Grok 3 Mini vs Grok 4.20

Compare xAI and xAI AI models

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Grok 3 Mini

xAI

Grok 4.20

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

Grok 3 Mini

Per Request:$0.000550

Daily:$0.055

Monthly:$1.65

Yearly:$20.075

Grok 4.20

Per Request:$0.005000

Daily:$0.50

Monthly:$15.00

Yearly:$182.50

Cost Differences

+$0.004450

Per Request

+$0.445

Daily

+$13.35

Monthly

+$162.425

Yearly

Grok 4.20 costs more than Grok 3 Mini

Feature Comparison

Feature	Grok 3 Mini	Grok 4.20
Provider	xAI	xAI
Input Price	$0.30/1M tokens	$2.00/1M tokens
Output Price	$0.50/1M tokens	$6.00/1M tokens
Context Window	128,000 tokens	2,000,000 tokens
Max Output	131,072 tokens	131,072 tokens
Category	efficient	reasoning
Capabilities	textreasoningcode	textvisionreasoningcode
Release Date	2/17/2025	2/17/2026

Grok 3 Mini vs Grok 4.20: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Grok 3 Mini and Grok 4.20 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 — 85% cheaper than Grok 4.20. Meanwhile, Grok 4.20 offers a significantly larger context window at 2,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Grok 3 Mini.

These models target different tiers: Grok 3 Mini is a efficient model while Grok 4.20 is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Grok 4.20 targets more demanding workloads, while Grok 3 Mini provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.

Output costs matter too. Grok 3 Mini charges $0.50/1M output tokens vs $6.00 for Grok 4.20. 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: Grok 4.20 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 Grok 3 Mini when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You're already using xAI's API ecosystem
• You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Choose Grok 4.20 when:

• You need a larger context window (2,000,000 tokens)
• You need more capabilities (vision)
• You're already using xAI's API ecosystem

Try Different Scenarios

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

Grok 3 Mini (xAI)

Cost Calculator

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Grok 4.20 (xAI)

Cost Calculator

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Grok 3 Mini or Grok 4.20?▼

Grok 3 Mini is cheaper for input tokens at $0.30 per million tokens vs $2.00 for Grok 4.20 — that's 85% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Grok 3 Mini and Grok 4.20?▼

Grok 3 Mini supports 128,000 tokens while Grok 4.20 supports 2,000,000 tokens — a difference of 1,872,000 tokens in favor of Grok 4.20.

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 Grok 4.20 offers a larger context window (2,000,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Grok 3 Mini for budget sensitivity or Grok 4.20 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, Grok 3 Mini costs about $1.65/month and Grok 4.20 costs about $15.00/month. Overall, Grok 3 Mini has lower combined input + output rates ($0.30 in, $0.50 out) vs Grok 4.20.