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Claude Sonnet 4 vs Grok Code Fast 1

Compare Anthropic and xAI AI models

Anthropic
Claude Sonnet 4
vs
xAI
Grok Code Fast 1

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 Code Fast 1

Per Request:$0.000950
Daily:$0.095
Monthly:$2.85
Yearly:$34.675

Cost Differences

$0.009550
Per Request
$0.955
Daily
$28.65
Monthly
$348.575
Yearly

Grok Code Fast 1 costs less than Claude Sonnet 4

Feature Comparison

FeatureClaude Sonnet 4Grok Code Fast 1
ProviderAnthropicxAI
Input Price$3.00/1M tokens$0.20/1M tokens
Output Price$15.00/1M tokens$1.50/1M tokens
Context Window200,000 tokens256,000 tokens
Max Output64,000 tokens32,768 tokens
Categorystandardstandard
Capabilities
textvisioncodereasoning
textcodereasoning
Release Date5/14/20252/1/2026

Claude Sonnet 4 vs Grok Code Fast 1: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Claude Sonnet 4 and Grok Code Fast 1 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Grok Code Fast 1 is the more affordable option at $0.20/1M input tokens93% cheaper than Claude Sonnet 4. Meanwhile, Grok Code Fast 1 offers a significantly larger context window at 256,000 tokens vs 200,000 for Claude Sonnet 4.

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.

Both models are in the standard category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: Grok Code Fast 1 would save you roughly $2,865.00/month compared to Claude Sonnet 4. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.

Output costs matter too. Claude Sonnet 4 charges $15.00/1M output tokens vs $1.50 for Grok Code Fast 1. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Grok Code Fast 1 has the edge here at $1.50/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Claude Sonnet 4 supports vision (image inputs) while Grok Code Fast 1 is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose Claude Sonnet 4 when:

  • • You need more capabilities (vision)
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 64,000 tokens)
  • • You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem

Choose Grok Code Fast 1 when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need a larger context window (256,000 tokens)
  • • You're already using xAI's API ecosystem

Try Different Scenarios

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

Claude Sonnet 4 (Anthropic)

Grok Code Fast 1 (xAI)

Start using Claude Sonnet 4 today

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Start using Grok Code Fast 1 today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Claude Sonnet 4 or Grok Code Fast 1?
Grok Code Fast 1 is cheaper for input tokens at $0.20 per million tokens vs $3.00 for Claude Sonnet 4 — that's 93% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between Claude Sonnet 4 and Grok Code Fast 1?
Claude Sonnet 4 supports 200,000 tokens while Grok Code Fast 1 supports 256,000 tokens — a difference of 56,000 tokens in favor of Grok Code Fast 1.
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?
Both models support text, code, reasoning. For ai agent / agentic workflows, Grok Code Fast 1 is the lower-cost option, while Grok Code Fast 1 offers a larger context window (256,000 vs 200,000 tokens). Choose Grok Code Fast 1 for budget sensitivity or Grok Code Fast 1 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 Code Fast 1 costs about $2.85/month. Overall, Grok Code Fast 1 has lower combined input + output rates ($0.20 in, $1.50 out) vs Claude Sonnet 4.

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