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Grok 3 vs o3 Deep Research

Compare xAI and OpenAI AI models

xAI
Grok 3
vs
OpenAI
o3 Deep Research

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

o3 Deep Research

Per Request:$0.03
Daily:$3.00
Monthly:$90.00
Yearly:$1,095.00

Cost Differences

+$0.0195
Per Request
+$1.95
Daily
+$58.50
Monthly
+$711.75
Yearly

o3 Deep Research costs more than Grok 3

Feature Comparison

FeatureGrok 3o3 Deep Research
ProviderxAIOpenAI
Input Price$3.00/1M tokens$10.00/1M tokens
Output Price$15.00/1M tokens$40.00/1M tokens
Context Window131,072 tokens200,000 tokens
Max Output131,072 tokens32,768 tokens
Categoryflagshipreasoning
Capabilities
textvisionreasoningcode
textreasoningvisioncode
Release Date2/17/20256/26/2025

Grok 3 vs o3 Deep Research: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Grok 3 and o3 Deep Research depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Grok 3 is the more affordable option at $3.00/1M input tokens70% cheaper than o3 Deep Research. Meanwhile, o3 Deep Research offers a significantly larger context window at 200,000 tokens vs 131,072 for Grok 3.

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 is a flagship model while o3 Deep Research is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Grok 3 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while o3 Deep Research offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. Grok 3 charges $15.00/1M output tokens vs $40.00 for o3 Deep Research. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Grok 3 has the edge here at $15.00/1M 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:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
  • • You're already using xAI's API ecosystem

Choose o3 Deep Research when:

  • • You need a larger context window (200,000 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 (xAI)

o3 Deep Research (OpenAI)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Grok 3 or o3 Deep Research?
Grok 3 is cheaper for input tokens at $3.00 per million tokens vs $10.00 for o3 Deep Research — that's 70% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between Grok 3 and o3 Deep Research?
Grok 3 supports 131,072 tokens while o3 Deep Research supports 200,000 tokens — a difference of 68,928 tokens in favor of o3 Deep Research.
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?
Both models support text, code, reasoning. For ai agent / agentic workflows, Grok 3 is the lower-cost option, while o3 Deep Research offers a larger context window (200,000 vs 131,072 tokens). Choose Grok 3 for budget sensitivity or o3 Deep Research 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 o3 Deep Research costs about $90.00/month. Overall, Grok 3 has lower combined input + output rates ($3.00 in, $15.00 out) vs o3 Deep Research.

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