text model comparison
DeepSeek-V4-Pro vs Grok 4.20
DeepSeek-V4-Pro and Grok 4.20 are both current text models, from DeepSeek and xAI. Grok 4.20 is 5% cheaper per 1M input tokens than DeepSeek-V4-Pro, $1.25 vs $1.32. On Arena Text, DeepSeek-V4-Pro scores 1465 Elo and Grok 4.20 1472 Elo (Arena, measured October 8, 2026). Both accept 1,000,000 tokens of context.
Data verified October 13, 2026 · Dataset 2026-10-13
Side by side
Standard-tier prices in effect today. The better value in each row is highlighted.
| Fact | DeepSeek-V4-Pro | Grok 4.20 |
|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M input tokens | $1.32 | $1.25 (better) |
| Price per 1M output tokens | $3.96 | $2.50 (better) |
| Cost of 10M input and 2M output tokens | $21.12 | $17.50 (better) |
| Arena Text | 1465 Elo (#29 of 49) | 1472 Elo (#26 of 49) (better) |
| GPQA Diamond | 91.7% (#19 of 40) (better) | 89.3% (#31 of 40) |
| FrontierMath Tiers 1-3 (v2) | 64.6% (#26 of 40) (better) | 44.9% (#34 of 40) |
| SimpleQA Verified | 52.9% (#18 of 36) (better) | 30.2% (#32 of 36) |
| Provider | DeepSeek | xAI |
| Release date | August 13, 2026 | March 10, 2026 |
| Access | API and open weights | API only |
| Context window | 1,000,000 tokens | 1,000,000 tokens |
| Max output | 384,000 tokens | Not reported |
| Input | text | text, image |
| Output | text | text |
When to choose each
DeepSeek-V4-Pro
Best for
- Agentic coding and terminal tasks
- Long-context jobs that need very long outputs
Watch out for
- The recorded rates are peak-hour prices (01:00 to 04:00 and 06:00 to 10:00 UTC on weekdays)
- No image input on the DeepSeek API, where the cheaper deepseek-flash has it
- DeepSeek had planned to retire it in September before extending service, so check its status before a long commitment
Grok 4.20
Best for
- Comparing single-agent and multi-agent reasoning on long-context workloads
Watch out for
- The published base rates double when requests reach the provider's 200,000-token long-context threshold
DeepSeek-V4-Pro vs Grok 4.20 FAQ
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek-V4-Pro or Grok 4.20?
Grok 4.20 is 5% cheaper per 1M input tokens than DeepSeek-V4-Pro, $1.25 vs $1.32. For 10M input and 2M output tokens, DeepSeek-V4-Pro costs $21.12 and Grok 4.20 $17.50 at standard rates.
Which scores higher on independent benchmarks, DeepSeek-V4-Pro or Grok 4.20?
Grok 4.20 leads on Arena Text, 1472 Elo to 1465 Elo; DeepSeek-V4-Pro leads on GPQA Diamond, 91.7% to 89.3%; DeepSeek-V4-Pro leads on FrontierMath Tiers 1-3 (v2), 64.6% to 44.9%. Scores are independent evaluations, not either vendor's launch figures.
Which has the larger context window, DeepSeek-V4-Pro or Grok 4.20?
Both accept 1,000,000 tokens of context.
Can I run DeepSeek-V4-Pro or Grok 4.20 myself?
DeepSeek-V4-Pro is released as open weights you can run yourself; Grok 4.20 is available through its provider's API only.
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Production evaluation
Choosing between DeepSeek-V4-Pro and Grok 4.20?
Public benchmarks narrow the shortlist. We run both on your own tasks, data and cost limits, then build the routing and review controls to run the winner in production.
- A head-to-head evaluation on your real workload
- Routing between models by cost and difficulty