DeepSeek V3.2 vs Grok-3
DeepSeek V3.2 (2025) and Grok-3 (2025) are frontier reasoning models from DeepSeek and xAI. DeepSeek V3.2 ships a 160k-token context window, while Grok-3 ships a 131k-token context window. On Google-Proof Q&A, Grok-3 leads by 0.6 pts. On pricing, DeepSeek V3.2 costs $0.25/1M 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 V3.2 is ~217% cheaper at $0.25/1M; pay for Grok-3 only for reasoning depth.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3.2 | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 160k | 131k |
| Cheapest output | $0.38/1M tokens | $2.40/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 7 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 1 shared | Google-Proof Q&A leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3.2 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- DeepSeek V3.2 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.38/1M tokens.
- DeepSeek V3.2 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and route flexibility.
- DeepSeek V3.2 uniquely exposes Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3.2 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Grok-3 holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 0.6 points.
- Grok-3 uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning 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 V3.2
$296
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Grok-3
$1,240
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Chutes AI
Estimated monthly gap: $944. 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 $2.02/1M 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 Reasoning in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Microsoft Foundry; start route-level A/B tests there.
- DeepSeek V3.2 is $2.02/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning before moving production traffic.
- DeepSeek V3.2 adds Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-12-01 | 2025-02-17 |
| Context window | 160k | 131k |
| Parameters | 671B | — |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | - |
| License | MITOSI-approved | Proprietary |
| Openness | Open source | Proprietary |
| Weights | Unknown | Not released |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: permitted | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-04 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3.2 | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.25/1M tokens | $0.80/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.38/1M tokens | $2.40/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3.2 | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| JSON / 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 V3.2 | Grok-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Google-Proof Q&A | 84.0 | 84.6 |
Continue comparing
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Last reviewed: 2026-07-10. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.