DeepSeek vs Grok

DeepSeek and Grok sit in the same category. The verdict below is calculated for each role from the tasks, the role fit and the price.

Short answer

Grok wins for 9 of 19 roles in our data. Grok starts at $8/mo; DeepSeek publishes no fixed price.

Verdict by role

Role	Better choice	Why
Accountant	DeepSeek	covers 1 tasks relevant to this role against 0; works for free
HR manager	DeepSeek	covers 1 tasks relevant to this role against 0; works for free
Finance manager	DeepSeek	covers 1 tasks relevant to this role against 0; built for this role; works for free
Manager	Grok	covers 3 tasks relevant to this role against 1
Marketer	Grok	covers 3 tasks relevant to this role against 1
Sales manager	Grok	covers 3 tasks relevant to this role against 1; part of the role's core toolkit
Data analyst	Grok	covers 2 tasks relevant to this role against 1
Teacher	Grok	covers 3 tasks relevant to this role against 1
Executive assistant	Grok	covers 3 tasks relevant to this role against 1
Logistics manager	Either one	even on tasks, DeepSeek is cheaper to start
Procurement manager	Either one	even on tasks, DeepSeek is cheaper to start
Secretary	Grok	covers 3 tasks relevant to this role against 1
Recruiter	DeepSeek	covers 1 tasks relevant to this role against 0; works for free
HR administrator	DeepSeek	covers 1 tasks relevant to this role against 0; works for free
Tax consultant	DeepSeek	covers 1 tasks relevant to this role against 0; works for free
Auditor	DeepSeek	covers 1 tasks relevant to this role against 0; works for free
Economist	DeepSeek	covers 1 tasks relevant to this role against 0; built for this role; works for free
Project manager	Grok	covers 3 tasks relevant to this role against 1
Social media manager	Grok	covers 3 tasks relevant to this role against 1

Side by side

	DeepSeek	Grok
Vendor	DeepSeek	xAI
Category	Chat assistants	Chat assistants
Free plan	Yes: A free chat; at peak hours the service is slow or temporarily unavailable	Yes: A limited number of messages every few hours, limited reasoning and DeepSearch, image generation with a small quota
Cheapest paid plan	price on request	X Premium, $8/mo
Top plan	price on request	SuperGrok Heavy, $300/mo
Tasks covered	1	3

DeepSeek: Free chat with DeepSeek reasoning models that are strong in math and code.

Grok: xAI chat with real-time access to the X feed, for mention monitoring and quick reviews.

Only DeepSeek covers

Get a spreadsheet formula from a plain-language request

Only Grok covers

Pitfalls to watch at work

DeepSeek

Data is stored on servers in China and accessible under Chinese law: keep out personal data, company documents, contracts and financial reports
Answers on the war, China and politics are censored, so the service is unsuitable for such questions
Many governments and companies have banned DeepSeek on work devices: check your company's rules before installing the app

Grok

The default model has fewer guardrails on style and claims: proofread client-facing text more carefully than after other chats
In X settings, turn off permission for Grok to train on your posts and conversations, which is on by default
X data is people's posts rather than facts: check a quote from the feed in the primary source before it goes into a report

FAQ

Is DeepSeek or Grok better for work?

In our data Grok is the better choice for 9 of 19 roles. The table above shows the reason for each role.

Which is cheaper, DeepSeek or Grok?

Grok starts at $8/mo; DeepSeek publishes no fixed price.

Do DeepSeek and Grok have free plans?

DeepSeek: Yes. A free chat; at peak hours the service is slow or temporarily unavailable. Grok: Yes. A limited number of messages every few hours, limited reasoning and DeepSearch, image generation with a small quota.

Compare DeepSeek with

Compare Grok with

Alternatives to DeepSeek · Alternatives to Grok · DeepSeek pricing · Grok pricing