DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) vs Grok 4-20
Complete pricing and performance comparison between DeepSeek's DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) and xAI's Grok 4-20.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat)
7.1x cheaper input, 14.3x cheaper output
Larger Context
Grok 4-20
131K vs 128K
Higher Quality
Grok 4-20
Score: 49 vs 32
Faster
Grok 4-20
120 vs 34 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) | Grok 4-20 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | DeepSeek | xAI | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $0.28 | $2 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) is 86% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $0.42 | $6 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) is 93% more expensive |
| Context Window | 128K | 131K | 1x difference |
| Max Output | 8K | 16K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) | Grok 4-20 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 32 | 49 | Grok 4-20 |
| Output Speed | 34 tok/s | 120 tok/s | Grok 4-20 |
| Time to First Token | 1.50s | 19.32s | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) |
| Value (Quality/$) | 114.6 | 24.3 | Higher = better value |
Benchmark data from Artificial Analysis. Quality Index is a composite score across reasoning, coding, and knowledge tasks.
Cost at Scale
Estimated cost at different usage levels (3:1 input-to-output token ratio, typical for chat).
| Usage | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) | Grok 4-20 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0004 | $0.0038 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $0.0034 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.0041 | $0.038 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $0.034 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.041 | $0.380 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $0.339 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $0.406 | $3.80 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $3.39 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $4.06 | $38.00 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $33.94 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $406.00 | $3800.00 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $3394.00 |
Pros & Cons
DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
Grok 4-20 Strengths
- +Larger context window (131K vs 128K)
- +Higher max output tokens
- +Faster output (120 vs 34 tok/s)
- +Higher quality score (49 vs 32)
When to Use Each Model
Choose DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
Choose Grok 4-20 for
- →Long documents, large codebases, or multi-turn conversations
- →Generating long-form content or detailed code
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) or Grok 4-20?
For input tokens, DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) is 7.1x cheaper at $0.28/1M tokens. For output tokens, DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) is 14.3x cheaper at $0.42/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) costs $0.406 vs Grok 4-20 at $3.80.
What's the context window difference?
DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) supports 128K context (128,000 tokens), while Grok 4-20 supports 131K (131,072 tokens). Grok 4-20 can handle 1x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) scores 32 vs Grok 4-20 at 49. Speed: DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) generates 34 tok/s vs Grok 4-20 at 120 tok/s. Time to first token: DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) at 1.50s vs Grok 4-20 at 19.32s.
When should I choose DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) over Grok 4-20?
Choose DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Lower latency (faster first token). Choose Grok 4-20 when you need: Larger context window (131K vs 128K), Higher max output tokens, Faster output (120 vs 34 tok/s), Higher quality score (49 vs 32).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) = $4.06, Grok 4-20 = $38.00. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) = $32.20, Grok 4-20 = $260.00.
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