Skip to content

Grok 4.6 vs GPT-5.6 Terra

GPT-5.6 Terra is the lower-priced of the two on Router One at base-tier rates (Grok 4.6: request input ≤ 200,000 tokens; GPT-5.6 Terra: request input ≤ 272,000 tokens) — about 60% less on a 1M-input + 1M-output mix. Grok 4.6 offers 500K of context vs 1.05M for GPT-5.6 Terra. Both answer on /v1/chat/completions and /v1/responses (Codex CLI).

Grok 4.6 and GPT-5.6 Terra compared on current per-token rates, context window, and capabilities — both callable through one OpenAI-compatible endpoint with per-request cost traces.

Grok 4.6 vs GPT-5.6 Terra: rates, context window, and capabilities

SpecGrok 4.6GPT-5.6 Terra
Input / 1M tokens$1.10$0.25
Output / 1M tokens$3.30$1.50
Cached input / 1M tokens$0.275$0.125
Context window500K1.05M
CapabilitiesChat, Streaming, Tool calling, VisionChat, Streaming, Tool calling, Vision
Subscription plansMid-tier models — Pro, Max, UltraMid-tier models — Pro, Max, Ultra
Detail pageGrok 4.6GPT-5.6 Terra

Grok 4.6: request input ≤ 200,000 tokens: Input $1.10 / 1M tokens, Output $3.30 / 1M tokens, Cache write $1.10 / 1M tokens, Cached input $0.275 / 1M tokens; request input > 200,000 tokens: Input $2.20 / 1M tokens, Output $6.60 / 1M tokens, Cache write $2.20 / 1M tokens, Cached input $0.55 / 1M tokens. The total input tokens in each request select the tier; its rates apply to the whole request, not only tokens above the threshold.

GPT-5.6 Terra: request input ≤ 272,000 tokens: Input $0.25 / 1M tokens, Output $1.50 / 1M tokens, Cache write $0.25 / 1M tokens, Cached input $0.125 / 1M tokens; request input > 272,000 tokens: Input $0.50 / 1M tokens, Output $2.25 / 1M tokens, Cache write $0.50 / 1M tokens, Cached input $0.25 / 1M tokens. The total input tokens in each request select the tier; its rates apply to the whole request, not only tokens above the threshold.

What does 1M tokens cost on Grok 4.6 vs GPT-5.6 Terra?

Base-tier rates: For a workload of 1M input plus 1M output tokens at current rates: Grok 4.6 comes to $4.40, GPT-5.6 Terra comes to $1.75 — GPT-5.6 Terra is about 60% cheaper on this mix. Real workloads skew heavily toward input tokens, so weigh the input rate by your own ratio; the cached-input row above is the posted catalog rate for that model.

Switch between Grok 4.6 and GPT-5.6 Terra without changing code

Both models are behind the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint, so an A/B test is a one-string change — same key, same code, and every request traced with tokens, cost, and latency in the dashboard:

compare.sh
curl https://api.router.one/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-router-one-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model": "grok-4.6", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]}'

# Same request, other model — change one string:
#   "model": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra"

FAQ

Is Grok 4.6 cheaper than GPT-5.6 Terra?

Compared at base-tier rates (Grok 4.6: request input ≤ 200,000 tokens; GPT-5.6 Terra: request input ≤ 272,000 tokens). Input: Grok 4.6 $1.10 vs GPT-5.6 Terra $0.25 / 1M tokens; GPT-5.6 Terra has the lower rate. Output: Grok 4.6 $3.30 vs GPT-5.6 Terra $1.50 / 1M tokens; GPT-5.6 Terra has the lower rate. Total cost depends on the workload's input, output and cache usage. Grok 4.6: request input ≤ 200,000 tokens: Input $1.10 / 1M tokens, Output $3.30 / 1M tokens, Cache write $1.10 / 1M tokens, Cached input $0.275 / 1M tokens; request input > 200,000 tokens: Input $2.20 / 1M tokens, Output $6.60 / 1M tokens, Cache write $2.20 / 1M tokens, Cached input $0.55 / 1M tokens. The total input tokens in each request select the tier; its rates apply to the whole request, not only tokens above the threshold. GPT-5.6 Terra: request input ≤ 272,000 tokens: Input $0.25 / 1M tokens, Output $1.50 / 1M tokens, Cache write $0.25 / 1M tokens, Cached input $0.125 / 1M tokens; request input > 272,000 tokens: Input $0.50 / 1M tokens, Output $2.25 / 1M tokens, Cache write $0.50 / 1M tokens, Cached input $0.25 / 1M tokens. The total input tokens in each request select the tier; its rates apply to the whole request, not only tokens above the threshold. Rates change; the /models page is the live source of truth.

Is Grok 4.6 or GPT-5.6 Terra included in a Router One subscription?

Grok 4.6 and GPT-5.6 Terra both count against the Mid-tier models allowance on Pro, Max and Ultra: Pro 1,200, Max 4,500 and Ultra 15,000 requests per 30-day cycle, one pool shared by every model in that tier. Requests to Grok 4.6 or GPT-5.6 Terra above the model's long-context threshold count as more than one quota request. Requests beyond a plan's allowance bill the wallet per token.

Can I switch between Grok 4.6 and GPT-5.6 Terra without changing code?

Yes. Both are served through the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint, so switching is changing the model string in the request — the key, base URL, and request shape stay identical.

Where do these numbers come from?

Specs and prices on this page render from the live Router One catalog — the same data as the /models page — and refresh with it. Pricing methodology is documented on /pricing-methodology. Rates on this page were read from the live catalog on 2026-10-01 (UTC) and refresh within the hour.

More comparisons