DeepSeek V3.2 vs Grok 3 Mini
DeepSeek V3.2 (2025) and Grok 3 Mini (2025) are general-purpose language models from DeepSeek and xAI. DeepSeek V3.2 ships a 160K-token context window, while Grok 3 Mini ships a 131k-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek V3.2 costs $0.26/1M input tokens versus $0.3/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
Grok 3 Mini is safer overall; choose DeepSeek V3.2 when coding workflow support matters.
Specs
| Released | 2025-01-01 | 2025-02-17 |
| Context window | 160K | 131k |
| Parameters | 671B | — |
| Architecture | decoder only | - |
| License | Open Source | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | - |
Pricing and availability
| DeepSeek V3.2 | Grok 3 Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.26/1M tokens | $0.3/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.42/1M tokens | $0.5/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| DeepSeek V3.2 | Grok 3 Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | ||
| Multimodal | ||
| Reasoning | ||
| Function calling | ||
| Tool use | ||
| Structured outputs | ||
| Code execution |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on multimodal input: Grok 3 Mini and code execution: DeepSeek V3.2. Both models share 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 V3.2 lists $0.26/1M input and $0.42/1M output tokens, while Grok 3 Mini lists $0.3/1M input and $0.5/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek V3.2 lower by about $0.05 per million blended tokens. Availability is 4 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek V3.2 when coding workflow support, larger context windows, and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose Grok 3 Mini when provider fit are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions. It also helps separate model capability from provider packaging, which can change cost and latency.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek V3.2 or Grok 3 Mini?
DeepSeek V3.2 supports 160K tokens, while Grok 3 Mini supports 131k 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 V3.2 or Grok 3 Mini?
DeepSeek V3.2 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek V3.2 costs $0.26/1M input and $0.42/1M output tokens. Grok 3 Mini costs $0.3/1M input and $0.5/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek V3.2 or Grok 3 Mini open source?
DeepSeek V3.2 is listed under Open Source. Grok 3 Mini 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 multimodal input, DeepSeek V3.2 or Grok 3 Mini?
Grok 3 Mini 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.
Which is better for structured outputs, DeepSeek V3.2 or Grok 3 Mini?
Both DeepSeek V3.2 and Grok 3 Mini expose structured outputs. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Where can I run DeepSeek V3.2 and Grok 3 Mini?
DeepSeek V3.2 is available on Fireworks AI, NVIDIA NIM, AWS Bedrock, and OpenRouter. Grok 3 Mini is available on OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-04-24. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.