Grok API Pricing Calculator & Complete Cost Guide
Calculate Grok API costs for all models per token and per month. Compare 9 active models with automatic caching and 2M context support.
Pricing TLDR
- • Prepaid credits or monthly invoiced billing (no subscription)
- • Pay-per-token: Grok 4.1 Fast ($0.20/$0.50) • Grok 4 ($3/$15) • Grok 3 ($3/$15) per million tokens
- • Automatic prompt caching • 2M context window • Built-in web & X search tools
Official pricing:
xAIGrok API Cost Calculator - Monthly Pricing
Calculate by
Input Tokens
Output Tokens
API Calls / Month
Quick Examples:
Reasoning Options:
Grok 4 (grok-4-0709)
Context
Intelligence
Per 1M Tokens
In: $3.00
Out: $15.00
Monthly Cost
Grok 4.1 Fast (grok-4-1-fast-reasoning)
Context
Intelligence
Per 1M Tokens
In: $0.20
Out: $0.50
Monthly Cost
Grok 4 Fast (grok-4-fast-reasoning)
Context
Intelligence
Per 1M Tokens
In: $0.20
Out: $0.50
Monthly Cost
Grok 3 Mini (grok-3-mini)
Context
Intelligence
Per 1M Tokens
In: $0.30
Out: $0.50
Monthly Cost
Grok Code Fast (grok-code-fast-1)
Context
Intelligence
Per 1M Tokens
In: $0.20
Out: $1.50
Monthly Cost
Grok 3 (grok-3)
Context
Intelligence
Per 1M Tokens
In: $3.00
Out: $15.00
Monthly Cost
Grok 4 Fast (Non-Reasoning) (grok-4-fast-non-reasoning)
Context
Intelligence
Per 1M Tokens
In: $0.20
Out: $0.50
Monthly Cost
Grok 4.1 Fast (Non-Reasoning) (grok-4-1-fast-non-reasoning)
Context
Intelligence
Per 1M Tokens
In: $0.20
Out: $0.50
Monthly Cost
Grok 2 Vision (grok-2-vision-1212)
Context
Intelligence
Per 1M Tokens
In: $2.00
Out: $10.00
Monthly Cost
About Grok API
What is Grok API?
The Grok API provides programmatic access to Grok, a family of AI models created by xAI. Grok 4 achieves frontier-tier performance (65 intelligence, matching o3), while Grok 4.1 Fast delivers near-frontier capability (64 intelligence) at just $0.20/$0.50 per million tokens - exceptional value. The API includes built-in web search, X (Twitter) search, and massive 2M token context windows.
- Frontier Performance at Low Cost: Grok 4.1 Fast (Reasoning) scores 64 on intelligence benchmarks - nearly matching Grok 4 (65) and o3 - at 1/15th the price. Non-reasoning variants are significantly less capable (38-39) but faster for simple tasks.
- Massive Context Windows: Grok 4.1 Fast and Grok 4 Fast models support 2M token context windows - among the largest available. Grok 4 supports 256K tokens, while older models support 32K-131K tokens.
- Built-in Tools & Search: Access web search, X (Twitter) search, code execution, and document search directly through the API. Tools are priced at $2.50-$5 per 1,000 calls.
When to Use Grok API
Start with Grok 4.1 Fast (Reasoning) for most use cases - it scores 64 on benchmarks at just $0.20/$0.50 per M tokens. Reserve Grok 4 (65) for tasks requiring absolute maximum capability. Avoid non-reasoning variants unless you need high throughput on simple tasks.
Ideal for
- Real-time information retrieval with built-in web and X search
- Complex reasoning tasks at low cost with Grok 4.1 Fast (64 intelligence)
- Long document analysis with 2M token context window
- Agentic workflows with tool calling capabilities
- Cost-sensitive production applications requiring frontier capability
Not ideal for
- Applications requiring <100ms latency
- Use cases needing guaranteed deterministic outputs
- Tasks requiring specialized domain knowledge without context
- Regions where xAI API is not available
Grok API Pricing Breakdown
Billing Options
xAI offers flexible billing with prepaid credits or monthly invoiced billing. Promotional credits may be available for new users and are applied before prepaid credits.
