GPT-4o vs GPT-5.6 Terra
Pricing verdict: GPT-4o vs GPT-5.6 Terra: input pricing is tied at $2.50/M, GPT-4o is cheaper for output-heavy usage ($10.00/M output), and GPT-5.6 Terra is better for long-context tasks (1,050,000 tokens).
Direct answer: input pricing is tied. Choose GPT-4o for cheaper output and choose GPT-5.6 Terra when your workload needs longer context.
Compare API pricing, input and output token costs, context windows, and monthly estimates on one page so you can pick the right model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-4o
GPT-5.6 Terra
Cost Differences
GPT-5.6 Terra costs more than GPT-4o
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: GPT-4o. At the default workload, GPT-4o saves about $7.50/month ($91.25/year) versus GPT-5.6 Terra.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-4o | GPT-5.6 Terra |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $2.50/1M tokens | $2.50/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $10.00/1M tokens | $15.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 128,000 tokens | 1,050,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 16,384 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Category | flagship | balanced |
| Capabilities | textvisionaudio | textvisioncodereasoning |
| Release Date | 5/13/2024 | 6/26/2026 |
GPT-4o vs GPT-5.6 Terra: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-4o and GPT-5.6 Terra depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Both models charge $2.50/1M input tokens, but GPT-4o is cheaper on output at $10.00/1M. Meanwhile, GPT-5.6 Terra offers a significantly larger context window at 1,050,000 tokens vs 128,000 for GPT-4o.
These models target different tiers: GPT-4o is a flagship model while GPT-5.6 Terra is balanced. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4o is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while GPT-5.6 Terra offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. GPT-4o charges $10.00/1M output tokens vs $15.00 for GPT-5.6 Terra. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. GPT-4o has the edge here at $10.00/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: Both models support vision (image understanding), so you can send images alongside text prompts with either option.
Best Use Cases
Choose GPT-4o when:
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Choose GPT-5.6 Terra when:
- • You need a larger context window (1,050,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (code, reasoning)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 128,000 tokens)
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
GPT-4o
- • Input pricing: $2.50/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $10.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 128,000 tokens
- • Max output: 16,384 tokens
Watch out for
- • Smaller context window than GPT-5.6 Terra
GPT-5.6 Terra
- • Input pricing: $2.50/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $15.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 1,050,000 tokens
- • Max output: 128,000 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher output cost than GPT-4o
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
GPT-4o (OpenAI)
GPT-5.6 Terra (OpenAI)
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Sign Up for OpenAI →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GPT-4o or GPT-5.6 Terra?▼
What is the context window difference between GPT-4o and GPT-5.6 Terra?▼
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼
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