grok-3-mini — Free AI Model & API

xai/grok-3-mini
chat
Get API key →
Context Window 131K
Max Output 8K
Rate Limit Credit-based
Cost $0.00 FREE
Free Period Since May 23, 2026
Credit Card Not required
Phone Verification Required
Status Online

Overview

grok-3-mini — free model from xAI.

Model ID
grok-3-mini
Base URL
https://api.x.ai/v1
Specifications
Context: 131K · Output: 8K · Modality: text · OpenAI Compat: No

Quick Start

Integrate grok-3-mini with 3 lines of code. See the config generator for Claude Code, Cursor, and more.

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.x.ai/v1",
    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY"
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="grok-3-mini",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)
import OpenAI from "openai";

const openai = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: "https://api.x.ai/v1",
  apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY",
});

const completion = await openai.chat.completions.create({
  model: "grok-3-mini",
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello!" }],
});

console.log(completion.choices[0].message.content);
curl "https://api.x.ai/v1/models/grok-3-mini:generateContent?key=YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "contents": [{"parts": [{"text": "Hello!"}]}]
  }'

Other Free Models from xAI

grok-4.3

1.0M context · No card

grok-4.1-fast

2.0M context · No card

Rate Limits & Constraints

Rate Limit Credit-based
Context Window 131K
Max Output Tokens 8K
Cost Free — since May 23, 2026
Credit Card Not required
OpenAI Compatible No — uses provider-native API

Features & Use Cases

Best For

Chat

Modality Support

text

Playground — Test grok-3-mini

Test grok-3-mini directly in your browser. Your API key is sent directly to xAI — never stored.

Model: grok-3-mini Get Key

🔒 Your key is never stored — sent directly to the model provider via our server proxy.

Ready to chat with grok-3-mini.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an API key for grok-3-mini?

Sign up at xAI to get your API key. No credit card is required — just an email sign-up. Once you have the key, use the code snippets in the Quick Start section above.

Is grok-3-mini really free?

Yes. grok-3-mini is available on xAI's free tier and has been free since May 23, 2026. Rate limits apply: Credit-based. Always check the provider's terms for any changes to the free tier.

What are grok-3-mini's rate limits?

Credit-based Context window: 131K. Max output: 8K. No credit card required.

What are the best free alternatives to grok-3-mini?

Popular free alternatives include inclusionAI: Ring-2.6-1T, Owl Alpha, NVIDIA: Nemotron 3 Nano Omni (free). You can also browse all 164+ free models on our site.

More questions? See our full FAQ →

Similar Free Models

inclusionAI: Ring-2.6-1T

OpenRouter · chat

Owl Alpha

OpenRouter · chat

NVIDIA: Nemotron 3 Nano Omni (free)

OpenRouter · chat, vision