Grok 4.20 vs Grok 4.3
Grok 4.20 (2026) and Grok 4.3 (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from xAI. Grok 4.20 ships a 2M-token context window, while Grok 4.3 ships a 1M-token context window. On pricing, Grok 4.20 costs $1.25/1M input tokens versus $1.25/1M 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 4.3 is safer overall; choose Grok 4.20 when long-context analysis matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Grok 4.20 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | RAG, Agents, and Long context |
| Context window | 2M | 1M |
| Cheapest output | $2.5/1M tokens | $2.5/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 2 tracked | 2 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Grok 4.20 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags Grok 4.20 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Grok 4.3 uniquely exposes Vision and Multimodal 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 4.20
$1,625
Cheapest tracked route: xAI Console
Grok 4.3
$1,625
Cheapest tracked route: xAI Console
Estimated monthly gap: $0.00. Batch, cache, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on xAI Console and OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Cheapest tracked output pricing is tied, so migration risk shifts to quality, latency, and provider packaging.
- Grok 4.3 adds Vision and Multimodal in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on xAI Console and OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Cheapest tracked output pricing is tied, so migration risk shifts to quality, latency, and provider packaging.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision and Multimodal before moving production traffic.
Specs
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Grok 4.20 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.25/1M tokens | $1.25/1M tokens |
| Output price | $2.5/1M tokens | $2.5/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Grok 4.20 | Grok 4.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | 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 multimodal input: Grok 4.3. Both models share reasoning mode, 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, Grok 4.20 lists $1.25/1M input and $2.5/1M output tokens, while Grok 4.3 lists $1.25/1M input and $2.5/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Grok 4.20 lower by about $0 per million blended tokens. Availability is 2 providers versus 2, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Grok 4.20 when long-context analysis and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose Grok 4.3 when vision-heavy evaluation 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 4.20 or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.20 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.
Which is cheaper, Grok 4.20 or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.20 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Grok 4.20 costs $1.25/1M input and $2.5/1M output tokens. Grok 4.3 costs $1.25/1M input and $2.5/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Grok 4.20 or Grok 4.3 open source?
Grok 4.20 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 4.20 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 4.20 or Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.3 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.
Where can I run Grok 4.20 and Grok 4.3?
Grok 4.20 is available on xAI Console and OpenRouter. 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.