AI Index

Grok 4.20vsGrok 4.5

Both language models, compared at each maker’s own API list prices. Every figure links to its source.

Compare at your usage

Every model priced for the same request
Prompt per request
Cache hits

8,000 tokens in, 2,000 out

Grok 4.20 on xAI APIGrok 4.5 on xAI API
Rate appliedBase rateBase rate
Inputper 1M tokens$1.25 $2.00
Cache readper 1M tokens$0.20 $0.30
Outputper 1M tokens$2.50 $6.00
Cost per request$0.015$0.028
Per 1,000 requests$15.00$28.00

Every model is priced for the same request at its maker’s own list prices (each with its source and date), so bold marks the cheapest. A model that can’t serve the request is named, not ranked; a condition its seller doesn’t price says which rate was used.

Cost per request as prompts grow

2K tokens out, list price on each maker’s API. Grok 4.20 charges $2.50 / $5.00 above 200K tokens. Grok 4.5 charges $4.00 / $12.00 above 200K tokens. A line ends at the model’s context window.

0$1.00$2.000250K500K750K1Mprompt tokens per request200K8KGrok 4.20$0.015 at 8KGrok 4.5$0.028 at 8K
  • Grok 4.20 · xAI API
  • Grok 4.5 · xAI API

Where each stands among all scored models

Each line runs from the lowest to the highest score on the board; the tick is the median.

Epoch AI · GPQA Diamond#49 vs #15 of 168Grok 4.5: 93.4%Grok 4.20: 89.3%Epoch AI · FrontierMath Tiers 1–3#56 vs #44 of 84Grok 4.5: 57.2%Grok 4.20: 44.9%Epoch AI · Chess Puzzles#48 vs #44 of 85Grok 4.5: 35%Grok 4.20: 29%Epoch AI · FrontierMath Tier 4 v2#50 vs #43 of 65Grok 4.5: 24.4%Grok 4.20: 17.1%
  • Grok 4.20
  • Grok 4.5

Key differences

Grok 4.20Grok 4.5
InputMaker’s official API · global · USD
$1.25 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$2.00 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
OutputMaker’s official API · global · USD
$2.50 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$6.00 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
Context
1,000,000 xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
500,000 xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
Cache readMaker’s official API · global · USD
$0.20 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$0.30 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
InputMaker’s official API · global · USD · Prompts over 200K tokens
$2.50 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$4.00 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
OutputMaker’s official API · global · USD · Prompts over 200K tokens
$5.00 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$12.00 / 1M tokens xAI models and pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026

These differences use verified vendor specifications or each maker’s official API on the same region, currency, meter and billing conditions. Different conditions remain side by side in the full table; they do not establish which model is cheaper. Declared features describe support, not measured quality or a recommendation. Missing evidence does not mean a feature is unsupported.

Full comparison

Grok 4.20 xAI Grok 4.5 xAI
Overview
ReleasedMar 16, 2026 Jul 8, 2026
Open weights— —
Specs
Context1M 500K
Max output30K 500K
Input modalitiesText, Image Text, Image
Output modalitiesText Text
ReasoningYes Yes
Reasoning effortsNot stated low, medium, high, xhigh
Tool useYes Yes
Structured outputYes Yes
Pricing · per 1M tokens
Input price$1.25Also priced under other conditions: Prompts over 200K tokens $2.00Also priced under other conditions: Prompts over 200K tokens
Output price$2.50Also priced under other conditions: Prompts over 200K tokens $6.00Also priced under other conditions: Prompts over 200K tokens
Cache read price$0.20Also priced under other conditions: Prompts over 200K tokens $0.30Also priced under other conditions: Prompts over 200K tokens
Blended price (3 input : 1 output)$1.5625 $3.00
Pricing under conditions · per 1M tokens
Input price, long prompts$2.50Prompts over 200K tokens $4.00Prompts over 200K tokens
Output price, long prompts$5.00Prompts over 200K tokens $12.00Prompts over 200K tokens
Cited scores
Epoch Capabilities Index— 155.1
LMArena Text— 1,465
LMArena Text · Coding— 1,514
LMArena Vision— 1,287
LMArena Text · Chinese— 1,504
Epoch AI · GPQA Diamond89.3% 93.4% high effort
Epoch AI · FrontierMath Tiers 1–344.9% 57.2% high effort

Headline prices may come from different channels, regions or tiers. Check each source before choosing a model; missing facts stay blank.

Model details and sources

Cited scores