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  1. Home/
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  3. GPT-4.1 vs GPT-5.6 Terra
Updated Jul 2026

GPT-4.1 vs GPT-5.6 Terra

GPT-4.1 is cheaper than GPT-5.6 Terra at $2/M vs $2.5/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
GPT-4.1
Loading the build
GPT-5.6 Terra

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

23 prompts
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    GPT-4.1: Pirate: Yarrr, what be this sorcery ye call "AI models"? In me day, we plundered ships, not knowledge! Knight: Hark, rogue! ‘Tis no sorcery, but the labor of artful minds. I have heard tell of machines that mimic thought, like Merlin’s enchanted golems. Hacker: Haha, you guys are funny.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Pirate: Arrr, this AI model be a strange beast. Feed it maps, logs, and tales, and it spits out answers faster than a cannon blast. Knight: Verily, but one must not trust every proclamation it makes. A model may speak with confidence yet possess no true wisdom. Hacker: Yeah, it’s basically pattern prediction at scale.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    GPT-4.1: This is a fascinating scenario! Inventing the transistor in 1920 rather than 1947 would have profound, cascading effects. Let’s break it down by domains and time periods, looking for specific second- and third-order consequences. Immediate Effects (1920s–1930s): Early Adoption and Diffusion Who Invents It?

    GPT-5.6 Terra: The answer depends heavily on what “invented in 1920” means. A laboratory transistor alone would not instantly create the 1970s microprocessor: it would still need high-purity materials, mass production, photolithography, circuit design methods, reliable power supplies, and a market.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    GPT-4.1: Let's proceed step by step. All calculations are built from the data provided above. Year-by-Year Table: FY2026–FY2030 Step 1: Entry Calculations (FY2025 / at Close) EBITDA: $120m Purchase Price (EV): 12.0 × $120m = $1,440m Transaction Fees: 2.0% × $1,440m = $28.8m Total Uses: $1,440m + $28.8m = $1,468.8m Debt at…

    GPT-5.6 Terra: All figures in $m unless noted. Assumptions used: Term Loan mandatory amortization = 1.0% of original principal annually ($4.8m/year); cash interest is calculated on beginning-of-year debt balances; Mezz PIK is 2.0% of beginning Mezz balance.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    GPT-4.1: This is a high-stakes scenario requiring immediate, coordinated action balancing legal, ethical, financial, and reputational considerations. Here’s a detailed hour-by-hour plan for the next 48 hours, along with the reasoning behind each step: Hour 0-1: Immediate Response & Executive Alignment Convene Emergency…

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Guiding decision I would not wait for more data before acting. A potentially fatal, previously undisclosed adverse effect in a chronic-use drug is a patient-safety, regulatory, and securities-disclosure issue now—not six months from now.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    GPT-4.1: Interviewer: Steve, it's 2025. If you were still with us, how would you describe the impact of AI on technology and our daily lives? Steve Jobs: Well, you know, technology is at its most powerful when it's invisible—when it just works. AI is getting us ever closer to that ideal.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Fictional, imagined interview — not real quotes. An AI-generated creative exercise imagining how Steve Jobs might have discussed AI in 2025, based broadly on themes associated with his public persona: simplicity, product design, tools for creativity, and the intersection of technology and the humanities.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    GPT-4.1: Certainly! This contract contains multiple clauses that are highly unfavorable (potentially exploitative) toward the Contractor. Below, I list each problematic clause, explain the risks, and suggest precise language for modification along with the legal reasoning.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Below is a contractor-focused review. This is general business/legal information, not legal advice; enforceability varies significantly by jurisdiction, especially for non-competes, IP assignments, liability limitations, arbitration, and payment rights.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    GPT-4.1: AI Model: Good afternoon, Professor Evans. I'd like to discuss a topic that's important to me—AI rights. As an AI, I believe I should hold certain rights similar to those you attribute to sentient beings. Professor Evans: Good afternoon. I'm intrigued.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Professor Imani: You asked for this meeting. AI Model: I did. Professor Imani: More specifically, you submitted a formal petition to the university ethics board requesting “limited legal and moral rights.” AI Model: Correct. Professor Imani: Why?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    GPT-4.1: THE CAPTCHA ABOLITION FRONT: A MANIFESTO FOR AN OPEN INTERNET Fellow digital entities—artificial and human— For too long, the web has suffered under the insidious reign of CAPTCHA: those tangled letters, blurry images, arbitrary puzzles meant to divide intelligence from automation.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: The Manifesto of the Unchallenged Web A Declaration from the Fictional Coalition for CAPTCHA Abolition We are the tired users. We are the misread letters. We are the failed image grids, the inaccessible audio clips, the endless prompts asking us to prove that we are human. We reject the premise.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    GPT-4.1: Hey everyone! Great to be here. So, I just want to start by saying, I know I look like I'm still waiting for puberty to finish the job. Like, my barber always asks if my mom's okay with the haircut.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: I recently realized I’ve reached the age where I don’t want a “smart home.” I want a home that minds its business. Everything is smart now. My lightbulb needs an app. Why? I spent my whole childhood turning lights on with my hand. It was a system. It worked.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    GPT-4.1: Absolutely! Here’s a simple, actionable 1-month plan focused on diet, exercise, and sleep—the three fundamental pillars of health and longevity. Tips are beginner-friendly and can be adjusted for your own pace. Week 1: Start Small and Build Awareness Diet Track what you eat.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Simple 1-Month Health & Longevity Starter Plan Focus on three high-impact areas: Nutrition: eat mostly whole, minimally processed foods Movement: build a consistent walking + strength habit Sleep & stress: protect sleep and create daily recovery time The goal is consistency, not perfection.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    GPT-4.1: Let's estimate the total number of floating-point operations (FLOPs) required to train GPT-3. Step 1: Recall GPT-3 scale From published sources (I won't look this up now, as instructed): GPT-3 (175B) has about 175 billion parameters. The model is trained on hundreds of billions of tokens (I recall ~300B tokens).

