DeepSeek R1 vs Grok-3
DeepSeek R1 (2025) and Grok-3 (2025) are frontier-tier reasoning models from DeepSeek and xAI. DeepSeek R1 ships a 128k-token context window, while Grok-3 ships a 131k-token context window. On Google-Proof Q&A, Grok-3 leads by 13.1 pts. On pricing, DeepSeek R1 costs $0.10/1M 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 is ~700% cheaper at $0.10/1M; pay for Grok-3 only for long-context analysis.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek R1 | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps and provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 128k | 131k |
| Cheapest output | $0.30/1M tokens | $2.40/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 14 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 4 rows | Google-Proof Q&A leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek R1 holds a shared-benchmark lead on Aider Polyglot, ahead by 3.6 points.
- DeepSeek R1 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.30/1M tokens.
- DeepSeek R1 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- DeepSeek R1 uniquely exposes Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek R1 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Grok-3 holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 13.1 points.
- Grok-3 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- 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
$155
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Bitdeer AI
Grok-3
$1,240
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Chutes AI
Estimated monthly gap: $1,085. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Microsoft Foundry; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Grok-3 is $2.10/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Code execution before moving production traffic.
- Grok-3 adds Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Microsoft Foundry; start route-level A/B tests there.
- DeepSeek R1 is $2.10/1M 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.
- DeepSeek R1 adds Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-01-20 | 2025-02-17 |
| Context window | 128k | 131k |
| Parameters | 671B, 37B Active | — |
| Architecture | decoder only | - |
| License | MIT(OSI) | Proprietary |
| Openness | Open source | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use allowed | Commercial use with conditions |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2023-12 | 2025-04 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek R1 | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.10/1M tokens | $0.80/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.30/1M tokens | $2.40/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek R1 | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | DeepSeek R1 | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Google-Proof Q&A | 71.5 | 84.6 |
| HumanEval | 89.9 | 94.5 |
| Chatbot Arena | 1372.0 | 1405.0 |
| Aider Polyglot | 56.9 | 53.3 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Google-Proof Q&A has DeepSeek R1 at 71.5 and Grok-3 at 84.6, with Grok-3 ahead by 13.1 points; HumanEval has DeepSeek R1 at 89.9 and Grok-3 at 94.5, with Grok-3 ahead by 4.6 points; Chatbot Arena has DeepSeek R1 at 1372 and Grok-3 at 1405, with Grok-3 ahead by 33 points. The largest visible gap is 33 points on Chatbot Arena, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Grok-3, multimodal input: Grok-3, function calling: Grok-3, tool use: Grok-3, and code execution: DeepSeek R1. Both models share reasoning mode and structured outputs, 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 lists $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M 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 lower by about $1.12 per million blended tokens. Availability is 14 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek R1 when coding workflow support, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Grok-3 when long-context analysis and larger context windows 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 or Grok-3?
Grok-3 supports 131k tokens, while DeepSeek R1 supports 128k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek R1 or Grok-3?
DeepSeek R1 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek R1 costs $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M 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 or Grok-3 open source?
DeepSeek R1 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 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 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 and Grok-3?
DeepSeek R1 is available on DeepSeek Platform, OpenRouter, Together AI, Fireworks AI, and NVIDIA NIM. 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: 2026-05-22. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.