The launch of the Elon Musk Grok has caused a massive storm within the AI community. Grok is an xAI-powered tool, connected with X (formerly Twitter), and its sole purpose is to improve the level of engagement and intelligence of the chatbot. But the big question is, what are the different Grok AI versions, and why is it important to know the differences before using them?
This Grok AI Review will go into detail about Grok 1.0 to 4.0 comparison and give readers a complete walk-through. Read on to know everything you need to determine the best Grok Version for you.
Grok AI Version Comparison Table
| Feature/Capability | Grok 1.0 | Grok 1.5 | Grok 2.0 | Grok 3.0 | Grok 4.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | November 2023 | May 15, 2024 | August 14, 2024 | February 17, 2025 | July 9, 2025 |
| Model Size | 314B | 128K | 130K | 2.7 trillion | Not officially disclosed |
| Reasoning Ability | Basic | Improved | Stronger contextual memory | Highest, 10x Grok 2.0 | Enhanced nuance + long-form logic |
| Multimodal Support | NA | NA | Limited image input | Yes (Image and limited video) | Yes (Text, image, video capable) |
| Web Access Integration | NA | Yes, X.com limited access | Yes | Yes | Live browsing supported |
| API Availability | NA | NA | NA | Yes (Private beta for X Premium) | Yes (Public via xAI) |
| Notable Limitation | Weak contextual memory | Still inconsistent outputs | No API access | Lacks full plugin ecosystem | Lacks some pro dev tools |
| Unique Features | Sarcastic tone, X-native | Humor tuned | Political engagement filter | Real-time X threat generation | Long-term memory, Grok personality tuning |
| Context Window Size | Small (~8K tokens) | Medium (~32K tokens) | 130K tokens | 200K+ tokens | 1M+ tokens (rumored) |
| Memory | Stateless | Stateless | Short-term recall | Persistent user memory (beta) | Enhanced memory with customization |
| Integration | Twitter only | X & X Spaces | X ecosystem | X + Tesla integration | xAI full suite + 3rd-party tools |
| Response Time Speed | Moderate | Faster than 1.0 | Fast | Very fast | Fast + Most accurate filtering |
| Pricing Plan | X Premium+ only | X Premium+ | X Premium+ | Premium+ / Enterprise tiers | X Premium+ or API tiered pricing |
Grok AI: A Quick Evolution Timeline
Grok 1.0
Grok 1.0 was released in November 2023, Elon Musk’s AI entry into the chatbot game. It uses a bold and sarcastic tone to communicate with humans, bringing a fresh and natural style unlike other chatbots.
Main Features –
- Basic chat feature
- Live integration with X or Twitter
- Provides collectively sarcastic and witty responses
- Moderate response speed
- Users enjoyed the engaging tone of the chatbot
Challenges and limitations –
- No web browsing available
- Limited file analysis
- Restricted reasoning
- Available only for X Premium
Who Should Use This Version?
It was suitable for users who valued witty, real-time conversational AI, especially those who spent significant time on X and enjoyed chatbots with attitude. It was not suitable for users who wanted free access, advanced productivity features, or multiplatform compatibility at its initial launch stage
Grok 1.5
Grok 1.5, which was launched in May 2024, was an upgrade to its predecessor. It had better reasoning abilities, dealt with context better, and provided even faster responses. It still provided witty, sarcastic conversations, which many users found entertaining and unique compared to other chatbots.
Main Features –
- Better quality conversations
- More relevant and faster responses compared to Grok 1.0
- Better integration with the X platform
- Users enjoyed the more organic conversational flow
Challenges and limitations –
- Still no web browsing feature
- No image or document analysis available
- Premium option available only for full access
Who Should Use This Version?
Suitable for X platform users who want even smarter and more casual chats
- Free Plan: Limited access by a standard X account
- Paid Plan ($30 per month): Full access, faster responses, priority features
Grok 2.0
Grok 2.0 was launched in August 2024 and offered significant advantages like greater contextual understanding, better memory, and an improved ability to carry out tasks. This version aimed to provide smoother multi-turn conversations while also supporting better reasoning tasks and making users more comfortable, relying on it for casual and semi-professional users.
