Grok 3 vs Grok 3 Mini
Pricing verdict: Grok 3 vs Grok 3 Mini: Grok 3 Mini is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.30/M vs $3.00/M input tokens), while Grok 3 is better for long-context tasks (131,072 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Grok 3 Mini for lower token spend and choose Grok 3 when your workload needs longer context.
Compare API pricing, input and output token costs, context windows, and monthly estimates on one page so you can pick the right model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Grok 3
Grok 3 Mini
Cost Differences
Grok 3 Mini costs less than Grok 3
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 Grok 3.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Grok 3 | Grok 3 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | xAI | xAI |
| Input Price | $3.00/1M tokens | $0.30/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $15.00/1M tokens | $0.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 131,072 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 131,072 tokens | 131,072 tokens |
| Category | flagship | efficient |
| Capabilities | textvisionreasoningcode | textreasoningcode |
| Release Date | 2/17/2025 | 2/17/2025 |
Grok 3 vs Grok 3 Mini: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Grok 3 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 Grok 3. Meanwhile, Grok 3 offers a significantly larger context window at 131,072 tokens vs 128,000 for Grok 3 Mini.
These models target different tiers: Grok 3 is a flagship model while Grok 3 Mini is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Grok 3 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Grok 3 Mini offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. Grok 3 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: Grok 3 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 when:
- • You need a larger context window (131,072 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision)
- • You're already using xAI's API ecosystem
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
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
Grok 3
- • Input pricing: $3.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $15.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 131,072 tokens
- • Max output: 131,072 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 Grok 3
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Grok 3 (xAI)
Grok 3 Mini (xAI)
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