GPT-5.6 Terra vs o4-mini Deep Research
Pricing verdict: GPT-5.6 Terra vs o4-mini Deep Research: o4-mini Deep Research is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($2.00/M vs $2.50/M input tokens), while GPT-5.6 Terra is better for long-context tasks (1,050,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose o4-mini Deep Research for lower token spend 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-5.6 Terra
o4-mini Deep Research
Cost Differences
o4-mini Deep Research costs less than GPT-5.6 Terra
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: o4-mini Deep Research. At the default workload, o4-mini Deep Research saves about $12.00/month ($146.00/year) versus GPT-5.6 Terra.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-5.6 Terra | o4-mini Deep Research |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $2.50/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $15.00/1M tokens | $8.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 1,050,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 128,000 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | balanced | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textvisioncodereasoning | textreasoningcode |
| Release Date | 6/26/2026 | 6/26/2025 |
GPT-5.6 Terra vs o4-mini Deep Research: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-5.6 Terra and o4-mini Deep Research depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. o4-mini Deep Research is the more affordable option at $2.00/1M input tokens — 20% cheaper than GPT-5.6 Terra. Meanwhile, GPT-5.6 Terra offers a significantly larger context window at 1,050,000 tokens vs 200,000 for o4-mini Deep Research.
These models target different tiers: GPT-5.6 Terra is a balanced model while o4-mini Deep Research is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. o4-mini Deep Research targets more demanding workloads, while GPT-5.6 Terra provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.
Output costs matter too. GPT-5.6 Terra charges $15.00/1M output tokens vs $8.00 for o4-mini Deep Research. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. o4-mini Deep Research has the edge here at $8.00/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: GPT-5.6 Terra supports vision (image inputs) while o4-mini Deep Research is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
Best Use Cases
Choose GPT-5.6 Terra when:
- • You need a larger context window (1,050,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 128,000 tokens)
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Choose o4-mini Deep Research when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
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 input cost than o4-mini Deep Research
- • Higher output cost than o4-mini Deep Research
o4-mini Deep Research
- • Input pricing: $2.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $8.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Smaller context window than GPT-5.6 Terra
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
GPT-5.6 Terra (OpenAI)
o4-mini Deep Research (OpenAI)
Start using GPT-5.6 Terra today
Sign Up for OpenAI →Start using o4-mini Deep Research today
Sign Up for OpenAI →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GPT-5.6 Terra or o4-mini Deep Research?▼
What is the context window difference between GPT-5.6 Terra and o4-mini Deep Research?▼
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
Related Comparisons
Related Articles
Learn when to pick each model, then compare live pricing scenarios.