Main Features –
- Content retention and improved memory
- Smarter and more coherent dialogues
- Faster responses with more accuracy
- Users enjoyed the more consistent performances and the chatbot’s ability to handle long conversations
Challenges and limitations –
- No image or file analysis yet
- Still did not allow real-time web browsing capability
- Limited technical or creative depth
Who Should Use This Version?
Suitable for everyday users on X looking for a more responsive and smarter AI chatbot
- Free Plan: Basic conversational access
- Paid Plan ($30 per month): Priority access, improvement to AI model, speed of performance enhancement
Grok 3.0
A better and more enhanced version, Grok 3.0, was launched in February 2025, and this was Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot’s latest release with web browsing, image analysis, file analysis, and even more sarcastic and human-like conversations. It featured DeepSearch and Think, which aimed at improving reasoning and accuracy.
Main Features –
- Web browsing
- File and image analysis
- Preloaded task modes like Research, Code, and Analyze
- Temporary chats for more privacy
- Users enjoyed the fun and witty tone of the chatbot and its powerful, multifunctional capabilities.
Challenges and limitations –
- Grok pricing plans may not be suitable for beginners
- May still lack depth in specialized areas
Who Should Use This Version?
Suitable for professionals, power users, and researchers on X
- Free Plan: Basic Grok version
- Paid Plan ($30 per month): Full access with web browsing and advanced tools
Grok 4.0
Grok 4.0, launched in July 2025, is specifically meant to support Elon Musk’s vision of developing a bold, real-time AI assistant inside the X platform. It clearly represents a significant milestone in the xAI roadmap, bringing along significant upgrades in reasoning, multi-modal input processing, and overall personalization. So, what’s new in Grok 4.0? Let’s find out.
Main Features –
- Upgraded real-time internet access
- Enhanced sarcasm detection (context-based)
- Expanded file processing capabilities that include video, audio, and documents
- Enhanced personalization based on user behavior and engagement
- Users enjoy the more witty and accurate responses to complex queries and the improved outputs specific to tasks.
Challenges and limitations –
- Still only available on the X platform
- Potentially high subscription fee of $30 per month for casual users
Who Should Use This Version?
Suitable for researchers, content creators, professionals, and general AI enthusiasts
- Free Plan: Access to Grok 2’s basic conversation only
- Paid Plan ($30 per month): All features of Grok 4.0 include premium tools and faster processing features.
Our Verdict
Grok made its debut in 2023 with Grok 1.0 and has made immense progress and transformation to Grok 4.0 in 2025 with its powerful and multi-modal chatbot that any AI software can aspire to be. We can now witness smarter reasoning, smarter integration, smarter personalization; all built into one impressive tool; one you can use today, offering real-time web browsing, file analysis, and advanced search logic.
While the free plan works pretty well for casual users, the paid plan allows professionals to unlock the full powers of Grok.
The key point: Grok is not just for fun; Grok is functional. So, keep your eyes open to further upgrades as xAI continues to expand possibilities for all forms of Grok AI.
FAQ’s
What’s new in Grok 4.0 compared to previous versions?
Grok 4.0 offers 10x better reasoning, multi-modal capabilities, and real-time web browsing compared to previous versions.
Is Grok AI available for free?
Yes, Grok AI is available for free but has usage restrictions.
Who can use Grok AI right now?
Grok AI is currently available for free to all users.
Can I access previous versions of Grok AI?
Yes, previous versions of Grok AI can be accessed depending on the account status and subscription tier of the users.
Will there be a Grok 5.0?
Considering the pace of transformation and upgrades that Grok AI has been making since its launch in 2023, we can only expect to see another upgrade to Grok 5.0, although there is no official confirmation from xAI yet.
Where can I use Grok AI?
You can use Grok AI on X (formerly Twitter).
