GPT-4.1 vs Grok 3
A complete head-to-head: pricing, context window, benchmarks, modality coverage, and openness, with a programmatic verdict synthesized from the underlying data.
Updated
GPT-4.1 specs · Grok 3 specs- PriceGPT-4.1
GPT-4.1 is roughly 1.9× cheaper on output tokens ($8.00 vs $15.00 per 1M).
- Context windowGPT-4.1
GPT-4.1 accepts 1M tokens vs 128K, 7.8× the room for long documents and codebases.
- BenchmarksTie
No directly comparable public benchmarks are available for both models, check the spec sheets for individual scores.
- ModalitiesTie
Both handle text, vision.
- OpennessTie
Both are closed-weight, API-only.
On balance GPT-4.1 edges ahead, winning 2 of 5 categories against Grok 3's 0. GPT-4.1 is roughly 1.9× cheaper on output tokens ($8.00 vs $15.00 per 1M). GPT-4.1 accepts 1M tokens vs 128K, 7.8× the room for long documents and codebases.
No directly comparable public benchmarks are available for both models, check the spec sheets for individual scores. Both target the same set of modalities (text, vision), so the deciding factors are price, context, and raw quality. Both are closed-weight, API-only.
GPT-4.1 is the newer of the two, released 2 months after Grok 3, which usually means a more recent knowledge cutoff and updated safety post-training. GPT-4.1 is usually picked for long context and rag workloads, while Grok 3 sees more deployments in chatbots and research agent. If pricing matters more than every last benchmark point, run the numbers in the calculator below before committing.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | GPT-4.1 | Grok 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | xAI |
| Released | Apr 2025 | Feb 2025 |
| Modalities | text, vision | text, vision |
| Context window | 1M tokens | 128K tokens |
| Max output | 32.8K tokens | , |
| Input · 1M | $2.00 / 1M tokens | $3.00 / 1M tokens |
| Output · 1M | $8.00 / 1M tokens | $15.00 / 1M tokens |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-06 | 2024-08 |
| Open weights | No | No |
| API available | Yes | Yes |
Pricing at scale
What you'd actually pay at typical workloads. Numbers come from each model's published per-million-token rates.
- Light usage, 100k in / 50k out per day$18.00 vs $31.50
- Heavy usage, 1M in / 500k out per day$180 vs $315
- RAG workload, 5M in / 200k out per day$348 vs $540
Light usage, 100k in / 50k out per day: $18.00 vs $31.50 per month, model A comes out ahead. Heavy usage, 1M in / 500k out per day: $180 vs $315 per month, model A comes out ahead. RAG workload, 5M in / 200k out per day: $348 vs $540 per month, model A comes out ahead.
Estimated spend for the listed models at your usage. Numbers are derived from each model's published per-million-token rates.
- GPT-4.1$0.600
- Grok 3$1.05
Benchmarks compared
Only sourced numbers. Where a benchmark is missing for one model we show the available value rather than fabricating the other.
- MMLU86.2
- HumanEval90.6
GPT-4.1 fits when…
- 1M-token context window, strong for long-doc workloads
- Mature SDK and tooling integrations
- Reliable JSON-mode and function-calling
- Cost-sensitive workloads, 1.9× cheaper than Grok 3 on output tokens.
- Long-context tasks, handles 1M tokens vs 128K for Grok 3.
Grok 3 fits when…
- Real-time X access
- Reasoning modes
Consider GPT-5.5
OpenAI's mid-cycle GPT-5 refresh, improved reasoning, tool use, and multimodal grounding over the 2025 launch.
Frequently asked
Is GPT-4.1 or Grok 3 cheaper?
GPT-4.1 is cheaper at $8.00 / 1M tokens per million output tokens, vs $15.00 / 1M tokens for Grok 3.Which has the larger context window?
GPT-4.1 accepts 1M tokens vs 128K for Grok 3.Is GPT-4.1 or Grok 3 better for coding?
Both GPT-4.1 and Grok 3 are competitive on coding benchmarks. See each model's individual spec page for HumanEval and SWE-bench scores where published. For an opinionated pick, consult our Best LLM for Coding ranking.Are either of these models open source?
Neither model ships open weights, both are accessible only via their respective providers' APIs.When were GPT-4.1 and Grok 3 released?
GPT-4.1 was released by OpenAI on 2025-04-14. Grok 3 was released by xAI on 2025-02-17.
The week's AI launches, in your inbox.
One short email every Friday, new models, leaks, and quietly-shipped APIs you missed.