Grok 3 Mini vs o4-mini

Compare xAI and OpenAI AI models

xAI

Grok 3 Mini

OpenAI

o4-mini

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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

o4-mini

Per Request:$0.003300

Daily:$0.33

Monthly:$9.90

Yearly:$120.45

Cost Differences

+$0.002750

Per Request

+$0.275

Daily

+$8.25

Monthly

+$100.375

Yearly

o4-mini costs more than Grok 3 Mini

Feature Comparison

Feature	Grok 3 Mini	o4-mini
Provider	xAI	OpenAI
Input Price	$0.30/1M tokens	$1.10/1M tokens
Output Price	$0.50/1M tokens	$4.40/1M tokens
Context Window	128,000 tokens	2,000,000 tokens
Max Output	131,072 tokens	131,072 tokens
Category	efficient	reasoning
Capabilities	textreasoningcode	textreasoningcode
Release Date	2/17/2025	4/16/2025

Grok 3 Mini vs o4-mini: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Grok 3 Mini and o4-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 — 73% cheaper than o4-mini. Meanwhile, o4-mini offers a significantly larger context window at 2,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Grok 3 Mini.

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

These models target different tiers: Grok 3 Mini is a efficient model while o4-mini is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. o4-mini 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 $4.40 for o4-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.

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 o4-mini when:

• You need a larger context window (2,000,000 tokens)
• You're already using OpenAI'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

Provider

Model

Input Tokens

Output Tokens

Requests/Day

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o4-mini (OpenAI)

Cost Calculator

Provider

Model

Input Tokens

Output Tokens

Requests/Day

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Start using Grok 3 Mini today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Grok 3 Mini or o4-mini?▼

Grok 3 Mini is cheaper for input tokens at $0.30 per million tokens vs $1.10 for o4-mini — that's 73% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Grok 3 Mini and o4-mini?▼

Grok 3 Mini supports 128,000 tokens while o4-mini supports 2,000,000 tokens — a difference of 1,872,000 tokens in favor of o4-mini.

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 o4-mini offers a larger context window (2,000,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Grok 3 Mini for budget sensitivity or o4-mini 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 o4-mini costs about $9.90/month. Overall, Grok 3 Mini has lower combined input + output rates ($0.30 in, $0.50 out) vs o4-mini.