OpenAI Model Pricing Falls as GPT-6.1 Terra Launches at Half the Cost

OpenAI model pricing drops with GPT-6.1 Terra, offering lower API rates for developers handling computer-based tasks, visual reasoning and writing

OpenAI has released GPT-6.1 Terra, a new AI model designed to handle computer-based tasks, visual reasoning and everyday writing at a lower cost. The launch gives developers another option as they weigh OpenAI model pricing against the performance needed for their applications. According to OpenAI’s announcement, the model’s standard API rates are 50% lower than those of GPT-5.6 Terra and GPT-6.1 Sol.

Lower API Rates for Developers

GPT-6.1 Terra costs $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens. Cached input tokens cost $0.05 per million. These rates could help businesses manage OpenAI API costs, particularly when their applications process large volumes of information or repeat similar tasks.

The lower prices may make Terra a practical choice for companies automating routine office work. Examples include reading invoices, transferring information into accounting software, completing forms and preparing written documents.

For more on OpenAI’s role in coding workflows, read our report on GPT-6 Astra in GitHub Copilot, which looks at how the model supports AI coding agents.

Focus on Computer Use and Visual Tasks

The model is built to understand visual information and interact with software. It can support tasks such as interpreting technical drawings, working with application screens and drafting or revising text.

OpenAI also reported improvements in factual accuracy compared with GPT-5.6 Terra. On its internal benchmark using prompts designed to trigger errors, the error rate at low reasoning effort fell from 53.6% to 16.7%. These figures come from OpenAI’s own testing and may not reflect performance across every real-world application.

For software engineering, Terra also showed progress on Terminal-Bench 4.0. At maximum reasoning effort, it solved 50.3% of tasks, compared with 21.5% for its predecessor, according to the company.

Availability Across OpenAI Products

GPT-6.1 Terra is available to Plus, Pro, Enterprise and Edu users through ChatGPT Work and Codex. Developers can access it through the API using the model identifier gpt-6.1-terra.

The release gives businesses another option when choosing between price and capability. More demanding coding projects may still call for GPT-6.1 Sol or GPT-6 Astra, while Terra is positioned for everyday work that benefits from visual understanding and computer interaction.

Lower rates alone do not guarantee lower overall spending. Actual costs will depend on token use, task complexity and how reliably the model completes each job. Businesses will need to test it against their own workloads before deciding whether the pricing and performance suit their needs.

FAQs

1. What is GPT-6.1 Terra?

GPT-6.1 Terra is an OpenAI model designed for visual reasoning, computer use and writing tasks.

2. How much does GPT-6.1 Terra cost?

Standard API pricing is $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens.

3. How does the new model affect OpenAI model pricing?

Its standard API rates are 50% lower than those of GPT-5.6 Terra and GPT-6.1 Sol.

4. Who can access GPT-6.1 Terra?

It is available through ChatGPT Work and Codex for Plus, Pro, Enterprise and Edu users, as well as through the API.

5. Is GPT-6.1 Terra suitable for every AI task?

No. It is aimed at computer-based work, visual reasoning and writing. More complex coding tasks may benefit from higher-capability models.