Grok API vs Groq
Two sides of the LLM API decision: model provider and open models, hosted. When each fits, what it costs, who moves from one to the other, and what makers who chose it say.
Which fits you
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.
Choose Groq if- Token cost dominates your budget, for example high-volume batch or agent workloads
Use it whenResponse speed matters more than having the most capable model, as in voice or autocomplete.
Trade-offOnly the open models it chooses to host, and no frontier closed models.
At a glance
| Grok API | Groq | |
|---|---|---|
| Used by | 6 makers' products · 33 open-source projects | 39 makers' products · 62 open-source projects |
| Cost at default usageinput tokens 50 million tokens, output tokens 10 million tokens | — | $6.75/mo GPT OSS 20B |
| Downloads | 2.3M/wk4.8× vs npm | 1.8M/wk3.9× vs npm |
| Pricing | Pay per token; image, video and voice priced per unit. · paid from Pay per token | Free tier with rate limits; pay per token. · paid from Pay per token |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
Cost as you grow
At 1M tokens Groq costs less ($0.14 vs $1.75); and still does at 5B tokens ($675 vs $8,750). They're different kinds of tool — model provider and open models, hosted — so the prices don't buy the same thing.
The numbers, plan by plan
| Input tokens per month | Grok API | Groq |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.75 Grok 4.3 | $0.14 GPT OSS 20B |
| 5 | $8.75 Grok 4.3 | $0.68 GPT OSS 20B |
| 10 | $18 Grok 4.3 | $1.35 GPT OSS 20B |
| 50 | $88 Grok 4.3 | $6.75 GPT OSS 20B |
| 100 | $175 Grok 4.3 | $14 GPT OSS 20B |
| 500 | $875 Grok 4.3 | $68 GPT OSS 20B |
| 1,000 | $1,750 Grok 4.3 | $135 GPT OSS 20B |
| 5,000 | $8,750 Grok 4.3 | $675 GPT OSS 20B |
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 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!
On GroqShoutout to Groq — the lightning fast inference engine running Voicr's AI under the hood. Without Groq's speed, that under 3 seconds promise wouldn't be possible.
We love using Groq hosting and models. They are a core part of our chat and widget agents. The models are lightning fast and the Groq team is fantastic.
Groq powers our RAG sandbox with their lightning fast inference APIs and the team there is helpful and amazing to work with.
Loved and watch-outs
Themes that recur in makers' words and Hacker News comments, each linked to what it summarises.
Grok APIOn Product Hunt: 4.7★, 18 reviews · mentioned most: creative problem-solvingWho uses each
Agentplace.io
Chinilla
IFTTT
n8nChat
Weave Engineering Intelligence
Blacksmith
Antispace
Automaticall
Bebop.ai
ClarityUX
Extra Thursday
Friends & Fables
graph8
KushoAI
Lagrange by OrangeCat
Magine
Mentara
MindPalWhat makers pair each with
With Grok API
Firecrawl
GrowthBook
Mastra
TwentyWith Groq
NBot
Symvol Video AI for Education
Vectorize
Vomyra AI
Yap-It
Vamah.ai
inbox-zero
PriceSnap
Plane
Voquill
Klariqo AI Voice Assistants
Pretty Prompt
Slashspace AI
Slashy
Triqai
Omnifact
Featurebase
LiveKit
TelnyxNeither quite right?
See the whole LLM API decision →
OpenAI APIModel providerThe broadest model lineup — text, images, speech, embeddings — and the largest ecosystem.vs Grok API →vs Groq →
Claude
Gemini APIModel providerVery long context and multimodal input, with a free tier to start.vs Grok API →vs Groq →
Mistral AIModel providerA European provider whose API covers chat, coding, OCR and speech models.
DeepSeekModel providerLow per-token prices on strong reasoning and coding models, with OpenAI- and Anthropic-format endpoints.
OpenRouterGateway (many providers, one API)Trying many models from many providers with one API key and one bill, without opening an account at each.vs Groq →
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.