GPT-6.1 Terra vs Grok 4
OpenAI · US | xAI · US · Updated June 2026
Quick verdict
Pick GPT-6.1 Terra for $1/$5 per million tokens (cached input $0.05) - half the price of gpt-6.1 sol and gpt-5.6 terra or terminal-bench 4.0 of 50.3% at maximum reasoning effort, versus 21.5% for gpt-5.6 terra (openai-reported). Pick Grok 4 for 256k context with native tool use or real-time data via x integration. On a tight budget at scale, GPT-6.1 Terra is the value pick.
GPT-6.1 Terra (OpenAI) and Grok 4 (xAI) are two of the models people most often weigh against each other in 2026. GPT-6.1 Terra is openAI's October 26, 2026 mid-tier model - a 1.05M-context, computer-use-capable GPT at $1/$5 per million tokens, half the price of its predecessor. Grok 4 is xAI's 2M-context model with live data access and strong reasoning chops. They diverge most on price and context window — each quantified below from the models' real specs.
Key differences at a glance
- ▸Price: GPT-6.1 Terra is about 3× cheaper on input ($1/$5 per 1M tokens vs $3/$15 per 1M tokens) — meaningful once you are processing millions of tokens a month.
- ▸Context window: GPT-6.1 Terra holds 4.1× more — 1.05M tokens (~1,575 pages) vs 256K (~384 pages). But effective recall usually fades long before the advertised ceiling, so the bigger number only helps if the model reasons over it.
- ▸Recency: GPT-6.1 Terra is the newer model by about 16 months (released October 26, 2026), usually meaning fresher training data and capabilities.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | GPT-6.1 Terra | Grok 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI (US) | xAI (US) |
| Released | October 26, 2026 | July 9, 2025 |
| Context window | 1.05M tokens (~1,575 pages) | 256K (~384 pages) |
| Price (in/out) | $1/$5 per 1M tokens | $3/$15 per 1M tokens |
| Open weight? | No — API only | No — API only |
| Modalities | text, image, code | text, image, code |
| SWE-Bench Verified | Not published | Not published |
| MRCR v2 @ 1M | Not published | Not published |
Who wins what
$1/$5 per million tokens (cached input $0.05) - half the price of GPT-6.1 Sol and GPT-5.6 Terra
GPT-6.1 Terra
At $1/$5 per 1M tokens it undercuts Grok 4 ($3/$15 per 1M tokens), and that gap compounds at volume.
Terminal-Bench 4.0 of 50.3% at maximum reasoning effort, versus 21.5% for GPT-5.6 Terra (OpenAI-reported)
GPT-6.1 Terra
Grok 4 is comparatively weak here — smaller ecosystem than OpenAI/Google
1.05M-token context with up to 128K output tokens, plus image input and computer use via the Responses API
GPT-6.1 Terra
Its 1.05M tokens window holds about 4.1× more than Grok 4's 256K in a single prompt.
256K context with native tool use
Grok 4
Grok 4 lists 256K context with native tool use among its strengths; GPT-6.1 Terra does not.
Real-time data via X integration
Grok 4
Grok 4 lists real-time data via X integration among its strengths; GPT-6.1 Terra does not.
Strong academic reasoning
Grok 4
Grok 4 lists strong academic reasoning among its strengths; GPT-6.1 Terra does not.
Lowest cost at scale
GPT-6.1 Terra
At $1/$5 per 1M tokens, it is the cheaper of the two — the gap dominates the bill on high-volume workloads.
Largest single-prompt input
GPT-6.1 Terra
Its 1.05M tokens window is about 4.1× larger than Grok 4's 256K, fitting roughly 1,575 pages in one prompt.
Which should you pick?
A cost-sensitive startup shipping high volume
→ GPT-6.1 Terra
At $1/$5 per 1M tokens it undercuts Grok 4, and on millions of tokens that margin decides the monthly bill.
Someone analysing very long documents or codebases
→ GPT-6.1 Terra
Larger 1.05M tokens window fits more in one prompt.