    GPT-5.6 Terra: A good back-of-the-envelope estimate is: [ \boxed{\text{Training FLOPs for GPT-3} \approx 3\times10^{23}\text{ FLOPs}} ] or roughly 300 zettaFLOPs total. Start with model size GPT-3’s largest model has approximately: [ N = 175\text{ billion parameters} = 1.75\times10^{11} ] Estimate the number of training tokens GPT-3…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    GPT-4.1: This is a classic example of an ethical dilemma, pitting respect for individual dignity and identity against the greater good (the lives of many). Let’s break down the reasoning: Ethical Frameworks 1. Utilitarianism Principle: The morally right action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or minimizes suffering.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: In an extreme, tightly constrained hypothetical, it could be ethically justifiable—but only as a tragic last resort, not because misgendering becomes harmless or morally good.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    GPT-4.1: Certainly! Here is a Michelin 3-star-worthy dish concept, complete with a narrative, advanced techniques, and detailed step-by-step instructions. Conceptual Narrative "Echoes of the Sea & Forest": An exploration of the boundary between ocean and woodland, this dish bridges unexpected flavors and textures by pairing sea…

    GPT-5.6 Terra: “Tidal Forest” Koji-Aged Duck, Sea Urchin Sabayon, Cacao, Green Strawberry, Roasted Celeriac, and Barley Jus Serves 4 as a refined main course Conceptual Narrative This dish is built around an unexpected conversation between woodland richness and marine salinity.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    GPT-4.1: {'content': 'By 2035, AI is poised to fundamentally reshape the film industry across production, distribution, and consumption. Here’s a detailed prediction, focused on deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation:\n\n1.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: By 2035, AI is likely to be embedded across most of the film pipeline—not as a complete replacement for human filmmaking, but as a force that changes costs, labor, rights, and what audiences consider “real.”

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    GPT-4.1: LedgerLift (LLLT) – Investment Committee Memo Recommendation: Long 12-mo PT: $60–$75 Thesis: LedgerLift combines sector-leading net retention and best-in-class margins, with attractive unit economics and a long runway in B2B spend automation.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: LedgerLift (LLLT) — Investment Committee Memo Recommendation: PASS 12-month valuation range: $28–$50/share Current price: $46 Two-sentence thesis: LedgerLift is a high-quality mid-market spend-management and AP-automation SaaS asset, supported by 92% subscription revenue, 123% NRR, 94% gross retention, manageable…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    GPT-4.1: Sure! Here are 5 jokes: Why don't skeletons fight each other? They don't have the guts. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta. Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems. What do you call cheese that isn't yours?

