kitio.aiGrok vs DeepSeek
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. DeepSeek is completely free, while Grok is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Real-time X and web search
- DeepSearch research
- Grok Imagine images and video
- Voice mode
- Companion characters
- Deep-thinking mode
- Web search
- File uploads
- Mobile apps
- Open-weight models
| Feature | Grok | DeepSeek |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Chat assistant with live X posts, web search, image and video tools | Free chat app from DeepSeek with strong reasoning and coding models |
| Category | Chat assistants | Chat assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $8/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | SpaceX Super Intelligence (formerly xAI) | DeepSeek |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Pricing compared
DeepSeek is completely free, while Grok is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Free
Free
- Limited Grok usage
- Web and X search
Plus
$8/mo
- X Subscription tier
- More Grok usage
- X Premium perks
Premium
$30/mo
- Higher Grok limits
- Advanced models
Super
$100/mo
- Much higher usage caps
- Priority access
Ultra
$200/mo
- Highest usage limits
- Top models and features
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Grok
- Up-to-date answers from X posts
- Bundled with X and Cursor perks
- Fast image and video generation
- Looser moderation has drawn criticism
- Plans and names changed often
- Best models sit on higher tiers
DeepSeek
- Completely free to use
- Strong math and coding answers
- Shows its reasoning steps
- Banned on some government devices
- Censors politically sensitive topics
- Servers can be busy at peak times
Which one should you choose?
Choose Grok if you want:
- Up-to-date answers from X posts
- Bundled with X and Cursor perks
- Fast image and video generation
Watch out: looser moderation has drawn criticism.
Choose DeepSeek if you want:
- Completely free to use
- Strong math and coding answers
- Shows its reasoning steps
Watch out: banned on some government devices.
Grok vs DeepSeek FAQ
What is the difference between Grok and DeepSeek?
Grok: Chat assistant with live X posts, web search, image and video tools. DeepSeek: Free chat app from DeepSeek with strong reasoning and coding models. Both are chat assistants tools.
Is Grok or DeepSeek cheaper?
DeepSeek is completely free, while Grok is freemium.
Do Grok and DeepSeek have free plans?
Grok: Yes. DeepSeek: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Grok?
Grok is made by SpaceX Super Intelligence (formerly xAI), based in United States.
Who makes DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is made by DeepSeek, based in China.
Which should I choose, Grok or DeepSeek?
Choose Grok if you value up-to-date answers from x posts and bundled with x and cursor perks. Choose DeepSeek if you value completely free to use and strong math and coding answers.