Model Comparison
GPT-4.1 vs Grok 4.5Which is better in 2026?
Grok 4.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Grok 4.5 is 1.2x cheaper per token.
Verdict: GPT-4.1 vs Grok 4.5 — which is better?
GPT-4.1 (by OpenAI) and Grok 4.5 (by xAI) 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-4.1 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Grok 4.5 is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA). Grok 4.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Grok 4.5 is roughly 1.2x 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-4.1 if…
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,047,576 token context window
Choose Grok 4.5 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 1.2x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2026
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GPT-4.1 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Grok 4.5 is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA).
Grok 4.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GPT-4.1 ($2.00/1M tokens) costs the same as Grok 4.5 ($2.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, GPT-4.1 ($8.00/1M tokens) is 1.3x more expensive than Grok 4.5 ($6.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-4.1 is more expensive than Grok 4.5.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-4.1 accepts 1,047,576 input tokens compared to Grok 4.5's 500,000 tokens. Only GPT-4.1 specifies output context (32,768 tokens).
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both GPT-4.1 and Grok 4.5 support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
GPT-4.1
Grok 4.5
License
Usage and distribution terms
Both models are licensed under proprietary licenses.
Both models have usage restrictions defined by their respective organizations.
Proprietary
Closed source
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GPT-4.1 was released on 2025-04-14, while Grok 4.5 was released on 2026-07-16.
Grok 4.5 is 15 months newer than GPT-4.1.
Apr 14, 2025
1.3 years ago
Jul 16, 2026
2 days ago
1.3yr newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-4.1 has a knowledge cutoff of 2024-06-01, while Grok 4.5 has a cutoff of 2026-02-01.
Grok 4.5 has more recent training data (up to 2026-02-01), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to GPT-4.1 (2024-06-01).
Jun 2024
Feb 2026
1.7 yr newerProvider Availability
GPT-4.1 is available from OpenAI. Grok 4.5 is available from xAI.
GPT-4.1
Grok 4.5
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GPT-4.1
View detailsOpenAI
Detailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GPT-4.1 and Grok 4.5 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GPT-4.1 vs Grok 4.5.