Model Comparison

GPT-4 vs GPT-4.1Which is better in 2026?

GPT-4.1 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GPT-4.1 is 10.7x cheaper per token.

Verdict: GPT-4 vs GPT-4.1 — which is better?

GPT-4 (by OpenAI) and GPT-4.1 (by OpenAI) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

GPT-4 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GPT-4.1 is better at 2 benchmarks (GPQA, MMLU). GPT-4.1 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

On price, GPT-4.1 is roughly 10.7x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

GPT-4.1 also accepts a larger context window (1,047,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose GPT-4 if…

  • you want predictable pricing at $30.00/M input and $60.00/M output

Choose GPT-4.1 if…

  • you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 2 shared benchmarks
  • cost matters — it's about 10.7x cheaper per token
  • you process long inputs — it offers a 1,047,576 token context window
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Apr 2025
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Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

2 benchmarks

GPT-4 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GPT-4.1 is better at 2 benchmarks (GPQA, MMLU).

GPT-4.1 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Sat Jun 13 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Pricing Analysis

Price comparison per million tokens

GPT-4.1 costs less

For input processing, GPT-4 ($30.00/1M tokens) is 15.0x more expensive than GPT-4.1 ($2.00/1M tokens).

For output processing, GPT-4 ($60.00/1M tokens) is 7.5x more expensive than GPT-4.1 ($8.00/1M tokens).

In conclusion, GPT-4 is more expensive than GPT-4.1.*

* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens

Lowest available price from all providers
Sat Jun 13 2026 • llm-stats.com
OpenAI
GPT-4
Input tokens$30.00
Output tokens$60.00
Best providerAzure
OpenAI
GPT-4.1
Input tokens$2.00
Output tokens$8.00
Best providerOpenAI
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

GPT-4.1 accepts 1,047,576 input tokens compared to GPT-4's 32,768 tokens. Both models can generate responses up to 32,768 tokens.

OpenAI
GPT-4
Input32,768 tokens
Output32,768 tokens
OpenAI
GPT-4.1
Input1,047,576 tokens
Output32,768 tokens
Sat Jun 13 2026 • llm-stats.com

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both GPT-4 and GPT-4.1 support multimodal inputs.

They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.

GPT-4

Text
Images
Audio
Video

GPT-4.1

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

Both models are licensed under proprietary licenses.

Both models have usage restrictions defined by their respective organizations.

GPT-4

Proprietary

Closed source

GPT-4.1

Proprietary

Closed source

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

GPT-4 was released on 2023-06-13, while GPT-4.1 was released on 2025-04-14.

GPT-4.1 is 22 months newer than GPT-4.

GPT-4

Jun 13, 2023

3.0 years ago

GPT-4.1

Apr 14, 2025

1.2 years ago

1.8yr newer

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

GPT-4 has a knowledge cutoff of 2022-12-31, while GPT-4.1 has a cutoff of 2024-06-01.

GPT-4.1 has more recent training data (up to 2024-06-01), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to GPT-4 (2022-12-31).

GPT-4

Dec 2022

GPT-4.1

Jun 2024

1.5 yr newer

Provider Availability

GPT-4 is available from Azure, OpenAI. GPT-4.1 is available from OpenAI.

GPT-4

azure logo
Azure
Input Price:Input: $30.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $60.00/1M
openai logo
OpenAI
Input Price:Input: $30.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $60.00/1M

GPT-4.1

openai logo
OpenAI
Input Price:Input: $2.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $8.00/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

OpenAI

No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.

OpenAI
Larger context window (1,047,576 tokens)
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens
Higher GPQA score (66.3% vs 35.7%)
Higher MMLU score (90.2% vs 86.4%)
OpenAIGPT-4
OpenAIGPT-4.1
Compare in Playground

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
OpenAI
GPT-4
OpenAI
GPT-4.1

FAQ

Common questions about GPT-4 vs GPT-4.1.

Which is better, GPT-4 or GPT-4.1?

GPT-4.1 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GPT-4 is made by OpenAI and GPT-4.1 is made by OpenAI. The best choice depends on your use case — compare their benchmark scores, pricing, and capabilities above.

How does GPT-4 compare to GPT-4.1 in benchmarks?

GPT-4 scores AI2 Reasoning Challenge (ARC): 96.3%, HellaSwag: 95.3%, Uniform Bar Exam: 90.0%, SAT Math: 89.0%, LSAT: 88.0%. GPT-4.1 scores MMLU: 90.2%, CharXiv-D: 87.9%, IFEval: 87.4%, MMMLU: 87.3%, MMMU: 74.8%.

Is GPT-4 cheaper than GPT-4.1?

GPT-4.1 is 15.0x cheaper for input tokens. GPT-4 costs $30.00/M input and $60.00/M output via azure. GPT-4.1 costs $2.00/M input and $8.00/M output via openai.

What are the context window sizes for GPT-4 and GPT-4.1?

GPT-4 supports 33K tokens and GPT-4.1 supports 1.0M tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

What are the main differences between GPT-4 and GPT-4.1?

Key differences include context window (33K vs 1.0M), input pricing ($30.00 vs $2.00/M). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

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