a month, depending on the Ultra plan |
Daily credits refresh the day after your first generation, and neither daily nor monthly credits roll over. Google says you aren't charged for failed generations. You can see your balance by clicking your profile picture at the top right of Flow.
Watermarks
Everything Flow makes with Veo carries an invisible SynthID watermark. You can switch a visible watermark on or off from the menu under your profile picture, but Google applies one automatically for users in India, South Korea and Vietnam who aren't on the top Ultra plan.
My advice
Draft every idea on Veo 3.1 Lite with one output, and only move to Quality once the prompt gives you what you want. That way your monthly credits go on finished clips, not experiments. For prompt ideas you can adapt, see my Veo 3 prompts, and if you're deciding between video tools, my Veo vs Sora comparison is a good next read.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use Veo 3 in the Gemini app?
Google's Gemini help page now says video in the Gemini app uses Gemini Omni, its newer model. To choose a Veo 3.1 model by name, use Google Flow.
Is Veo 3 free to use?
Google's credits page says everyone gets 50 Flow credits a day to try Flow, and Veo 3.1 Lite uses 10 credits per clip for non-Ultra users. Without a subscription you may not be able to generate videos between roughly 2 PM and 5 PM UTC.
How long are Veo 3.1 videos?
In Flow, Veo 3.1 Lite and Fast make 4, 6 or 8 second clips, and Veo 3.1 Quality makes 8 second clips. You can extend clips with the Extend option.
Why can't I access Google Flow?
You need to be 18 or over with a verified age and in a supported region. Flow isn't available everywhere Google AI Pro is sold, and a VPN won't change that.
Do Veo videos have a watermark?
Yes. Every Flow output includes an invisible SynthID watermark, and a visible watermark can be added. It's applied automatically in India, South Korea and Vietnam unless you're on the top Ultra plan.
