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February 23, 2025
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8
min read
New Grok 3 release tops LLM leaderboards despite Musk-approved “based” opinions
George Miloradovich
Researcher, Copywriter & Usecase Interviewer
Grok 3 has set a new standard for AI models, breaking records with its performance in math, science, and coding benchmarks while sparking conversations about its "truth-seeking" approach. Here's why it stands out:
Quick Comparison:
| Feature | Grok 3 | Latenode | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Power | Advanced reasoning, 128K tokens | AI-assisted coding, custom workflows | Basic AI for workflows |
| Integrations | Limited to X ecosystem | 300+ apps, custom nodes | 6,000+ apps |
| Pricing | $30-$40/month | $17 for 10,000 executions | Free to enterprise tiers |
| Strengths | STEM, real-time analysis | Cost efficiency, custom code | App ecosystem, simplicity |
Grok 3 is ideal for advanced STEM tasks, Latenode shines in cost-effective custom workflows, and Zapier is unbeatable for app integrations. Read on to find the best fit for your needs.
Grok 3 represents a leap forward in AI technology, trained on ten times more data than its predecessor, Grok 2, using xAI's data center powered by 200,000 GPUs.
One standout feature is DeepSearch, a virtual research assistant that combs through the web, explains its reasoning, and produces detailed, data-backed reports. Adding to its capabilities, the Think mode enhances Grok 3's ability to tackle technical challenges with precision.
When it comes to solving complex problems, Grok 3 delivers impressive results. Its Think mode has achieved high scores across several benchmarks:
| Domain | Performance | Industry Context |
|---|---|---|
| AIME 2025 (Mathematics) | 93.3% | Outperforms GPT-o1 Pro (86%) |
| GPQA (Graduate Reasoning) | 84.6% | Beats GPT-o1 (78%) |
| LiveCodeBench | 79.4% | Excels in code generation tasks |
Grok 3 is versatile in handling various file formats, including PDFs, images, text, CSV, XML, Word, and Excel files. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses managing diverse data needs.
The platform offers two pricing tiers: X Premium+ at $40/month, which includes core features and DeepSearch, and SuperGrok at $30/month, providing higher usage limits, Think mode, and unlimited image generation.
One of Grok 3's standout technical features is its 1 million-token context window, far exceeding GPT-o1 Pro's 128K tokens. This expanded capacity allows it to process longer documents and handle more intricate prompts with ease.
"Something that might take you half an hour or an hour of researching on the web or searching social media, you can just ask it to go do that and come back, and 10 minutes later it's done an hour's worth of work to you. And maybe better than you could have done it yourself." - Elon Musk
"I think Grok 3 came in right at expectations, so I don't think there is much to update in terms of consensus projections on AI: still accelerating development, speed is a moat, compute still matters, no obvious secret sauce to making a frontier model if you have talent & chips."
Latenode is a low-code automation platform designed to improve developer efficiency and cut costs. Its AI Code Copilot can generate, explain, and fix code while seamlessly integrating APIs.
One standout aspect of Latenode is its pricing model. Unlike competitors, it uses execution-based pricing, which can lead to massive savings. For example, running 10,000 executions costs just $17 with Latenode compared to $411-$568 on other platforms:
| Scenario Scale | Latenode Cost | Competitor Cost | Potential Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 executions | $17 | $411-$568 | Up to 96% |
| 100,000 executions | $97 | $2,088-$2,563 | Up to 95% |
| Custom workflows | Based on processing time | Per task/operation | Up to 90% |
The platform offers a wide range of technical features, including full JavaScript support with access to NPM packages, a built-in IDE with AI-powered autocomplete, and syntax highlighting. It also includes tools for efficient data handling, such as a built-in database, a headless browser for web scraping, and advanced flow logic with sub-scenarios and branching operations.
"Latenode has replaced Zapier and Make⚡️ Our business requires us to send lots of webhooks every day and we need a reliable service that's easy on the pockets and that's Latenode".
Latenode is versatile enough to handle tasks like automatically sorting client requests - directing complaints to Quality Control and marketing inquiries to the CMO via Slack. It also supports SEO content generation by parsing Google SERP results to help create AI-assisted articles.
The pricing structure is flexible, offering options for various user needs. It ranges from a free individual plan to an Enterprise plan at $299 per month for teams of 10 or more users. Unlike competitors, all plans include webhook functionality, which is often restricted to premium tiers elsewhere.
