DeepSeek R1 Basic vs Grok-3
DeepSeek R1 Basic (2025) and Grok-3 (2025) are frontier-tier reasoning models from DeepSeek and xAI. DeepSeek R1 Basic ships a 160k-token context window, while Grok-3 ships a 131k-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek R1 Basic costs $0.56/1M input tokens versus $0.80/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
DeepSeek R1 Basic is ~43% cheaper at $0.56/1M; pay for Grok-3 only for vision-heavy evaluation.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek R1 Basic | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Long context | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 160k | 131k |
| Cheapest output | $1.68/1M tokens | $2.40/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek R1 Basic has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- DeepSeek R1 Basic has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $1.68/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek R1 Basic for Long context.
- Grok-3 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Grok-3 uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Grok-3 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek R1 Basic
$868
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Fireworks AI
Grok-3
$1,240
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Chutes AI
Estimated monthly gap: $372. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for DeepSeek R1 Basic and Grok-3; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Grok-3 is $0.72/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Grok-3 adds Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Grok-3 and DeepSeek R1 Basic; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- DeepSeek R1 Basic is $0.72/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-01-01 | 2025-02-17 |
| Context window | 160k | 131k |
| Parameters | 671B | — |
| Architecture | decoder only | - |
| License | MIT(OSI) | Proprietary |
| Openness | Open source | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use allowed | Commercial use with conditions |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-04 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek R1 Basic | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.56/1M tokens | $0.80/1M tokens |
| Output price | $1.68/1M tokens | $2.40/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek R1 Basic | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Grok-3, multimodal input: Grok-3, function calling: Grok-3, tool use: Grok-3, and structured outputs: Grok-3. Both models share reasoning mode, 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, DeepSeek R1 Basic lists $0.56/1M input and $1.68/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while Grok-3 lists $0.80/1M input and $2.40/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek R1 Basic lower by about $0.38 per million blended tokens. Availability is 1 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek R1 Basic when long-context analysis, larger context windows, and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose Grok-3 when vision-heavy evaluation 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. It also helps separate model capability from provider packaging, which can change cost and latency.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek R1 Basic or Grok-3?
DeepSeek R1 Basic supports 160k tokens, while Grok-3 supports 131k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek R1 Basic or Grok-3?
DeepSeek R1 Basic is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek R1 Basic costs $0.56/1M input and $1.68/1M output tokens. Grok-3 costs $0.80/1M input and $2.40/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek R1 Basic or Grok-3 open source?
DeepSeek R1 Basic is listed under MIT. Grok-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, DeepSeek R1 Basic or Grok-3?
Grok-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, DeepSeek R1 Basic or Grok-3?
Grok-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 DeepSeek R1 Basic and Grok-3?
DeepSeek R1 Basic is available on Fireworks AI. Grok-3 is available on OpenRouter, xAI Console, Chutes AI, and Microsoft Foundry. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-20. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.