Grok 4.1 vs Grok 4.3
Grok 4.1 (2025) and Grok 4.3 (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from xAI. Grok 4.1 ships a 2M-token context window, while Grok 4.3 ships a 1M-token context window. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing. The goal is to make the tradeoff clear before deeper testing.
Grok 4.3 is safer overall; choose Grok 4.1 when long-context analysis matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Grok 4.1 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | RAG, Agents, and Long context | RAG, Agents, and Long context |
| Context window | 2M | 1M |
| Cheapest output | - | $2.5/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 0 tracked | 2 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Grok 4.1 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags Grok 4.1 for RAG, Agents, and Long context.
- Grok 4.3 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Grok 4.3 uniquely exposes Vision and Structured outputs 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 prices on this page.
Grok 4.1
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
Grok 4.3
$1,625
Cheapest tracked route: xAI Console
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Grok 4.1 and Grok 4.3; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Grok 4.3 adds Vision and Structured outputs in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Grok 4.3 and Grok 4.1; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision and Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
Specs
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Grok 4.1 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $1.25/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $2.5/1M tokens |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | Grok 4.1 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Grok 4.3 and structured outputs: Grok 4.3. Both models share multimodal input, reasoning mode, function calling, and tool use, 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.
Pricing coverage is uneven: Grok 4.1 has no token price sourced yet and Grok 4.3 has $1.25/1M input tokens. Provider availability is 0 tracked routes versus 2. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose Grok 4.1 when long-context analysis and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose Grok 4.3 when vision-heavy evaluation and broader provider choice 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. For teams standardizing a stack, that distinction is often the difference between a benchmark win and a reliable deployment.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Grok 4.1 or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.1 supports 2M tokens, while Grok 4.3 supports 1M tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Is Grok 4.1 or Grok 4.3 open source?
Grok 4.1 is listed under Proprietary. 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, Grok 4.1 or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.3 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, Grok 4.1 or Grok 4.3?
Both Grok 4.1 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.
Which is better for reasoning mode, Grok 4.1 or Grok 4.3?
Both Grok 4.1 and Grok 4.3 expose reasoning mode. 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 Grok 4.1 and Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.1 is available on the tracked providers still being sourced. Grok 4.3 is available on xAI Console and OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-14. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.