Grok 3 vs Grok 4.20

Compare xAI and xAI AI models

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Grok 3

xAI

Grok 4.20

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

Grok 3

Per Request:$0.0105

Daily:$1.05

Monthly:$31.50

Yearly:$383.25

Grok 4.20

Per Request:$0.005000

Daily:$0.50

Monthly:$15.00

Yearly:$182.50

Cost Differences

$0.005500

Per Request

$0.55

Daily

$16.50

Monthly

$200.75

Yearly

Grok 4.20 costs less than Grok 3

Feature Comparison

Feature	Grok 3	Grok 4.20
Provider	xAI	xAI
Input Price	$3.00/1M tokens	$2.00/1M tokens
Output Price	$15.00/1M tokens	$6.00/1M tokens
Context Window	131,072 tokens	2,000,000 tokens
Max Output	131,072 tokens	131,072 tokens
Category	flagship	reasoning
Capabilities	textvisionreasoningcode	textvisionreasoningcode
Release Date	2/17/2025	2/17/2026

Grok 3 vs Grok 4.20: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Grok 3 and Grok 4.20 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Grok 4.20 is the more affordable option at $2.00/1M input tokens — 33% cheaper than Grok 3. Meanwhile, Grok 4.20 offers a significantly larger context window at 2,000,000 tokens vs 131,072 for Grok 3.

These models target different tiers: Grok 3 is a flagship model while Grok 4.20 is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Grok 3 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Grok 4.20 offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. Grok 3 charges $15.00/1M 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 4.20 has the edge here at $6.00/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Both models support vision (image understanding), so you can send images alongside text prompts with either option.

Best Use Cases

Choose Grok 3 when:

• You're already using xAI's API ecosystem

Choose Grok 4.20 when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You need a larger context window (2,000,000 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

Grok 3 (xAI)

Cost Calculator

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Model

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Grok 4.20 (xAI)

Cost Calculator

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Grok 3 or Grok 4.20?▼

Grok 4.20 is cheaper for input tokens at $2.00 per million tokens vs $3.00 for Grok 3 — that's 33% savings on input costs.

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

Grok 3 supports 131,072 tokens while Grok 4.20 supports 2,000,000 tokens — a difference of 1,868,928 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 4.20 is the lower-cost option, while Grok 4.20 offers a larger context window (2,000,000 vs 131,072 tokens). Choose Grok 4.20 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 costs about $31.50/month and Grok 4.20 costs about $15.00/month. Overall, Grok 4.20 has lower combined input + output rates ($2.00 in, $6.00 out) vs Grok 3.