Claude Sonnet 4 vs Grok 3 Mini

Claude Sonnet 4 vs Grok 3 Mini: Grok 3 Mini is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.30/M vs $3.00/M input tokens), while Claude Sonnet 4 is better for long-context tasks (200,000 tokens).

Direct answer: choose Grok 3 Mini for lower token spend and choose Claude Sonnet 4 when your workload needs longer context.

Compare input and output token pricing, context windows, and monthly cost estimates on one page so you can pick the cheaper model fast.

Anthropic

Claude Sonnet 4

xAI

Grok 3 Mini

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Claude Sonnet 4 pricing page Grok 3 Mini pricing page Anthropic provider overview xAI provider overview

Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)

Claude Sonnet 4

Per Request:$0.0105

Daily:$1.05

Monthly:$31.50

Yearly:$383.25

Grok 3 Mini

Per Request:$0.000550

Daily:$0.055

Monthly:$1.65

Yearly:$20.075

Cost Differences

$0.009950

Per Request

$0.995

Daily

$29.85

Monthly

$363.175

Yearly

Grok 3 Mini costs less than Claude Sonnet 4

Quick Recommendation

Winner for direct API pricing: Grok 3 Mini. At the default workload, Grok 3 Mini saves about $29.85/month ($363.175/year) versus Claude Sonnet 4.

Claude Sonnet 4 full pricing breakdown Grok 3 Mini full pricing breakdown Anthropic API pricing details xAI API pricing details Anthropic vs xAI API pricing Codex Mini vs Claude Opus 4.7 Codex Mini vs Claude Opus 4.6

Feature Comparison

Feature	Claude Sonnet 4	Grok 3 Mini
Provider	Anthropic	xAI
Input Price	$3.00/1M tokens	$0.30/1M tokens
Output Price	$15.00/1M tokens	$0.50/1M tokens
Context Window	200,000 tokens	128,000 tokens
Max Output	64,000 tokens	131,072 tokens
Category	standard	efficient
Capabilities	textvisioncodereasoning	textreasoningcode
Release Date	5/14/2025	2/17/2025

Claude Sonnet 4 vs Grok 3 Mini: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Claude Sonnet 4 and Grok 3 Mini depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Grok 3 Mini is the more affordable option at $0.30/1M input tokens — 90% cheaper than Claude Sonnet 4. Meanwhile, Claude Sonnet 4 offers a significantly larger context window at 200,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Grok 3 Mini.

These models come from different providers — Anthropic and xAI — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with Anthropic, switching to xAIinvolves migration effort beyond just pricing. Factor in your existing infrastructure when deciding.

These models target different tiers: Claude Sonnet 4 is a standard model while Grok 3 Mini is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Grok 3 Mini targets more demanding workloads, while Claude Sonnet 4 provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.

Output costs matter too. Claude Sonnet 4 charges $15.00/1M output tokens vs $0.50 for Grok 3 Mini. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Grok 3 Mini has the edge here at $0.50/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Claude Sonnet 4 supports vision (image inputs) while Grok 3 Mini is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose Claude Sonnet 4 when:

• You need a larger context window (200,000 tokens)
• You need more capabilities (vision)
• You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem

Choose Grok 3 Mini when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
• You're already using xAI's API ecosystem
• You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Pros and Caveats at a Glance

Claude Sonnet 4

• Input pricing: $3.00/M tokens
• Output pricing: $15.00/M tokens
• Context window: 200,000 tokens
• Max output: 64,000 tokens

Watch out for

• Higher input cost than Grok 3 Mini
• Higher output cost than Grok 3 Mini

Grok 3 Mini

• Input pricing: $0.30/M tokens
• Output pricing: $0.50/M tokens
• Context window: 128,000 tokens
• Max output: 131,072 tokens

Watch out for

• Smaller context window than Claude Sonnet 4

Try Different Scenarios

Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns

Claude Sonnet 4 (Anthropic)

Cost Calculator

Provider

Model

Input Tokens

Output Tokens

Requests/Day

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Grok 3 Mini (xAI)

Cost Calculator

Provider

Model

Input Tokens

Output Tokens

Requests/Day

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Start using Claude Sonnet 4 today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Claude Sonnet 4 or Grok 3 Mini?▼

Grok 3 Mini is cheaper for input tokens at $0.30 per million tokens vs $3.00 for Claude Sonnet 4 — that's 90% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Claude Sonnet 4 and Grok 3 Mini?▼

Claude Sonnet 4 supports 200,000 tokens while Grok 3 Mini supports 128,000 tokens — a difference of 72,000 tokens in favor of Claude Sonnet 4.

Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼

Both models support text, code, reasoning. For ai agent / agentic workflows, Grok 3 Mini is the lower-cost option, while Claude Sonnet 4 offers a larger context window (200,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Grok 3 Mini for budget sensitivity or Claude Sonnet 4 for longer context tasks.

Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼

At 100 requests/day with 1,000 input and 500 output tokens each, Claude Sonnet 4 costs about $31.50/month and Grok 3 Mini costs about $1.65/month. Overall, Grok 3 Mini has lower combined input + output rates ($0.30 in, $0.50 out) vs Claude Sonnet 4.

Where can I compare Anthropic and xAI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼

See the Anthropic vs xAI provider comparison page for lineup-level averages, then review each model page for exact per-token rates.