Grok 3 vs Grok 4.3
Grok 3 vs Grok 4.3: Grok 4.3 is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($1.25/M vs $3.00/M input tokens), while Grok 4.3 is better for long-context tasks (1,000,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Grok 4.3 for lower token spend and choose Grok 4.3 when your workload needs longer context.
Compare input and output token pricing, context windows, and monthly cost estimates on one page so you can pick the cheaper model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Grok 3
Grok 4.3
Cost Differences
Grok 4.3 costs less than Grok 3
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Grok 4.3. At the default workload, Grok 4.3 saves about $24.00/month ($292.00/year) versus Grok 3.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Grok 3 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | xAI | xAI |
| Input Price | $3.00/1M tokens | $1.25/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $15.00/1M tokens | $2.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 131,072 tokens | 1,000,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 131,072 tokens | 131,072 tokens |
| Category | flagship | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textvisionreasoningcode | textvisionreasoning |
| Release Date | 2/17/2025 | 4/30/2026 |
Grok 3 vs Grok 4.3: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Grok 3 and Grok 4.3 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Grok 4.3 is the more affordable option at $1.25/1M input tokens — 58% cheaper than Grok 3. Meanwhile, Grok 4.3 offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 131,072 for Grok 3.
These models target different tiers: Grok 3 is a flagship model while Grok 4.3 is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Grok 3 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Grok 4.3 offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. Grok 3 charges $15.00/1M output tokens vs $2.50 for Grok 4.3. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Grok 4.3 has the edge here at $2.50/1M 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 need more capabilities (code)
- • You're already using xAI's API ecosystem
Choose Grok 4.3 when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
- • You're already using xAI's API ecosystem
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 4.3
- • Higher output cost than Grok 4.3
- • Smaller context window than Grok 4.3
Grok 4.3
- • Input pricing: $1.25/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $2.50/M tokens
- • Context window: 1,000,000 tokens
- • Max output: 131,072 tokens
Watch out for
- • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Grok 3 (xAI)
Grok 4.3 (xAI)
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