MiniMax M2.5 is $1.1 cheaper per 1M input tokens (88% lower; 8.33x difference).
API cost decision in 10 seconds
Grok 4.20 vs MiniMax M2.5
Pick MiniMax M2.5 for lower cost; pick Grok 4.20 only if the larger context window matters more.
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Data confirmed:
Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens
Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output
Budget verdict
Pick MiniMax M2.5 for lower cost; pick Grok 4.20 only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, MiniMax M2.5 is estimated at $0.72 vs $2.5 for Grok 4.20, saving $1.77 (71% lower).
Cost-first pickMiniMax M2.5
Context-first pickGrok 4.20
Sample savings$1.7771%
10x traffic gap$17.75
Grok 4.20 has more context, but MiniMax M2.5 saves $1.77 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $17.75. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
MiniMax M2.5 stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | Grok 4.20 | MiniMax M2.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | MiniMax M2.5 | $7.5 | $1.32 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | MiniMax M2.5 | $3.75 | $1.3 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | MiniMax M2.5 | $13.75 | $5.9 |
MiniMax M2.5 is $1.35 cheaper per 1M output tokens (54% lower; 2.17x difference).
Grok 4.20 has 1.8M more context (9.77x larger).
MiniMax M2.5 is $1.77 cheaper on the standard workload (71% lower).
Estimate your workload cost
Your Workload Cost
This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.
Quick Decision
MiniMax M2.5 has the lower input price; MiniMax M2.5 has the lower output price; Grok 4.20 offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, MiniMax M2.5 is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $2.5 for Grok 4.20 and $0.72 for MiniMax M2.5.
Choose Grok 4.20 when you care most about larger context window.
Choose MiniMax M2.5 when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, MiniMax M2.5 is estimated at $0.72 vs $2.5 for Grok 4.20, saving $1.77 (71% lower).
- MiniMax M2.5 is $1.77 cheaper on the standard workload (71% lower).
- MiniMax M2.5 is $1.1 cheaper per 1M input tokens (88% lower; 8.33x difference).
- MiniMax M2.5 is $1.35 cheaper per 1M output tokens (54% lower; 2.17x difference).
- Grok 4.20 has 1.8M more context (9.77x larger).
| Feature | Grok 4.20 (xAI) | MiniMax M2.5 (MiniMax) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $1.25 | $0.15 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $2.5 | $1.15 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $2.5 | $0.72 |
| Context Window | 2M | 204.8K |
| Release Date |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | MiniMax M2.5 | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, MiniMax M2.5 is estimated at $0.72 vs $2.5 for Grok 4.20, saving $1.77 (71% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | MiniMax M2.5 | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | MiniMax M2.5 | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | Grok 4.20 | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- Grok Build 0.1 can replace Grok 4.20 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $2.
- MiniMax M2.5 (free) can replace MiniMax M2.5 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Llama 4 Scout offers 10M context with $0.23 sample workload cost.
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- Hy3 preview · Tencent · #2
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