Grok 4.20 vs Llama 3.1 70B

Grok 4.20 vs Llama 3.1 70B: Llama 3.1 70B is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.88/M vs $1.25/M input tokens), while Grok 4.20 is better for long-context tasks (2,000,000 tokens).

Direct answer: choose Llama 3.1 70B for lower token spend and choose Grok 4.20 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.

xAI

Grok 4.20

Meta (via Together AI)

Llama 3.1 70B

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Grok 4.20 pricing page Llama 3.1 70B pricing page xAI provider overview Meta (via Together AI) provider overview

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

Grok 4.20

Per Request:$0.002500

Daily:$0.25

Monthly:$7.50

Yearly:$91.25

Llama 3.1 70B

Per Request:$0.001320

Daily:$0.132

Monthly:$3.96

Yearly:$48.18

Cost Differences

$0.001180

Per Request

$0.118

Daily

$3.54

Monthly

$43.07

Yearly

Llama 3.1 70B costs less than Grok 4.20

Quick Recommendation

Winner for direct API pricing: Llama 3.1 70B. At the default workload, Llama 3.1 70B saves about $3.54/month ($43.07/year) versus Grok 4.20.

Grok 4.20 full pricing breakdown Llama 3.1 70B full pricing breakdown xAI API pricing details Meta (via Together AI) API pricing details xAI vs Meta (via Together AI) API pricing Codex Mini vs Llama 3.1 70B Codex Mini vs Grok 4.3

Feature Comparison

Feature	Grok 4.20	Llama 3.1 70B
Provider	xAI	Meta (via Together AI)
Input Price	$1.25/1M tokens	$0.88/1M tokens
Output Price	$2.50/1M tokens	$0.88/1M tokens
Context Window	2,000,000 tokens	128,000 tokens
Max Output	131,072 tokens	32,768 tokens
Category	reasoning	balanced
Capabilities	textvisionreasoningcode	textcode
Release Date	2/17/2026	7/23/2024

Grok 4.20 vs Llama 3.1 70B: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Grok 4.20 and Llama 3.1 70B depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Llama 3.1 70B is the more affordable option at $0.88/1M input tokens — 30% cheaper than Grok 4.20. Meanwhile, Grok 4.20 offers a significantly larger context window at 2,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Llama 3.1 70B.

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

These models target different tiers: Grok 4.20 is a reasoning model while Llama 3.1 70B is balanced. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Grok 4.20 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Llama 3.1 70B offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. Grok 4.20 charges $2.50/1M output tokens vs $0.88 for Llama 3.1 70B. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Llama 3.1 70B has the edge here at $0.88/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Grok 4.20 supports vision (image inputs) while Llama 3.1 70B is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose Grok 4.20 when:

• You need a larger context window (2,000,000 tokens)
• You need more capabilities (vision, reasoning)
• You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
• You're already using xAI's API ecosystem

Choose Llama 3.1 70B when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem

Pros and Caveats at a Glance

Grok 4.20

• Input pricing: $1.25/M tokens
• Output pricing: $2.50/M tokens
• Context window: 2,000,000 tokens
• Max output: 131,072 tokens

Watch out for

• Higher input cost than Llama 3.1 70B
• Higher output cost than Llama 3.1 70B

Llama 3.1 70B

• Input pricing: $0.88/M tokens
• Output pricing: $0.88/M tokens
• Context window: 128,000 tokens
• Max output: 32,768 tokens

Watch out for

• Smaller context window than Grok 4.20

Try Different Scenarios

Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns

Grok 4.20 (xAI)

Cost Calculator

Provider

Model

Input Tokens

Output Tokens

Requests/Day

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Llama 3.1 70B (Meta (via Together AI))

Cost Calculator

Provider

Model

Input Tokens

Output Tokens

Requests/Day

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Grok 4.20 or Llama 3.1 70B?▼

Llama 3.1 70B is cheaper for input tokens at $0.88 per million tokens vs $1.25 for Grok 4.20 — that's 30% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Grok 4.20 and Llama 3.1 70B?▼

Grok 4.20 supports 2,000,000 tokens while Llama 3.1 70B supports 128,000 tokens — a difference of 1,872,000 tokens in favor of Grok 4.20.

Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼

Both models support text. For ai chatbot, Llama 3.1 70B is the lower-cost option, while Grok 4.20 offers a larger context window (2,000,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Llama 3.1 70B 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 4.20 costs about $7.50/month and Llama 3.1 70B costs about $3.96/month. Overall, Llama 3.1 70B has lower combined input + output rates ($0.88 in, $0.88 out) vs Grok 4.20.

Where can I compare xAI and Meta (via Together AI) API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼

See the xAI vs Meta (via Together AI) provider comparison page for lineup-level averages, then review each model page for exact per-token rates.