Gemma 3 4B vs Grok-4
Grok-4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Gemma 3 4B is 240.0x cheaper per token.
Google · xAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
Gemma 3 4B outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Grok-4 is better at 2 benchmarks (GPQA, LiveCodeBench). Grok-4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Gemma 3 4B is roughly 240.0x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Grok-4 also accepts a larger context window (256,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current benchmark, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose Gemma 3 4B
- cost matters — it's about 240.0x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Grok-4
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 2 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 256,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2025
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Gemma 3 4B outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Grok-4 is better at 2 benchmarks (GPQA, LiveCodeBench).
Grok-4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Playground indexes and blind preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Gemma 3 4B ($0.02/1M tokens) is 150.0x cheaper than Grok-4 ($3.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemma 3 4B ($0.04/1M tokens) is 375.0x cheaper than Grok-4 ($15.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok-4 is more expensive than Gemma 3 4B.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Grok-4 accepts 256,000 input tokens compared to Gemma 3 4B's 131,072 tokens. Gemma 3 4B can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while Grok-4 is limited to 8,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both Gemma 3 4B and Grok-4 support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Gemma 3 4B
Grok-4
License
Usage and distribution terms
Gemma 3 4B is licensed under Gemma, while Grok-4 uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Gemma
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Gemma 3 4B was released on 2025-03-12, while Grok-4 was released on 2025-07-09.
Grok-4 is 4 months newer than Gemma 3 4B.
Mar 12, 2025
1.5 years ago
Jul 9, 2025
1.1 years ago
3mo newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemma 3 4B has a knowledge cutoff of 2024-08-01, while Grok-4 has a cutoff of 2024-12-31.
Grok-4 has more recent training data (up to 2024-12-31), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to Gemma 3 4B (2024-08-01).
Aug 2024
Dec 2024
4 mo newerProvider Availability
Gemma 3 4B is available from DeepInfra. Grok-4 is available from xAI.
Gemma 3 4B
Grok-4
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Gemma 3 4B and Grok-4 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Gemma 3 4B vs Grok-4.