API cost decision in 10 seconds

NewGrok 4.3 vs Free Models Router

Pick Free Models Router for lower cost; pick Grok 4.3 only if the larger context window matters more.

Page updated:  Data confirmed:  Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output

Budget verdict

Pick Free Models Router for lower cost; pick Grok 4.3 only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Free Models Router is estimated at $0 vs $2.5 for Grok 4.3, saving $2.5 (100% lower).

Cost-first pickFree Models Router
Context-first pickGrok 4.3
Sample savings$2.5100%
10x traffic gap$25

Grok 4.3 has more context, but Free Models Router saves $2.5 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $25. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Free Models Router stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickGrok 4.3Free Models Router
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputFree Models Router$7.5$0
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputFree Models Router$3.75$0
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputFree Models Router$13.75$0
Cheaper input Free Models Router $1.25 vs $0 / 1M

Free Models Router is free for input tokens while Grok 4.3 costs $1.25 per 1M tokens.

Cheaper output Free Models Router $2.5 vs $0 / 1M

Free Models Router is free for output tokens while Grok 4.3 costs $2.5 per 1M tokens.

Larger context Grok 4.3 1M vs 200K

Grok 4.3 has 800K more context (5x larger).

Sample workload Free Models Router $2.5 vs $0

Free Models Router is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $2.5.

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
Grok 4.3 Calculating… Estimated API cost
Free Models Router Calculating… Estimated API cost
Cheaper for this workload Calculating… Difference: calculating…

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

Verdict

Free Models Router has the lower input price; Free Models Router has the lower output price; Grok 4.3 offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Free Models Router 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 4.3 and $0 for Free Models Router.

Best Fit

Choose Grok 4.3 when you care most about larger context window.

Choose Free Models Router when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.

Decision Notes
  • On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Free Models Router is estimated at $0 vs $2.5 for Grok 4.3, saving $2.5 (100% lower).
  • Free Models Router is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $2.5.
  • Free Models Router is free for input tokens while Grok 4.3 costs $1.25 per 1M tokens.
  • Free Models Router is free for output tokens while Grok 4.3 costs $2.5 per 1M tokens.
  • Grok 4.3 has 800K more context (5x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
FeatureNewGrok 4.3
(xAI)		Free Models Router
(OpenRouter)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M		$1.25$0
Completion Price
per 1M tokens		$2.5$0
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output		$2.5$0
Context Window1M200K
Release Date

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionFree Models RouterOn the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Free Models Router is estimated at $0 vs $2.5 for Grok 4.3, saving $2.5 (100% lower).
High-volume input processingFree Models RouterLower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsFree Models RouterLower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workGrok 4.3A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files.

Related Alternatives

Same-provider lower-cost swaps
  • Grok Build 0.1 can replace Grok 4.3 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $2.
Larger context near this budget
  • Llama 4 Scout offers 10M context with $0.23 sample workload cost.
  • Grok 4.20 offers 2M context with $2.5 sample workload cost.
  • Owl Alpha offers 1.05M context with $0 sample workload cost.
  • DeepSeek V4 Flash offers 1.05M context with $0.2 sample workload cost.

Cheaper alternatives

Review low-cost models sorted by a standard 1M input plus 500K output workload.

Open cheapest models

Larger context alternatives

Find models with larger context windows for RAG, long documents, and codebase review.

Open largest context models

Provider catalogs

Compare models within provider hubs before choosing a final API vendor.

Open provider hubs

xAI catalog

Review all tracked xAI models before deciding whether this matchup is the right shortlist.

Open xAI models

OpenRouter catalog

Check other OpenRouter models with comparable pricing, context, or release timing.

Open OpenRouter models
Grok 4.3

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