DeepSeek or Grok: which to choose?
DeepSeek and Grok compared on what matters day to day: price, features, apps and privacy.
Data as of October 22, 2026
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | DeepSeek | Grok |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | DeepSeek | SpaceXAI (xAI) |
| Country | China | United States |
| Launched | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Free version | Yes | Yes, limited |
| Plans | Not disclosed | from $8 / month |
| Web search | Yes | Yes |
| Agent mode | Not disclosed | Yes |
| File upload | Yes | Yes |
| Image generation | No | Yes |
| Voice mode | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Memory | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Code execution | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Autonomous browsing | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| macOS | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Browser extension | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| French interface | Yes | Not disclosed |
| Spanish interface | Yes | Not disclosed |
| Opt out of training on your chats | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary chat | Not disclosed | Yes |
| EU data residency | No | Not disclosed |
The match-up at a glance
DeepSeek is made by DeepSeek; Grok by SpaceXAI (xAI). Both answer questions, write and summarise, but their plans, features and privacy rules differ.
DeepSeek runs on DeepSeek-V4-Pro and DeepSeek-V4-Flash; Grok runs on Grok 4.7.
DeepSeek’s developer is based in: China. Grok’s developer is based in: United States.
Survey carried out on October 22, 2026 from the official pages of both services.
Free or paid?
- DeepSeek: full free version
- Grok: limited free version
- DeepSeek: no publicly priced paid plan
- Grok: first paid plan at $8 per month
Features compared
Both offer: web search and file upload.
Grok also offers image generation, which DeepSeek lacks.
Not confirmed for one of the two: agent mode, voice mode and memory.
In total, of the 8 features we track, 2 are confirmed for DeepSeek and 6 for Grok. A feature may only be available on a paid plan: check before you subscribe.
Platforms
Both available on: Web, iPhone and Android.
Your data
Both allow: opt out of training on your chats.
In short
The best way to decide is still to try both free versions on the same task. To widen the choice, use the AI assistants comparison or the which-AI quiz.
- Choose DeepSeek for coding.
- Choose Grok for creating images.
Other comparisons
Frequently asked questions
DeepSeek or Grok: which one is free?
DeepSeek: full free version. Grok: limited free version.
Which one is cheaper?
A direct comparison is not possible (unpriced plan or different currencies). DeepSeek: no publicly priced paid plan. Grok: first paid plan at $8 per month.
Which one protects my data best?
Grok, with 2 of three safeguards confirmed (training opt-out, temporary chat, EU data residency), versus 1.
Which one should I choose?
Choose DeepSeek for coding. Choose Grok for creating images.
Data sources
Data as of October 22, 2026
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