DeepSeek V3 vs Grok Build 0.1

Name: DeepSeek V3
Author: DeepSeek

DeepSeek V3 (2024) and Grok Build 0.1 (2026) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. DeepSeek V3 ships a 64k-token context window, while Grok Build 0.1 ships a 256K-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek V3 costs $0.10/1M 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 V3 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 V3	Grok Build 0.1	How to read it
Product type	Standalone API model	Coding-specialized model	Read downstream rows through the product-type lens before comparing benchmarks, prices, or provider availability.
Best for	tool-calling agents and provider-routed production	custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops	Use-case synthesis from product type, capability flags, context, and provider data.
Decision fit	Coding, Agents, and Classification	Coding, RAG, and Agents	Primary workload tags from local decision data.
Context window	64k	256K	Higher is better when prompts, retrieval chunks, or transcripts are large.
Cheapest output	$0.30/1M tokens	$2/1M tokens	Cheapest tracked provider route; verify your exact region and tier.
Provider routes	13 tracked	3 tracked	Broader coverage can reduce vendor lock-in and fallback risk.
Shared benchmarks	0 rows	0 rows	No shared benchmark rows are sourced for this pair yet.

Decision tradeoffs

Choose DeepSeek V3 when...

DeepSeek V3 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.30/1M tokens.
DeepSeek V3 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3 for Coding, Agents, and Classification.

Choose Grok Build 0.1 when...

Grok Build 0.1 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
Grok Build 0.1 uniquely exposes Reasoning 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.

Lower estimate DeepSeek V3

Requests / monthInput tokens / requestOutput tokens / request

DeepSeek V3

$155

Cheapest tracked route/tier: Bitdeer AI

Grok Build 0.1

$1,300

Cheapest tracked route/tier: xAI Console

Estimated monthly gap: $1,145. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.

Switch friction

DeepSeek V3 -> Grok Build 0.1

Provider overlap exists on Vercel AI Gateway and OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
Grok Build 0.1 is $1.70/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
Grok Build 0.1 adds Reasoning in local capability data.

Grok Build 0.1 -> DeepSeek V3

Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
DeepSeek V3 is $1.70/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
Check replacement coverage for Reasoning before moving production traffic.

Specs

Specification	DeepSeek V3 DeepSeek	Grok Build 0.1 xAI
Released	2024-12-26	2026-05-14
Context window	64k	256K
Parameters	671B	—
Architecture	mixture of experts	-
License	Open Source	Proprietary
Knowledge cutoff	2024-04	-

Pricing and availability

Pricing attribute	DeepSeek V3	Grok Build 0.1
Input price	$0.10/1M tokens	0-200,001t $1/1M tokens 200,001t+ $2/1M tokens
Output price	$0.30/1M tokens	0-200,001t $2/1M tokens 200,001t+ $4/1M tokens
Providers	DeepInfra Fireworks AI DeepSeek Platform Microsoft Foundry OpenRouter NVIDIA NIM	xAI Console Vercel AI Gateway OpenRouter

Capabilities

Capability	DeepSeek V3	Grok Build 0.1
Vision	No	No
Multimodal	No	No
Reasoning	No	Yes
Function calling	Yes	Yes
Tool use	Yes	Yes
Structured outputs	Yes	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 reasoning mode: Grok Build 0.1. Both models share function calling, tool use, 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 lists $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M 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 V3 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 13 providers versus 3, so concentration risk also matters.

Choose DeepSeek V3 when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Grok Build 0.1 when coding workflow support 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 or Grok Build 0.1?

Grok Build 0.1 supports 256K tokens, while DeepSeek V3 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 or Grok Build 0.1?

DeepSeek V3 lists $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M 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 V3 or Grok Build 0.1 open source?

DeepSeek V3 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 V3 or Grok Build 0.1?

Grok Build 0.1 has the clearer documented reasoning mode signal in this comparison. If reasoning mode is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.

Which is better for function calling, DeepSeek V3 or Grok Build 0.1?

Both DeepSeek V3 and Grok Build 0.1 expose function calling. 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 and Grok Build 0.1?

DeepSeek V3 is available on DeepInfra, Fireworks AI, DeepSeek Platform, Microsoft Foundry, and OpenRouter. Grok Build 0.1 is available on xAI Console, Vercel AI Gateway, and OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.

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Last reviewed: 2026-05-25. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.