Grok-3: How to Access and Use It

In February 2025, xAI dropped Grok-3, and it scored 93.3% on the toughest math competition benchmark (AIME 2025) beating ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude and Gemini.

If you've been following the AI space, you know Elon Musk launched xAI in 2023 to go head-to-head with OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. For two years, Grok couldn't compete with the leaders but Grok-3 finally closed that gap.

While ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude, or other AI tools are stuck with training data that's months old, Grok-3 plugs directly into X (Twitter) for live news, trending discussions, and breaking events. That means when you ask about current events or recent developments, you're getting fresh information.

In this guide, we're breaking down everything: What Grok-3 actually does, how it performs against ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude and Gemini, where you can access it, and whether it's worth the switch. We'll also cover its limitations, because let's be real, no AI is perfect for everything.

Let’s get into it.

What Is Grok-3 ?

Grok-3 is xAI's most advanced model yet. Compared to Grok-1 and Grok-2, Grok-3 is a big leap and now it stands alongside OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, and Anthropic.

It was trained on xAI's Colossus supercomputer using 10 times more computing power than its predecessor. It comes with a 1 million token context window (8x larger than Grok-2), meaning it can process entire research papers or codebases in one conversation without losing track.

It can break down complex problems into smaller parts, double-check its work, and refine its response before showing you anything. This is why it scored 93.3% on the 2025 AIME math competition.

Grok-3 has direct access to live X (Twitter) data. When you ask about breaking news or recent events, it's not pulling from months-old training data. It's reading actual posts and discussions happening right now.

Grok-3 Performance and Benchmark

Grok-3 delivered impressive results on industry-standard AI benchmarks, proving it can handle complex technical tasks.

Mathematics (AIME 2025): Scored 93.3% on one of the toughest high school math competitions, demonstrating strong problem-solving abilities.

Science (GPQA): Achieved 84.6% on graduate-level science questions spanning physics, chemistry, and biology.

Coding (LiveCodeBench): Scored 79.4% on real-world programming challenges that test practical coding skills.

User Preference (Chatbot Arena): Earned an Elo score of 1402 in blind comparison tests where real users evaluate AI responses.

Grok-3 excels at STEM tasks like math, science, and coding problems that require precise, logical reasoning. Its 1 million token context window also makes it ideal for analyzing long documents like research papers, legal contracts, or large codebases without losing track.

How to access Grok-3

Getting your hands on Grok-3 is straightforward, but access depends on where and how you want to use it.

Free Access (Basic)

All X (formerly Twitter) users can use Grok-3 for free with these limits:

• 10 prompts every 2 hours
• 10 images every 2 hours
• 3 image analyses per day

Good for trying it out, but the restrictions make it impractical for regular use.

X Premium Plans

X Premium ($8/month) Basic X Premium subscribers at $8/month get some Grok access, though with lower limits than Premium+. You also get X platform benefits like the verification checkmark and reduced ads.

X Premium+ ($40/month or $395/year) The full Grok-3 experience requires X Premium+ at $40/month (or $395/year). Premium+ subscribers get:

• 100 prompts every 2 hours
• 100 images every 2 hours
• 25 image analyses per day
• Ad-free X experience
• Priority support

Standalone Access via Grok.com

Access Grok-3 outside of X through:

• Grok.com - Web interface
• iOS and Android apps

SuperGrok Plan: $30/month (or $300/year) for higher usage limits and priority access to new features through the standalone Grok app.

Regional note: EU and UK users currently face access restrictions.

For Developers

API Access:

• $3 per million input tokens
• $15 per million output tokens

Grok-3 Use Cases (When to Choose Grok-3?)

With ChatGPT, Deepseek, Claude, Gemini, and a dozen other AI models out there, you're probably wondering: "Why would I choose Grok-3?"

Fair question. Grok-3 is the new player in a crowded field. But here's the thing: it's not trying to beat everyone at everything. Instead, it does specific things better than anyone else, and if those things match what you need, it's absolutely worth considering.

Here's when Grok-3 actually makes sense.

