DeepSeek R1 Basic vs Grok Build 0.1
DeepSeek R1 Basic (2025) and Grok Build 0.1 (2026) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. DeepSeek R1 Basic ships a 160K-token context window, while Grok Build 0.1 ships a 256K-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek R1 Basic costs $0.56/1M input tokens; Grok Build 0.1 ranges from $1 to $2/1M input tokens by tier. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.
Treat this as a product-type comparison: DeepSeek R1 Basic is standalone API model, while Grok Build 0.1 is coding-specialized model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek R1 Basic | Grok Build 0.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Standalone API model | Coding-specialized model |
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps | custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops |
| Decision fit | Long context | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 160K | 256K |
| Cheapest output | $1.68/1M tokens | $2/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 2 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 Build 0.1 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Grok Build 0.1 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Grok Build 0.1 uniquely exposes Function calling, Tool use, and Structured outputs in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Grok Build 0.1 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 Build 0.1
$1,300
Cheapest tracked route/tier: xAI Console
Estimated monthly gap: $432. 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 Build 0.1; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Grok Build 0.1 is $0.32/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Grok Build 0.1 adds Function calling, Tool use, and Structured outputs in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Grok Build 0.1 and DeepSeek R1 Basic; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- DeepSeek R1 Basic is $0.32/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Function calling, Tool use, and Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-01-01 | 2026-05-14 |
| Context window | 160K | 256K |
| Parameters | 671B | — |
| Architecture | decoder only | - |
| License | Open Source | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek R1 Basic | Grok Build 0.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.56/1M tokens |
|
| Output price | $1.68/1M tokens |
|
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek R1 Basic | Grok Build 0.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| 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 function calling: Grok Build 0.1, tool use: Grok Build 0.1, and structured outputs: Grok Build 0.1. 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 Build 0.1 lists tiered pricing: 0-200,001t is $1/1M input and $2/1M output; 200,001t+ is $2/1M input and $4/1M output. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek R1 Basic lower by about $0.40 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 2, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek R1 Basic when provider fit and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose Grok Build 0.1 when coding workflow support, 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 Build 0.1?
Grok Build 0.1 supports 256K 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 Build 0.1?
DeepSeek R1 Basic lists $0.56/1M input and $1.68/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. Grok Build 0.1 lists tiered pricing: 0-200,001t is $1/1M input and $2/1M output; 200,001t+ is $2/1M input and $4/1M 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 Build 0.1 open source?
DeepSeek R1 Basic is listed under Open Source. Grok Build 0.1 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 reasoning mode, DeepSeek R1 Basic or Grok Build 0.1?
Both DeepSeek R1 Basic and Grok Build 0.1 expose reasoning mode. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Which is better for function calling, DeepSeek R1 Basic or Grok Build 0.1?
Grok Build 0.1 has the clearer documented function calling signal in this comparison. If function calling 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 Build 0.1?
DeepSeek R1 Basic is available on Fireworks AI. Grok Build 0.1 is available on xAI Console 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.