Model Comparison

GPT-4.1 mini vs Grok-2Which is better in 2026?

GPT-4.1 mini shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks. GPT-4.1 mini is 5.7x cheaper per token.

Verdict: GPT-4.1 mini vs Grok-2 — which is better?

GPT-4.1 mini (by OpenAI) and Grok-2 (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 mini outperforms in 3 benchmarks (GPQA, MathVista, MMMU), while Grok-2 is better at 0 benchmarks. GPT-4.1 mini shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.

On price, GPT-4.1 mini is roughly 5.7x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

GPT-4.1 mini 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 mini if…

  • you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 3 of 4 shared benchmarks
  • cost matters — it's about 5.7x 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

Choose Grok-2 if…

  • you want predictable pricing at $2.00/M input and $10.00/M output

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

4 benchmarks

GPT-4.1 mini outperforms in 3 benchmarks (GPQA, MathVista, MMMU), while Grok-2 is better at 0 benchmarks.

GPT-4.1 mini shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.

Mon Jul 27 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Pricing Analysis

Price comparison per million tokens

GPT-4.1 mini costs less

For input processing, GPT-4.1 mini ($0.40/1M tokens) is 5.0x cheaper than Grok-2 ($2.00/1M tokens).

For output processing, GPT-4.1 mini ($1.60/1M tokens) is 6.3x cheaper than Grok-2 ($10.00/1M tokens).

In conclusion, Grok-2 is more expensive than GPT-4.1 mini.*

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

Lowest available price from all providers
Mon Jul 27 2026 • llm-stats.com
OpenAI
GPT-4.1 mini
Input tokens$0.40
Output tokens$1.60
Best providerOpenAI
xAI
Grok-2
Input tokens$2.00
Output tokens$10.00
Best providerxAI
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

GPT-4.1 mini accepts 1,047,576 input tokens compared to Grok-2's 128,000 tokens. GPT-4.1 mini can generate longer responses up to 32,768 tokens, while Grok-2 is limited to 8,000 tokens.

OpenAI
GPT-4.1 mini
Input1,047,576 tokens
Output32,768 tokens
xAI
Grok-2
Input128,000 tokens
Output8,000 tokens
Mon Jul 27 2026 • llm-stats.com

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both GPT-4.1 mini and Grok-2 support multimodal inputs.

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

GPT-4.1 mini

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Grok-2

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-4.1 mini

Proprietary

Closed source

Grok-2

Proprietary

Closed source

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

GPT-4.1 mini was released on 2025-04-14, while Grok-2 was released on 2024-08-13.

GPT-4.1 mini is 8 months newer than Grok-2.

GPT-4.1 mini

Apr 14, 2025

1.3 years ago

8mo newer
Grok-2

Aug 13, 2024

1.9 years ago

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

GPT-4.1 mini has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-05-31, while Grok-2's cutoff date is not specified.

We can confirm GPT-4.1 mini's training data extends to 2024-05-31, but cannot make a direct comparison without Grok-2's cutoff date.

GPT-4.1 mini

May 2024

Grok-2

—

Provider Availability

GPT-4.1 mini is available from OpenAI. Grok-2 is available from xAI.

GPT-4.1 mini

openai logo
OpenAI
Input Price:Input: $0.40/1MOutput Price:Output: $1.60/1M

Grok-2

xai logo
xAI
Input Price:Input: $2.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $10.00/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

OpenAI
Larger context window (1,047,576 tokens)
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens
Higher GPQA score (65.0% vs 56.0%)
Higher MathVista score (73.1% vs 69.0%)
Higher MMMU score (72.7% vs 66.1%)
xAI

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

OpenAIGPT-4.1 mini
xAIGrok-2
Compare in Playground

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against GPT-4.1 mini and Grok-2 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

GPT-4.1 mini
✓ Preferred
Grok-2
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
OpenAI
GPT-4.1 mini
xAI
Grok-2

FAQ

Common questions about GPT-4.1 mini vs Grok-2.

Which is better, GPT-4.1 mini or Grok-2?

GPT-4.1 mini shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks. GPT-4.1 mini is made by OpenAI and Grok-2 is made by xAI. The best choice depends on your use case — compare their benchmark scores, pricing, and capabilities above.

How does GPT-4.1 mini compare to Grok-2 in benchmarks?

GPT-4.1 mini scores CharXiv-D: 88.4%, MMLU: 87.5%, IFEval: 84.1%, MMMLU: 78.5%, MathVista: 73.1%. Grok-2 scores DocVQA: 93.6%, HumanEval: 88.4%, MMLU: 87.5%, MATH: 76.1%, MMLU-Pro: 75.5%.

Is GPT-4.1 mini cheaper than Grok-2?

GPT-4.1 mini is 5.0x cheaper for input tokens. GPT-4.1 mini costs $0.40/M input and $1.60/M output via openai. Grok-2 costs $2.00/M input and $10.00/M output via xai.

What are the context window sizes for GPT-4.1 mini and Grok-2?

GPT-4.1 mini supports 1.0M tokens and Grok-2 supports 128K tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

What are the main differences between GPT-4.1 mini and Grok-2?

Key differences include context window (1.0M vs 128K), input pricing ($0.40 vs $2.00/M). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes GPT-4.1 mini and Grok-2?

GPT-4.1 mini is developed by OpenAI and Grok-2 is developed by xAI.

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