Model Comparison

GPT-4.5 vs Grok-4.1 ThinkingWhich is better in 2026?

Comparing GPT-4.5 and Grok-4.1 Thinking across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: GPT-4.5 vs Grok-4.1 Thinking — which is better?

GPT-4.5 (by OpenAI) and Grok-4.1 Thinking (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.

On price, Grok-4.1 Thinking is roughly 15.6x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

Grok-4.1 Thinking also accepts a larger context window (256,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose GPT-4.5 if…

  • you want predictable pricing at $75.00/M input and $150.00/M output

Choose Grok-4.1 Thinking if…

  • cost matters — it's about 15.6x cheaper per token
  • you process long inputs — it offers a 256,000 token context window
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Nov 2025
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Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

GPT-4.5 and Grok-4.1 Thinkingdon't have any common benchmark datasets to compare. They may have been evaluated on different testing suites.

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Pricing Analysis

Price comparison per million tokens

Grok-4.1 Thinking costs less

For input processing, GPT-4.5 ($75.00/1M tokens) is 25.0x more expensive than Grok-4.1 Thinking ($3.00/1M tokens).

For output processing, GPT-4.5 ($150.00/1M tokens) is 10.0x more expensive than Grok-4.1 Thinking ($15.00/1M tokens).

In conclusion, GPT-4.5 is more expensive than Grok-4.1 Thinking.*

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

Lowest available price from all providers
Thu Jun 25 2026 • llm-stats.com
OpenAI
GPT-4.5
Input tokens$75.00
Output tokens$150.00
Best providerOpenAI
xAI
Grok-4.1 Thinking
Input tokens$3.00
Output tokens$15.00
Best providerxAI
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

Grok-4.1 Thinking accepts 256,000 input tokens compared to GPT-4.5's 128,000 tokens. Grok-4.1 Thinking can generate longer responses up to 8,000 tokens, while GPT-4.5 is limited to 4,096 tokens.

OpenAI
GPT-4.5
Input128,000 tokens
Output4,096 tokens
xAI
Grok-4.1 Thinking
Input256,000 tokens
Output8,000 tokens
Thu Jun 25 2026 • llm-stats.com

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both GPT-4.5 and Grok-4.1 Thinking support multimodal inputs.

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

GPT-4.5

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Grok-4.1 Thinking

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-4.5

Proprietary

Closed source

Grok-4.1 Thinking

Proprietary

Closed source

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

GPT-4.5 was released on 2025-02-27, while Grok-4.1 Thinking was released on 2025-11-17.

Grok-4.1 Thinking is 9 months newer than GPT-4.5.

GPT-4.5

Feb 27, 2025

1.3 years ago

Grok-4.1 Thinking

Nov 17, 2025

7 months ago

8mo newer

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.

Unable to compare the recency of their training data.

No cutoff dates available

Provider Availability

GPT-4.5 is available from OpenAI. Grok-4.1 Thinking is available from xAI.

GPT-4.5

openai logo
OpenAI
Input Price:Input: $75.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $150.00/1M

Grok-4.1 Thinking

xai logo
xAI
Input Price:Input: $3.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $15.00/1M
* 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.

xAI
Larger context window (256,000 tokens)
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
OpenAI
GPT-4.5
xAI
Grok-4.1 Thinking

FAQ

Common questions about GPT-4.5 vs Grok-4.1 Thinking.

Which is better, GPT-4.5 or Grok-4.1 Thinking?

GPT-4.5 (OpenAI) and Grok-4.1 Thinking (xAI) each have strengths in different areas. Compare their benchmark scores, pricing, context windows, and capabilities above to determine which fits your needs.

How does GPT-4.5 compare to Grok-4.1 Thinking in benchmarks?

GPT-4.5 scores GSM8k: 97.0%, MMLU: 90.8%, CharXiv-D: 90.0%, IFEval: 88.2%, HumanEval: 88.0%. Grok-4.1 Thinking scores Creative Writing v3: 86.1%, WMDP: 84.0%, EQ-Bench: 79.3%, ProtocolQA: 79.0%, LMArena Text Leaderboard: 74.2%.

Is GPT-4.5 cheaper than Grok-4.1 Thinking?

Grok-4.1 Thinking is 25.0x cheaper for input tokens. GPT-4.5 costs $75.00/M input and $150.00/M output via openai. Grok-4.1 Thinking costs $3.00/M input and $15.00/M output via xai.

What are the context window sizes for GPT-4.5 and Grok-4.1 Thinking?

GPT-4.5 supports 128K tokens and Grok-4.1 Thinking supports 256K tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

What are the main differences between GPT-4.5 and Grok-4.1 Thinking?

Key differences include context window (128K vs 256K), input pricing ($75.00 vs $3.00/M). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes GPT-4.5 and Grok-4.1 Thinking?

GPT-4.5 is developed by OpenAI and Grok-4.1 Thinking is developed by xAI.

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