Gemini API vs Grok API
Two model provider options for LLM API. When each fits, what it costs, who moves from one to the other, and what makers who chose it say.
Gemini APIModel providerIn Lovable, ReplitAsk your AI about this, with this page as the source:ChatGPT ↗Claude ↗Perplexity ↗
Which fits you
Choose Gemini API if- You want the strongest general models and the widest ecosystem of examples and integrations
Use it whenYou feed in whole documents, video or audio, or want to start without paying.
Trade-offFree-tier prompts may be used to improve Google's products, so paid tier is the one for user data.
Choose Grok API if- Grok models with built-in web and X search, plus image, video and voice APIs.
Use it whenYour feature needs live posts from X or current web results in the model's answers.
Trade-offReal-time data only arrives when you enable the search tools, which are billed as tool calls.
At a glance
| Gemini API | Grok API | |
|---|---|---|
| Used by | 99 makers' products · 227 open-source projects | 6 makers' products · 33 open-source projects |
| Cost at default usageinput tokens 50 million tokens, output tokens 10 million tokens | $28/mo Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | — |
| Downloads | 19.2M/wk6.5× vs npm | 2.3M/wk4.8× vs npm |
| Pricing | Free tier with rate limits; pay per token. · paid from Pay per token | Pay per token; image, video and voice priced per unit. · paid from Pay per token |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Open source | No | No |
Cost as you grow
At 1M tokens Gemini API costs less ($0.55 vs $1.75); and still does at 5B tokens ($2,750 vs $8,750).
The numbers, plan by plan
| Input tokens per month | Gemini API | Grok API |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.55 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | $1.75 Grok 4.3 |
| 5 | $2.75 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | $8.75 Grok 4.3 |
| 10 | $5.50 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | $18 Grok 4.3 |
| 50 | $28 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | $88 Grok 4.3 |
| 100 | $55 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | $175 Grok 4.3 |
| 500 | $275 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | $875 Grok 4.3 |
| 1,000 | $550 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | $1,750 Grok 4.3 |
| 5,000 | $2,750 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | $8,750 Grok 4.3 |
From each vendor's pricing page: Gemini API, Grok API.
What makers say
Makers on using it for LLM API, from Product Hunt and Starter Story interviews, each linked to the source. Products with a page of their own and fuller notes first.
On Gemini APIPowers all agent conversations on Konfide. Fast, cost-effective, handles unlimited concurrent chats. Every user message goes through Gemini. Chose it for speed and quality at scale.
Gemini gives us another strong option for routing complex tasks. Fast response times and competitive pricing mean we can offer our customers more flexibility in how their automations run.
Saturn uses Gemini for structured data extraction from Japanese government filings (EDINET, gBizINFO). Best cost-performance ratio for Japanese language processing at scale.
On Grok APIGrok pairs real-time knowledge with strong reasoning in a way that makes it genuinely useful for live, in-the-moment automations. We chose it because it doesn't just know a lot, it knows what's happening right now.
Fast models for real-time reasoning Grok adds fast, context-aware reasoning that helps expand the range of workflows our agents can handle.
very helpful for enabling us to make the best router possible!
Loved and watch-outs
Themes that recur in makers' words and Hacker News comments, each linked to what it summarises.
Gemini APIMost loved
Watch-outs
On Product Hunt: 4.9★, 167 reviews · mentioned most: fast performance, multimodal capabilities, Google integration · complaints: inconsistent data, hallucinationsGrok APIOn Product Hunt: 4.7★, 18 reviews · mentioned most: creative problem-solvingWho uses each
Gemini API99 makers' products
8base
Appear on AI
Askiva AI
Asmi AI
Automaticall
Briefy
CiroGrok API6 makers' products
Chinilla
IFTTT
n8nChat
Weave Engineering Intelligence
BlacksmithUsed by both — often one replacing the other, or each for a different part of the product
What makers pair each with
With Gemini APIFrontend Framework
Eddie AI
FirstQuadrant
Genpire
giselle
EmailTemple
kuku
LayerProof
Incerto
SolidTransactional Email
Gemini API + Resend:Bookmarkjar ®
Built for Devs
Fume
Human Behavior
Hyring
Jinna.ai
Konfide
Lightning Rod
Migma AI
MobileScreen
Nautis
Notteand 10 more
Built for DevsFumeHuman BehaviorHyringJinna.aiKonfideLightning RodMigma AIMobileScreenNautisNotteand 10 more
Doraverse
Kommunicate
Nerve
Taskade
Vouch
THEO Growth
Balsamiq WireframesDatabase
Gemini API + Firebase:
1752vc Pitch Deck Analyzer
Founder Mode Checker
InstaNote
Kanbanq
Kipps AIRetriever AI
SoundGate Guitar
Blink.new
Waitlister
Enki
TrillionUrban Greenand 1 more
1752vc Pitch Deck AnalyzerFounder Mode CheckerInstaNoteKanbanqKipps AIRetriever AISoundGate GuitarBlink.newWaitlisterEnkiTrillionUrban Greenand 1 more
Prism AI
Slashy
Webhound
One Minute News
ShadowHosting
Gemini API + Amazon Web Services:
Agentplace.io
GoMarble
GroHuman BehaviorHyringKipps AIMigma AI
Mina
MiniculeNautisNotte
QualGentand 5 more
Agentplace.ioGoMarbleGroHuman BehaviorHyringKipps AIMigma AIMinaMiniculeNautisNotteQualGentand 5 moreGemini API + Google Cloud Platform:GoMarble
GretaJinna.aiMobileScreen
PropaneQualGent
RunLLMSoundGate Guitar
Youkti
Zipy
ClawMetry
Korland 1 more
GoMarbleGretaJinna.aiMobileScreenPropaneQualGentRunLLMSoundGate GuitarYouktiZipyClawMetryKorland 1 moreGemini API + Cloudflare:GroKonfide
SaturnBlink.newWaitlister
Crisp
GroKonfideSaturnBlink.newWaitlisterCrispWith Grok APIFrontend Framework
Grok API + React:agentfieldarchestradoryever-gauzyscirasourcebotArcReelatlasblumecherry-studiocherry-studio-appconarand 12 more
Firecrawl
GrowthBookAI SDK & Agent Framework
Mastra
TwentyNeither quite right?
See the whole LLM API decision →
OpenAI APIModel providerThe broadest model lineup — text, images, speech, embeddings — and the largest ecosystem.vs Gemini API →vs Grok API →
Claude
GroqOpen models, hostedVery low-latency inference on open models, for real-time features.vs Gemini API →vs Grok API →
Mistral AIModel providerA European provider whose API covers chat, coding, OCR and speech models.vs Gemini API →
DeepSeekModel providerLow per-token prices on strong reasoning and coding models, with OpenAI- and Anthropic-format endpoints.vs Gemini API →
OpenRouterGateway (many providers, one API)Trying many models from many providers with one API key and one bill, without opening an account at each.
LiteLLMGateway (many providers, one API)Running your own OpenAI-compatible proxy in front of your own provider keys, with retries, routing and per-key budgets.