Anyone whose priority is $1/$5 per million tokens (cached input $0.05) - half the price of gpt-6.1 sol and gpt-5.6 terra
→ GPT-6.1 Terra
It is specifically built for that.
Anyone whose priority is 256k context with native tool use
→ Grok 4
That is its strongest area.
GPT-6.1 Terra: where it fits
OpenAI's October 26, 2026 mid-tier model - a 1.05M-context, computer-use-capable GPT at $1/$5 per million tokens, half the price of its predecessor. Released October 26, 2026 by OpenAI, it is built for $1/$5 per million tokens (cached input $0.05) - half the price of GPT-6.1 Sol and GPT-5.6 Terra, terminal-Bench 4.0 of 50.3% at maximum reasoning effort, versus 21.5% for GPT-5.6 Terra (OpenAI-reported), 1.05M-token context with up to 128K output tokens, plus image input and computer use via the Responses API, and error rate on OpenAI's hard-prompt set falls from 53.6% (GPT-5.6 Terra) to 16.7% at low effort and 4.3% at max effort.
Its trade-offs are real: openAI still positions Sol and Astra as the higher-capability choices for demanding coding problems, requests above 272K input tokens are billed at 2x input and 1.5x output for the whole request, closed weights and no fine-tuning support, and benchmark figures are vendor-reported; no SWE-bench Verified or MRCR numbers published. At $1 in / $5 out per million tokens, it sits in the budget price band.
Grok 4: where it fits
XAI's 2M-context model with live data access and strong reasoning chops. Released July 9, 2025 by xAI, it is built for 256K context with native tool use, real-time data via X integration, strong academic reasoning, and no long-context surcharge.
Its trade-offs: smaller ecosystem than OpenAI/Google, and less independent benchmark coverage. At $3 in / $15 out per million tokens, it sits in the mid price band.
The bottom line for this matchup
GPT-6.1 Terra and Grok 4 overlap enough that the right pick depends on your specific job. GPT-6.1 Terra costs less per token; GPT-6.1 Terra holds the larger context; and each leads in its own area — GPT-6.1 Terra for $1/$5 per million tokens (cached input $0.05) - half the price of gpt-6.1 sol and gpt-5.6 terra, Grok 4 for 256k context with native tool use. Rather than crowning one, run the same hard task through both once and let the results decide.
Want both GPT-6.1 Terra and Grok 4 without two subscriptions? LumiChats gives you these plus 40+ models under one ₹69/day pass (about $1/day) — draft with one, cross-check with the other.
See pricingFrequently asked questions
Is GPT-6.1 Terra or Grok 4 better for coding?
Public SWE-Bench figures are not available for either model, so the honest test is your own repository — run an identical real bug through both. By design, GPT-6.1 Terra leans toward $1/$5 per million tokens (cached input $0.05) - half the price of gpt-6.1 sol and gpt-5.6 terra while Grok 4 leans toward 256k context with native tool use, and that positioning usually predicts which feels better on your codebase.
Which is cheaper, GPT-6.1 Terra or Grok 4?
GPT-6.1 Terra is cheaper — $1/$5 per 1M tokens vs $3/$15 per 1M tokens, roughly 3× apart on input.
Which has the bigger context window?
GPT-6.1 Terra — 1.05M tokens vs 256K, about 4.1× larger. Useful only if the model actually reasons over the full window, which not all do.
Can I use both GPT-6.1 Terra and Grok 4 together?
Yes — a multi-model platform like LumiChats gives you GPT-6.1 Terra, Grok 4 and 40+ others under one ₹69/day pass (about $1/day), so you can draft with one and cross-check with the other instead of buying two subscriptions.
Which is newer, GPT-6.1 Terra or Grok 4?
GPT-6.1 Terra — released October 26, 2026, about 16 months after Grok 4.
Related comparisons
Specifications and benchmarks reflect publicly reported figures as of June 2026 and may change as providers release updates. Always verify on your own workload.