1. Technical Problem-Solving & STEM Work

Grok-3 actually thinks through problems. Whether it's advanced coding, complex mathematics, or scientific analysis, it processes queries with deeper reasoning. It catches bugs in your code that other AI tools miss. It walks through calculus problems step-by-step. It designs algorithms that actually work. Developers and students say it feels less like guessing and more like genuine problem-solving.

2. Long-Document Analysis

Grok-3 reads entire documents in one go. You can even analyse 200-page contracts, dense research papers, massive codebases. It has a large context window so you don't need to split things into chunks or lose context halfway through. Read full contracts without missing the fine print. Stack multiple studies side-by-side for research. Dig through old code without re-explaining things. Upload a spreadsheet and it'll find trends, compare year-over-year data, and turn numbers into insights.

3. Real-Time Intelligence with Deep Search

Grok-3 connects directly to X for live information. While other AI models use training data that's months old, Grok-3 has the ability to know what's happening right now. You can check breaking news. Track trending topics in real-time. See what people are actually saying about brands, events, or topics today, not last year. The Deep Search feature scans the web and pulls together detailed reports with sources.

4. More Willing to Engage

Grok-3 engages with topics other AI models avoid. Politics, cultural debates, controversial issues. It'll actually discuss them instead of giving safe, filtered responses. It has content policies like any AI, but it's built to have real conversations, not just approved ones.

Grok-3 vs. The Competition

ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Gemini, and Claude all have their strengths. Grok-3 does too.

Here's when each one makes sense.

When to Choose Grok-3

Pick Grok-3 if you need:

• Real-time information from X and the web (no other AI has live social media access)
• Technical precision for STEM work like math, coding, scientific analysis
• Long-document processing without splitting files into chunks (1M token window)
• Less filtered conversations on political or controversial topics

When to Choose ChatGPT

Pick ChatGPT if you need:

• Creative writing and marketing copy that feels natural
• Conversational flexibility for brainstorming and casual chats
• Extensive integrations with third-party tools and plugins
• Broad general knowledge for everyday questions

When to Choose DeepSeek

Pick DeepSeek if you need:

• Cost-effective AI with strong performance at lower prices
• Open-source flexibility for custom implementations
• Competitive reasoning on technical benchmarks
• Developer-friendly tools for building custom solutions

When to Choose Gemini

Pick Gemini if you need:

• Multimodal work with images, video, and audio
• Google Workspace integration for Docs, Sheets, Gmail
• Massive context windows (up to 2M tokens with Gemini 2.5)
• Visual understanding for complex image analysis

When to Choose Claude

Pick Claude if you need:

• Advanced coding projects with sustained, thoughtful analysis
• Nuanced reasoning for complex, multi-step problems
• Safety-focused responses with careful, accurate outputs
• Long-form writing with natural, human-like tone

Grok - 3 Limitations & Considerations

Grok-3 is impressive, but it's not perfect.

Here's what you should know.

It is Weak at Creative Work

Grok-3 struggles with creating engaging blog posts, compelling ad copy, or creative storytelling. Its output tends to be technical and straightforward. Great for accuracy, not so great for creativity. ChatGPT and Claude handle creative writing much better.

Privacy with X Integration

Grok-3's direct connection to X is powerful, but it raises privacy questions. Your interactions pull from public X data, and if you're using it through the X platform, your usage ties to your social media activity. Check the data controls in settings and turn off conversation history if you're working with sensitive information.

It's Still Evolving

Grok-3 is newer than ChatGPT or Claude, which means fewer third-party integrations, a smaller user community for troubleshooting, and features that are still being refined.

Think About What You Actually Need

Before jumping into Grok-3, ask yourself what problem you're trying to solve.

If you need real-time social media insights, technical accuracy for STEM work, or the ability to process massive documents, Grok-3 makes sense. It's built specifically for these tasks.

But if your main goal is creative content, marketing copy, or everyday AI assistance, you might not need Grok-3.

For businesses building custom AI solutions like support chatbots trained on company data or automated workflows. You can use Grok-3 through platforms like Chatbase. It lets you train Grok-3 (and other models) on your specific business data and deploy custom AI assistants without dealing with complex API setups. Starting at $19/month, it's designed for businesses that need AI tailored to their workflows rather than general-purpose chat.

The bottom line: Match the tool to your actual use case. Grok-3 excels at what it's designed for, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution.