xAI Grok Build 0.1 Pricing 2026: $1.00/$2.00 Budget Code Model
xAI's cheapest API model — optimized for code generation and API development. But is it the best budget option? Here's how it compares.
What is Grok Build 0.1?
Grok Build 0.1 is xAI's budget-tier API model, originally designed for code generation, API scaffolding, and development tasks. At $1.00 input and $2.00 output per 1M tokens, it's the cheapest way to access xAI's Grok model family.
With a 256K context window, Grok Build 0.1 handles most code-related tasks well, though it falls short of the 1M context available on Grok 4.3 and other premium models. It's best suited for developers who want xAI ecosystem access at the lowest price point.
Key Specs
- Pricing: $1.00 input / $2.00 output per 1M tokens
- Context window: 256K tokens
- Provider: xAI (same company behind X/Twitter)
- Tier: Budget (cheapest xAI model)
- Best for: Code generation, API development, basic tasks
- Unique advantage: Access to real-time X (Twitter) data
Grok Build 0.1 vs Competitors
How does xAI's cheapest model stack up against budget options from other providers?
| Model | Input | Output | Context | Monthly cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qwen 3.7 Flash | $0.03 | $0.13 | 1M | $0.03 |
| GPT-5 nano | $0.05 | $0.40 | 128K | $0.07 |
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | $0.22 | $0.66 | 1M | $0.14 |
| GPT-5 mini | $0.25 | $2.00 | 272K | $0.35 |
| Kimi K2.6 | $0.95 | $4.00 | 256K | $1.46 |
| Grok Build 0.1 | $1.00 | $2.00 | 256K | $0.88 |
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | $1.00 | $5.00 | 200K | $1.63 |
*Monthly cost based on 25K requests × 1K input + 500 output tokens each
When to Choose Grok Build 0.1
✅ Good fit
- You need xAI ecosystem access at the lowest price
- Your app uses real-time X (Twitter) data via xAI's API
- You're building on xAI and want a budget fallback model
- Basic code completion and API scaffolding tasks
❌ Better alternatives exist
- Pure cost optimization: DeepSeek V4 Flash ($0.22/$0.66) is 4x cheaper with 4x more context
- Code quality: GPT-5 mini ($0.25/$2.00) or Claude Haiku 4.5 ($1.00/$5.00) for better code output
- Ultra-budget: GPT-5 nano ($0.05/$0.40) or Qwen 3.7 Flash ($0.03/$0.13) for simple tasks
- More context: Grok 4.3 ($1.25/$2.50, 1M) for only 25% more with 4x the context
Real-World Cost Scenario
25,000 code generation tasks per month
Each task: 1,000 input tokens + 500 output tokens
- Grok Build 0.1: $0.88/month
- Grok 4.3: $1.09/month (+$0.21 for 4x context)
- DeepSeek V4 Flash: $0.14/month (84% cheaper)
- GPT-5 mini: $0.35/month (60% cheaper)
For code generation specifically, DeepSeek V4 Flash delivers similar quality at a fraction of the cost. Grok Build 0.1 only makes sense if you specifically need xAI ecosystem features.
xAI Model Family Comparison
| Model | Input | Output | Context | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grok Build 0.1 | $1.00 | $2.00 | 256K | Budget code tasks |
| Grok 4.3 | $1.25 | $2.50 | 1M | General purpose |
| Grok 4.20 | $1.25 | $2.50 | 1M | General purpose |
| Grok 4.5 | $2.00 | $6.00 | 500K | xAI recommended |
| Grok 4.6 | $2.00 | $6.00 | 500K | Newest, best quality |
For most xAI use cases, Grok 4.3 is the better value — it costs only 25% more than Build 0.1 but offers 4x the context and significantly better general-purpose capability. Grok Build 0.1 only wins on pure price within the xAI ecosystem.
Calculate your exact Grok Build 0.1 costs
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What is Grok Build 0.1?
Grok Build 0.1 is xAI's cheapest API model, priced at $1.00 input and $2.00 output per 1M tokens with a 256K context window. It was originally designed for code generation and API development tasks. It's the budget entry point to xAI's Grok model family.
How much does Grok Build 0.1 cost?
Grok Build 0.1 costs $1.00 per 1M input tokens and $2.00 per 1M output tokens. For a workload of 25,000 code generation tasks per month with 1K input and 500 output tokens each, the total monthly cost is approximately $0.88.
Is Grok Build 0.1 good for code generation?
Grok Build 0.1 is decent for basic code generation, completion, and API scaffolding at its price point. However, for serious coding workloads, DeepSeek V4 Flash ($0.22/$0.66) offers better value with 4x lower cost and 4x larger context (1M vs 256K).
How does Grok Build 0.1 compare to DeepSeek V4 Flash?
DeepSeek V4 Flash is significantly cheaper at $0.22/$0.66 vs Grok Build 0.1's $1.00/$2.00 — about 4.5x cheaper on input and 3x cheaper on output. DeepSeek also has a 4x larger context window (1M vs 256K). The main advantage of Grok Build 0.1 is access to xAI's ecosystem and real-time X data.
What is the difference between Grok Build 0.1 and Grok 4.3?
Grok Build 0.1 ($1.00/$2.00, 256K context) is xAI's budget model optimized for code and API tasks. Grok 4.3 ($1.25/$2.50, 1M context) is xAI's mid-tier general-purpose model with 4x the context window and better reasoning capabilities. For most use cases, Grok 4.3 is the better value.
What are the best alternatives to Grok Build 0.1?
For cheaper code generation: DeepSeek V4 Flash ($0.22/$0.66, 1M context) is 4x cheaper. For similar price but better quality: Claude Haiku 4.5 ($1.00/$5.00, 200K) or Kimi K2.6 ($0.95/$4.00, 256K). For ultra-budget: GPT-5 nano ($0.05/$0.40) or Qwen 3.7 Flash ($0.03/$0.13).
Is Grok Build 0.1 being deprecated?
There is no announced deprecation timeline for Grok Build 0.1 as of August 2026. Unlike OpenAI's reasoning models (o3-mini, o4-mini) which have confirmed shutdown dates, xAI has not announced any plans to retire Build 0.1. However, given its relatively limited capabilities compared to newer Grok models, it may eventually be phased out.