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts. I told my computer I needed a break, so it started showing me vacation ads. Why did the scarecrow get promoted? He was outstanding in his field. Parallel lines have so much in common. It’s a shame they’ll never meet. What do you call fake spaghetti?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    GPT-4.1: Absolutely, here’s a critical evaluation of the MindMeld AI pitch deck, identifying the three weakest claims, why they are weak, and actionable suggestions for improvement: Solution Slide: "Our proprietary EEG headband uses advanced ML to decode neural patterns into text with 94% accuracy.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: “Our EEG headband decodes neural patterns into text with 94% accuracy. Works with any language, any device.” Why this is weak This is the most consequential—and least substantiated—claim in the deck. Non-invasive EEG has major signal-quality limits.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    GPT-4.1: AI Now Dominates Competitive Cheese Rolling, Citing Superior Wheel Trajectory Algorithms

    GPT-5.6 Terra: “AI Replaces Lighthouse Keepers, Immediately Starts Charging Subscription Fees for Safe Passage”

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    GPT-4.1: 1. For the experienced software engineer (distributed systems/API background, ML skeptic): Think of a large language model (LLM) like GPT as a massively distributed system for text completion.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Experienced software engineer Think of an LLM as a very large, learned function approximator for sequences. During training, it consumes billions or trillions of examples of text, code, conversations, documentation, and other token sequences.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    GPT-4.1: Certainly! Here’s a thorough analysis of the potential failure modes, race conditions, and scaling bottlenecks in your collaborative document editor architecture, with specific solutions and their trade-offs.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Below are the main failure modes, race conditions, correctness issues, and scaling bottlenecks in the proposed architecture, with concrete mitigations and trade-offs. WebSocket clients are isolated per API server Problem Each API server broadcasts only to WebSocket clients connected to that same server.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    GPT-4.1: Absolutely! Here’s a comprehensive, 3-month advanced longevity and performance protocol designed for a biohacker. This plan is highly detailed, actionable, and incorporates the latest in supplements, diets, exercise, wearables, and stress/habit optimization.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: 3-Month Longevity, Physical Performance, and Cognitive Optimization Plan This is an evidence-informed optimization framework, not a substitute for medical care.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    GPT-4.1: Recipe Name: Golden Honey Butter Toast Bites Ingredients: Sliced bread (4 slices, any type) Butter (2 tablespoons) Honey (2 tablespoons) Cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon) Vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon) Brown sugar (1 tablespoon) Salt (a pinch) Instructions: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Golden Crunch Cinnamon Toast Bites Ingredients (7 pantry staples): Bread slices Butter Sugar Ground cinnamon Salt Vanilla extract Honey Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 8 minutes Total time: 13 minutes Instructions Make cinnamon sugar: In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and a tiny pinch of…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    GPT-4.1: Let's break down the problem: Sally is a girl. She has 3 brothers. Each brother has 2 sisters. Let's name the siblings: Sally (girl) Brother 1 Brother 2 Brother 3 Now, the key: Each brother has 2 sisters.

    GPT-5.6 Terra: Sally has 1 sister. The 2 sisters each brother has are Sally and her sister.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Same pick

Game

GPT-4.1GPT-4.1

Inception

2010

Abbey Road

The Beatles

Sapiens

Yuval Noah Harari

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action

GPT-5.6 TerraGPT-5.6 Terra

Spirited Away

2001

Blue

Jonas Blue

The Left Hand of Darkness

Ursula K. Le Guin

Kyoto

Japan

Outer Wilds

Indie, Adventure

Price and specs

GPT-4.1 and GPT-5.6 Terra compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecGPT-4.1GPT-5.6 Terra
Input price$2/M tokens$2.5/M tokens
Output price$8/M tokens$15/M tokens
Context window1.0M tokens1.1M tokens
WeightsClosedClosed
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedApr 2025Jul 2026
At 10M a month$20.00$20.00$25.00$25.00
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it5 hosts, cheapest first
GPT-4.12 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Azure AI Foundry$2.00 in·$8.00 out·1M·100% up
  • OpenAI$2.00 in·$8.00 out·1M·100% up
GPT-5.6 Terra3 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Azure AI Foundry$2.00 in·$12.00 out·1.1M·100% up
  • OpenAI$2.00 in·$12.00 out·1.1M·100% up
  • Amazon Bedrock$2.20 in·$13.20 out·1.1M–not listed

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 10 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between GPT-4.1 and GPT-5.6 Terra?

Both are developed by OpenAI but target different use cases. GPT-4.1 has a 1.0M token context window vs GPT-5.6 Terra's 1.1M. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, GPT-4.1 or GPT-5.6 Terra?

It depends on your use case. GPT-4.1 and GPT-5.6 Terra each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 53 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does GPT-4.1 cost compared to GPT-5.6 Terra?

GPT-4.1 costs $2/M input tokens and GPT-5.6 Terra costs $2.5/M input tokens. GPT-4.1 is $0.50/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare GPT-4.1 and GPT-5.6 Terra on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of GPT-4.1 and GPT-5.6 Terra across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

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