GPT-5 vs Grok 4
GPT-5 (2025) and Grok 4 (2025) are frontier-tier reasoning models from OpenAI and xAI. GPT-5 ships a 400k-token context window, while Grok 4 ships a 256k-token context window. On SWE-bench Verified, Grok 4 leads by 1.8 pts. On pricing, both list $1.25/1M input tokens on the cheapest tracked route. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
GPT-5 is safer overall; choose Grok 4 when coding workflow support matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-5 | Grok 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 400k | 256k |
| Cheapest output | $10/1M tokens | $2.50/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 4 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 4 shared | SWE-bench Verified leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- GPT-5 holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 0.9 points.
- GPT-5 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Grok 4 holds a shared-benchmark lead on SWE-bench Verified, ahead by 1.8 points.
- Grok 4 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $2.50/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags Grok 4 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
GPT-5
$3,500
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Replicate API
Grok 4
$1,625
Cheapest tracked route/tier: xAI Console
Estimated monthly gap: $1,875. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Replicate API; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Grok 4 is $7.50/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Provider overlap exists on Replicate API and OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GPT-5 is $7.50/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-08-07 | 2025-07-09 |
| Context window | 400k | 256k |
| Parameters | — | — |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Decoder Only |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Openness | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Weights | Not released | Not released |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-09 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-5 | Grok 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.25/1M tokens | $1.25/1M tokens |
| Output price | $10/1M tokens | $2.50/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-5 | Grok 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| JSON / Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | GPT-5 | Grok 4 |
|---|---|---|
| SWE-bench Verified | 74.9 | 76.7 |
| Google-Proof Q&A | 88.4 | 87.5 |
| AIME 2025 | 94.6 | 91.7 |
| Aider Polyglot | 88.0 | 79.6 |
Continue comparing
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Last reviewed: 2026-07-10. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.