Grok 4.5 vs o4-mini Deep Research
Pricing verdict: Grok 4.5 vs o4-mini Deep Research: input pricing is tied at $2.00/M, Grok 4.5 is cheaper for output-heavy usage ($6.00/M output), and Grok 4.5 is better for long-context tasks (500,000 tokens).
Direct answer: input pricing is tied. Choose Grok 4.5 for cheaper output and choose Grok 4.5 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 4.5
o4-mini Deep Research
Cost Differences
o4-mini Deep Research costs more than Grok 4.5
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Grok 4.5. At the default workload, Grok 4.5 saves about $3.00/month ($36.50/year) versus o4-mini Deep Research.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Grok 4.5 | o4-mini Deep Research |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | xAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $2.00/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $6.00/1M tokens | $8.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 500,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 131,072 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | flagship | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textvisioncodereasoning | textreasoningcode |
| Release Date | 7/8/2026 | 6/26/2025 |
Grok 4.5 vs o4-mini Deep Research: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Grok 4.5 and o4-mini Deep Research depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Both models charge $2.00/1M input tokens, but Grok 4.5 is cheaper on output at $6.00/1M. Meanwhile, Grok 4.5 offers a significantly larger context window at 500,000 tokens vs 200,000 for o4-mini Deep Research.
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 4.5 is a flagship model while o4-mini Deep Research is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Grok 4.5 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while o4-mini Deep Research offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. Grok 4.5 charges $6.00/1M output tokens vs $8.00 for o4-mini Deep Research. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Grok 4.5 has the edge here at $6.00/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: Grok 4.5 supports vision (image inputs) while o4-mini Deep Research is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
Best Use Cases
Choose Grok 4.5 when:
- • You need a larger context window (500,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
- • You're already using xAI's API ecosystem
Choose o4-mini Deep Research when:
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
Grok 4.5
- • Input pricing: $2.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $6.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 500,000 tokens
- • Max output: 131,072 tokens
Watch out for
- • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.
o4-mini Deep Research
- • Input pricing: $2.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $8.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher output cost than Grok 4.5
- • Smaller context window than Grok 4.5
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Grok 4.5 (xAI)
o4-mini Deep Research (OpenAI)
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Sign Up for OpenAI →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Grok 4.5 or o4-mini Deep Research?▼
What is the context window difference between Grok 4.5 and o4-mini Deep Research?▼
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
Where can I compare xAI and OpenAI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼
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