Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 1, 2026
In this head-to-head showdown, GPT-5 delivers higher overall intelligence and human-preferred responses (Elo 1,558 vs 1,405), while GPT-5 leads in SWE-bench software engineering benchmarks (68.4%), while Grok 3 is more budget-friendly at $15/1M per 1M output tokens. Review the complete breakdown below to determine which model best fits your performance and budget requirements.
9 direct benchmark disciplines evaluated across capability, speed, and cost
OpenAI flagship reasoning model for 2025–26. Strong general preference Elo and multimodal coverage.
Previous xAI generation before Grok 4. Kept for grok 3 vs grok 4.
Simulate accuracy gains vs added response time & token cost
Reasoning models “think before answering” by generating internal reasoning tokens. Higher effort improves math, coding, and logic accuracy, but increases response delay and token costs.
Δ 153 Arena Elo pts
88 tok/s
$15 / 1M output
Relative percentile scores computed across all active models in the benchmark catalog.
Comparing top Western standard models with China's leading frontier rival across 6 skill dimensions. Tap any spoke or dot to inspect.
Category wins across reasoning intelligence, generation speed, and token cost.
Preference Elo, Coding proficiency, SWE-bench & LiveBench accuracy
Generation throughput and time to first token responsiveness
Cost per million tokens and max context window length
| Benchmark | GPT-5 | Grok 3 | Advantage Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preference Elo | +153 | ||
| Coding Elo | — | — | |
| LiveBench | +9.6% | ||
| SWE-bench | +17% | ||
| GPQA Diamond | +11% | ||
| Time to first token | +40 ms | ||
| Output speed | 78 tok/s | 88 tok/s | +10 tok/s |
| Input price | +$2/1M | ||
| Output price | +$5/1M | ||
| Context window | +269k |
Simulate monthly production API costs in USD (US Dollar).
Grok 3 is estimated to save $145.00/month ($1,740/year).
Higher SWE-bench (68.4%).
Lower output list price ($15/1M).
Lower TTFT (250 ms).
Larger window (400k).
Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-5).
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | GPT-5 | Higher SWE-bench (68.4%). |
| High-volume chat | Grok 3 | Lower output list price ($15/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | Grok 3 | Lower TTFT (250 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | GPT-5 | Larger window (400k). |
| Screenshots / vision | GPT-5 | Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-5). |
No comments posted on this matchup yet. Be the first to share an evaluation note!
Dynamic OpenGraph banner generated at /compare/gpt-5-vs-grok-3/opengraph-image
Verified Head-to-Head Telemetry