Composer 2 vs Grok 4.3
Composer 2 (2026) and Grok 4.3 (2026) are agentic coding models from Cursor (Anysphere) and xAI. Composer 2 ships a 200K-token context window, while Grok 4.3 ships a 1M-token context window. On pricing, Composer 2 costs $0.5/1M input tokens versus $1.25/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
Composer 2 is ~150% cheaper at $0.5/1M; pay for Grok 4.3 only for reasoning depth.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Composer 2 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | RAG, Agents, and Long context |
| Context window | 200K | 1M |
| Cheapest output | $2.5/1M tokens | $2.5/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Composer 2 uniquely exposes Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Composer 2 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Grok 4.3 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Grok 4.3 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Grok 4.3 uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Grok 4.3 for RAG, Agents, and Long context.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output prices on this page.
Composer 2
$1,025
Cheapest tracked route: Cursor
Grok 4.3
$1,625
Cheapest tracked route: xAI Console
Estimated monthly gap: $600. Batch, cache, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Composer 2 and Grok 4.3; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Cheapest tracked output pricing is tied, so migration risk shifts to quality, latency, and provider packaging.
- Check replacement coverage for Code execution before moving production traffic.
- Grok 4.3 adds Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Grok 4.3 and Composer 2; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Cheapest tracked output pricing is tied, so migration risk shifts to quality, latency, and provider packaging.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning before moving production traffic.
- Composer 2 adds Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-03-19 | 2026-05-06 |
| Context window | 200K | 1M |
| Parameters | — | ~0.5T |
| Architecture | - | - |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2024-11 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Composer 2 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.5/1M tokens | $1.25/1M tokens |
| Output price | $2.5/1M tokens | $2.5/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Composer 2 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Grok 4.3, multimodal input: Grok 4.3, reasoning mode: Grok 4.3, structured outputs: Grok 4.3, and code execution: Composer 2. Both models share function calling and tool use, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, Composer 2 lists $0.5/1M input and $2.5/1M output tokens, while Grok 4.3 lists $1.25/1M input and $2.5/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Composer 2 lower by about $0.52 per million blended tokens. Availability is 1 providers versus 3, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Composer 2 when coding workflow support and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose Grok 4.3 when reasoning depth, larger context windows, and broader provider choice are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Composer 2 or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.3 supports 1M tokens, while Composer 2 supports 200K tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, Composer 2 or Grok 4.3?
Composer 2 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Composer 2 costs $0.5/1M input and $2.5/1M output tokens. Grok 4.3 costs $1.25/1M input and $2.5/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Composer 2 or Grok 4.3 open source?
Composer 2 is listed under Proprietary. Grok 4.3 is listed under Proprietary. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for vision, Composer 2 or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.3 has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, Composer 2 or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.3 has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run Composer 2 and Grok 4.3?
Composer 2 is available on Cursor. Grok 4.3 is available on xAI Console, OpenRouter, and Microsoft Foundry. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-20. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.