Model Comparison
Grok-3 vs Llama 3.1 70B InstructWhich is better in 2026?
Grok-3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Llama 3.1 70B Instruct is 30.0x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Grok-3 vs Llama 3.1 70B Instruct — which is better?
Grok-3 (by xAI) and Llama 3.1 70B Instruct (by Meta) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.
Grok-3 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Llama 3.1 70B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks. Grok-3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Llama 3.1 70B Instruct is roughly 30.0x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Choose Grok-3 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2025
Choose Llama 3.1 70B Instruct if…
- cost matters — it's about 30.0x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Grok-3 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Llama 3.1 70B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks.
Grok-3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Grok-3 ($3.00/1M tokens) is 15.0x more expensive than Llama 3.1 70B Instruct ($0.20/1M tokens).
For output processing, Grok-3 ($15.00/1M tokens) is 75.0x more expensive than Llama 3.1 70B Instruct ($0.20/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok-3 is more expensive than Llama 3.1 70B Instruct.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Both models have the same input context window of 128,000 tokens. Llama 3.1 70B Instruct can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while Grok-3 is limited to 8,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Grok-3 supports multimodal inputs, whereas Llama 3.1 70B Instruct does not.
Grok-3 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
Grok-3
Llama 3.1 70B Instruct
License
Usage and distribution terms
Grok-3 is licensed under a proprietary license, while Llama 3.1 70B Instruct uses Llama 3.1 Community License.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
Llama 3.1 Community License
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Grok-3 was released on 2025-02-17, while Llama 3.1 70B Instruct was released on 2024-07-23.
Grok-3 is 7 months newer than Llama 3.1 70B Instruct.
Feb 17, 2025
1.4 years ago
6mo newerJul 23, 2024
2.0 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Grok-3 has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-11-17, while Llama 3.1 70B Instruct's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Grok-3's training data extends to 2024-11-17, but cannot make a direct comparison without Llama 3.1 70B Instruct's cutoff date.
Nov 2024
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Provider Availability
Grok-3 is available from xAI. Llama 3.1 70B Instruct is available from Lambda, DeepInfra, Hyperbolic, Groq, Cerebras, Together, Fireworks, Bedrock, Sambanova.
Grok-3
Llama 3.1 70B Instruct
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
Grok-3Llama 3.1 70B InstructDetailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Grok-3 and Llama 3.1 70B Instruct side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
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FAQ
Common questions about Grok-3 vs Llama 3.1 70B Instruct.