DeepSeek V3.1 vs Grok 4.3
DeepSeek V3.1 (2025) and Grok 4.3 (2026) are frontier reasoning models from DeepSeek and xAI. DeepSeek V3.1 ships a 64k-token context window, while Grok 4.3 ships a 1m-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek V3.1 costs $0.27/1M input tokens; Grok 4.3 ranges from $1.25 to $2.50/1M input tokens by tier. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Grok 4.3 fits 16x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and DeepSeek V3.1 for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3.1 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps and provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Vision | RAG, Agents, and Long context |
| Context window | 64k | 1m |
| Cheapest output | $1/1M tokens | $2.50/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 8 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3.1 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $1/1M tokens.
- DeepSeek V3.1 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- DeepSeek V3.1 uniquely exposes Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3.1 for Coding, Agents, and Vision.
- Grok 4.3 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Grok 4.3 uniquely exposes Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use 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 V3.1
$466
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Novita AI
Grok 4.3
$1,625
Cheapest tracked route/tier: xAI Console
Estimated monthly gap: $1,159. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on Microsoft Foundry and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Grok 4.3 is $1.50/1M 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 4.3 adds Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on Microsoft Foundry and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- DeepSeek V3.1 is $1.50/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use before moving production traffic.
- DeepSeek V3.1 adds Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-08-21 | 2026-05-06 |
| Context window | 64k | 1m |
| Parameters | 671B total, 37B active (MoE) | ~0.5T |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | - |
| License | MIT(OSI) | Proprietary |
| Openness | Open source | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use allowed | Commercial use with conditions |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2024-11 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3.1 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.27/1M tokens |
|
| Output price | $1/1M tokens |
|
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3.1 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | 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
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on reasoning mode: Grok 4.3, function calling: Grok 4.3, tool use: Grok 4.3, and code execution: DeepSeek V3.1. Both models share vision, multimodal input, 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 V3.1 lists $0.27/1M input and $1/1M 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 V3.1 lower by about $1.14 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 8 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek V3.1 when coding workflow support, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Grok 4.3 when reasoning depth 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 V3.1 or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.3 supports 1m tokens, while DeepSeek V3.1 supports 64k 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 V3.1 or Grok 4.3?
DeepSeek V3.1 lists $0.27/1M input and $1/1M 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 V3.1 or Grok 4.3 open source?
DeepSeek V3.1 is listed under MIT. 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 V3.1 or Grok 4.3?
Both DeepSeek V3.1 and Grok 4.3 expose vision. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, DeepSeek V3.1 or Grok 4.3?
Both DeepSeek V3.1 and Grok 4.3 expose multimodal input. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Where can I run DeepSeek V3.1 and Grok 4.3?
DeepSeek V3.1 is available on Microsoft Foundry, Fireworks AI, NVIDIA NIM, Together AI, and AWS Bedrock. 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.