DeepSeek R1 Basic vs Grok 4.3
DeepSeek R1 Basic (2025) and Grok 4.3 (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from DeepSeek and xAI. DeepSeek R1 Basic ships a 160K-token context window, while Grok 4.3 ships a 1M-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek R1 Basic costs $0.56/1M input tokens; Grok 4.3 ranges from $1.25 to $2.50/1M input tokens by tier. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit.
Grok 4.3 fits 6x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and DeepSeek R1 Basic for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek R1 Basic | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Long context | RAG, Agents, and Long context |
| Context window | 160K | 1M |
| Cheapest output | $1.68/1M tokens | $2.50/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- 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 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 Function calling 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 route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek R1 Basic
$868
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Fireworks AI
Grok 4.3
$1,625
Cheapest tracked route/tier: xAI Console
Estimated monthly gap: $757. 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 4.3; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Grok 4.3 is $0.82/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Grok 4.3 adds Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Grok 4.3 and DeepSeek R1 Basic; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- DeepSeek R1 Basic is $0.82/1M 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 | 2026-05-06 |
| Context window | 160K | 1M |
| Parameters | 671B | ~0.5T |
| Architecture | decoder only | - |
| License | Open Source | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2024-11 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek R1 Basic | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.56/1M tokens |
|
| Output price | $1.68/1M tokens |
|
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek R1 Basic | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 4.3, multimodal input: Grok 4.3, function calling: Grok 4.3, tool use: Grok 4.3, and structured outputs: Grok 4.3. 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 4.3 lists tiered pricing: 0-200,001t is $1.25/1M input and $2.50/1M output; 200,001t+ is $2.50/1M input and $5/1M output. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek R1 Basic lower by about $0.73 per million blended tokens. For tiered rows, this cheapest-track view can understate interactive or fast-lane spend, so compare the tier you will actually use. Availability is 1 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek R1 Basic when provider fit and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose Grok 4.3 when long-context analysis, 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.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek R1 Basic or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.3 supports 1M tokens, while DeepSeek R1 Basic supports 160K 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 4.3?
DeepSeek R1 Basic lists $0.56/1M input and $1.68/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. Grok 4.3 lists tiered pricing: 0-200,001t is $1.25/1M input and $2.50/1M output; 200,001t+ is $2.50/1M input and $5/1M output. Compare the tier you will actually use; cheap async pricing can overstate savings for interactive workflows. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek R1 Basic or Grok 4.3 open source?
DeepSeek R1 Basic is listed under Open Source. 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, DeepSeek R1 Basic 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, DeepSeek R1 Basic 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 DeepSeek R1 Basic and Grok 4.3?
DeepSeek R1 Basic is available on Fireworks AI. Grok 4.3 is available on xAI Console, OpenRouter, Microsoft Foundry, and Vercel AI Gateway. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-25. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.