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Groq

Hosted inference API with published model speeds, prices and rate limits.

What it is

GroqCloud hosts a defined catalog of production and preview models behind Groq and mostly OpenAI-compatible APIs. Its model table publishes estimated token speed, pricing, context windows and developer limits. Actual workload latency and output quality still depend on the selected model, prompt, load and account limits.

Groq pricing

Groq does not publish a plan ladder we could verify. Usage-based pricing.

Prices read from the vendor's own pricing page on 2026-08-24. Vendors change plans without notice — check the source before you budget.

Key features

  • Hosted model API

    Calls active production and preview models using documented model IDs.

  • OpenAI compatibility

    Supports OpenAI client libraries with a Groq base URL, subject to documented differences.

  • Published model metrics

    Lists indicative token speed, price, context and limits for supported models.

  • Rate and spend controls

    Provides quota headers, usage monitoring, spend limits and budget alerts.

Strengths and trade-offs

What works well

  • Published model data: The catalog lists indicative token speed alongside price and limits.
  • OpenAI client migration: Groq documents compatibility through an alternative base URL.
  • Free and developer limits: Current quotas are documented by model and organization.
  • Usage controls: Billing dashboards, spend limits and budget alerts are available.

Where it falls short

  • Catalog boundary: Applications can only call models and systems currently hosted by GroqCloud.
  • Compatibility gaps: Some OpenAI request fields and output formats are not supported.
  • Rate limits: Requests can hit per-minute, per-day, token or audio limits at the organization level.
  • Preview risk: Preview models may be removed on short notice and are not documented for production use.

Who it is for

Developers evaluating latency-sensitive inference on GroqCloud's supported model catalog.

Pick it or skip it

Pick Groq if

  • Interactive workloads where measured response latency is a primary requirement
  • Teams migrating an OpenAI-style integration while accepting documented compatibility differences
  • Projects that fit GroqCloud's current production model catalog

Skip it if

  • A required model or OpenAI API parameter is unsupported
  • Your production design depends on a preview model remaining available
  • Your organization cannot operate within model-specific rate limits

Our verdict

Choose Groq after benchmarking the exact production model and prompt mix; published token rates are useful evidence, not a guarantee of end-to-end application latency.

Frequently asked questions

Does Groq have a free plan?
No free plan is listed on the vendor's pricing page. Groq is sold on usage-based pricing.
Who is Groq best for?
Developers evaluating latency-sensitive inference on GroqCloud's supported model catalog.
What are the main drawbacks of Groq?
The trade-offs we noted: Catalog boundary: Applications can only call models and systems currently hosted by GroqCloud.; Compatibility gaps: Some OpenAI request fields and output formats are not supported.; Rate limits: Requests can hit per-minute, per-day, token or audio limits at the organization level..
When should you not use Groq?
Skip Groq if: A required model or OpenAI API parameter is unsupported; Your production design depends on a preview model remaining available; Your organization cannot operate within model-specific rate limits.

What we checked

  • Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
  • Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.No
  • Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.No
  • SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No

“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.

Evidence and freshness

Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-08-24

Limit: Vendor-published speed and pricing were reviewed; ToolCompare did not benchmark end-to-end latency, availability or model quality.

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