"Latenode is a cheaper but powerful alternative to the usual AI automation tools. It's easy to use, even for beginners, thanks to its simple and intuitive interface".
Zapier stands out in automation with integrations for over 7,000 apps, used by 2.2 million companies worldwide. It has grown into a robust automation platform, offering tools like Interfaces and Tables as standalone systems. This shift has made setting up workflows quick and accessible, paired with flexible pricing options.
Creating a Zap takes less than six minutes, a key reason why 87% of Forbes Cloud 100 companies rely on Zapier.
"Zapier has released a ton of new products over the last year and it's transformed Zapier from an integration tool to a full-fledged automation platform. Now, we can create standalone systems using Zapier's products like Interfaces and Tables."
– Connor Sheffield, Head of Business Automation at Zonos
Zapier's pricing ranges from a free plan (100 tasks/month) to enterprise-level solutions. However, charges based on workflow steps can make it expensive for high-volume tasks. More advanced features like branching and filtering are only available in higher-tier plans, which may pose challenges for businesses needing complex workflows.
The platform prioritizes security and compliance, holding certifications like SOC 2 (Type II), SOC 3, GDPR, and CCPA. Additionally, 93% of users report improved job performance after adopting Zapier.
"Just last month, we had 1,100 help desk requests from our 1,700 employees. Normally, that many requests would overwhelm our team of three, but through our help desk workflows in Zapier, we resolved them easily. Our team of three is able to perform like a team of 10."
– Marcus Saito, Director of IT, Remote.com
Grok 3's release is changing the landscape of AI automation. Here's a breakdown of how it stacks up against Latenode and Zapier in terms of AI capabilities, integrations, processing power, cost, and main advantages.
| Feature | Grok 3 | Latenode | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Capabilities | Advanced reasoning with 2.7T parameters and a 67ms response time | AI-assisted code generation and debugging; multi-LLM chaining | Basic AI Copilot for workflow creation |
| Integration Scope | Limited to the X ecosystem | 300+ integrations with custom nodes | Over 6,000 app integrations |
| Token Capacity | 128K token context window | Not specified | Limited by task-based execution |
| Monthly Cost | $30-40 based on tier | Starting at $17 (10,000 executions) | Free to Enterprise (usage-based) |
| Key Strengths | Real-time analysis and advanced STEM solutions | Affordable pricing and custom code support | Extensive app ecosystem and user-friendly workflows |
Each platform shines in different areas, making them suitable for specific needs.
Grok 3 stands out with its advanced reasoning capabilities, real-time web access, and a 128K token capacity. These features make it a great choice for STEM tasks and organizations requiring detailed, on-the-fly analysis. However, its integration options are limited to the X ecosystem, which might be restrictive for some.
Latenode is ideal for businesses looking to save costs, offering up to 30× savings through its processing time–based pricing model. It supports custom code, execution history, version control, and a full development environment, making it perfect for creating tailored workflows.
"Latenode is an extremely impressive product! Latenode's support for custom code has allowed us to tailor automation solutions precisely to our (and our clients) needs..." - Wael Esmair
Zapier, with its 6,000+ app integrations, is unmatched when it comes to connecting a wide range of tools. Its simplicity and vast ecosystem make it a go-to for organizations that prioritize convenience and pre-built solutions.
For enterprises, Grok 3 offers unmatched AI capabilities and real-time insights. If app integration is the main goal, Zapier's extensive network is the winner. For teams needing highly customized workflows, Latenode delivers the flexibility and tools to meet those demands.
Based on the platform evaluations, here’s a breakdown of strategic options for businesses. Grok 3, built using a 200,000 GPU cluster in just 122 days, processes data from 90 sources in only 52 seconds. While it stands out for its speed and advanced analytics, Latenode is a budget-friendly option for customization, and Zapier shines with its broad app integration capabilities.
Enterprise Research & Development
Grok 3 is ideal for advanced reasoning and STEM-related tasks. Its Think mode and DeepSearch features handle complex problem-solving efficiently. However, keep in mind the cost of $0.0035 per token when calculating ROI.
Small to Medium Businesses
Choosing the right platform comes down to balancing advanced AI features with integration needs. Grok 3 excels in AI performance, but its ecosystem restrictions highlight the importance of flexibility in workflow integration.