- Sign up at console.x.ai to get started
- Prepaid credits - buy in advance, deducted as you use
- Monthly invoiced billing - pay at end of month (requires setting spending limit)
- Promotional/free credits applied first when available
Included Features
Automatic Prompt Caching
All requests automatically benefit from prompt caching without any configuration. Repeated prompts cost less, and cached token usage is visible in the API response 'usage' object.
Server-Side Tools
Access Web Search, X Search, Code Execution, and Document Search tools at $2.50-$5 per 1,000 calls. View Image and Remote MCP tools are token-based only.
Regional Endpoints
Access API through us-east-1 (US) or eu-west-1 (Europe) endpoints for data residency requirements. Both regions offer the same models and pricing.
OpenAI-Compatible API
Grok API is compatible with OpenAI's API format, making migration easy. Simply update your base URL and API key to switch providers.
Grok API Tools Pricing
Tool
Cost per 1,000 Calls
Description
Tool
Cost per 1,000 Calls
Description
Tool
Cost per 1,000 Calls
Description
Tool
Cost per 1,000 Calls
Description
Tool
Cost per 1,000 Calls
Description
Tool
Cost per 1,000 Calls
Description
Tool
Cost per 1,000 Calls
Description
Note: Live Search ($25/1K sources) is being deprecated December 15, 2025. Use the new agentic tool calling API instead.
Grok API Monthly Cost Estimates
Light Use
$5-30/mo
• Personal projects
• <1K requests/day
• Grok 4.1 Fast recommended
Medium Use
$30-150/mo
• Small apps
• 1-5K requests/day
• Grok 4.1 Fast or Grok 3 Mini
Heavy Use
$150-800/mo
• Production apps
• 5-20K requests/day
• Mixed models
Enterprise
$800+/mo
• Large scale
• 20K+ requests/day
• Monthly invoiced billing
6 Grok API Cost Optimization Tips
Use Grok 4.1 Fast (Reasoning) by Default
Grok 4.1 Fast with reasoning scores 64 on intelligence benchmarks - nearly matching Grok 4 (65) at 1/15th the price ($0.20/$0.50 vs $3/$15). It's one of the best value frontier models available.
Avoid Non-Reasoning for Complex Tasks
Non-reasoning variants have significantly lower capability: Grok 4.1 Fast drops from 64 to 38 intelligence. Only use non-reasoning for simple classification, extraction, or high-throughput tasks where quality matters less.
Use Grok 3 Mini Over Grok 3
Surprisingly, Grok 3 Mini (57 intelligence) outperforms Grok 3 (45 intelligence) in benchmarks while costing 90% less ($0.30/$0.50 vs $3/$15). Skip Grok 3 entirely unless you need its specific characteristics.
Batch Tool Calls Efficiently
Web Search, X Search, Code Execution, and Document Search cost $5 per 1,000 calls. Design workflows to minimize redundant tool invocations by caching results and batching related queries.
Set Invoiced Spending Limits
Configure your invoiced spending limit at console.x.ai to prevent unexpected charges. Default is $0 which stops API access when credits run out, but setting a limit enables continuous service with end-of-month billing.
Monitor Token Usage
Track your consumption via the xAI Console Usage Explorer. Monitor cached vs. non-cached tokens to understand your caching efficiency and optimize prompt design accordingly.
Grok Model Selection Guide
Use Case
Customer Support Chat
Recommended Model
Grok 4.1 Fast
64 Intelligence
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$5-30
Why This Model?
Near-frontier (64) at $0.20/$0.50 per M tokens
Use Case
Code Generation
Recommended Model
Grok 4.1 Fast
64 Intelligence
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$10-60
Why This Model?
Higher intelligence (64) than Code Fast (49)
Use Case
Research & Analysis
Recommended Model
Grok 4
65 Intelligence
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$100-400
Why This Model?
Frontier-tier (65), matches o3
Use Case
Real-time Search
Recommended Model
Grok 4.1 Fast + Tools
64 Intelligence
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$15-80
Why This Model?
Built-in web & X search ($5/1K calls)
Use Case
High-Throughput Tasks
Recommended Model
Grok 4.1 Fast (Non-Reasoning)
38 Intelligence
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$3-20
Why This Model?
Fastest for simple classification/extraction
Use Case
Long Document Processing
Recommended Model
Grok 4.1 Fast
2M Context
Monthly Cost (Est.)
~$10-50
Why This Model?
2M token context at lowest cost
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Start Free TrialGrok API Pricing FAQ
Common questions about Grok API costs, billing, and optimization
