OpenAI shipped four models in under two months: GPT-6 Astra on 4 September, GPT-6 Luna and GPT-6 Sol on 22 September, GPT-6.1 Sol on 29 September and GPT-6.1 Terra on 26 October.
That is a lot of names for a buyer to hold in their head. This page puts them in order, with prices and the job each one suits.
For the three-vendor comparison, see the AI model comparison for 2026. For every vendor’s releases, see latest AI models.
The current lineup
| Model | Listed | Context | Listed price | Direct price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-6.1 Sol | 29 Sep 2026 | 1.05M | $2 / $10 | $1 / $5 | Agentic coding, professional work |
| GPT-6.1 Terra | 26 Oct 2026 | 1.05M | $1 / $5 | $0.50 / $2.50 | Fast work and computer use |
| GPT-6 Astra | 4 Sep 2026 | 1.05M | $10 / $50 | Check vendor | Premium tier |
| GPT-6 Luna | 22 Sep 2026 | 1.05M | $0.10 / $0.50 | Check vendor | High-volume simple tasks |
| GPT-6 Sol | 22 Sep 2026 | 1.05M | $2 / $10 | Check vendor | Superseded by 6.1 Sol |
Prices are per million tokens. “Listed” means marketplace pricing; OpenAI’s direct API is cheaper for the 6.1 models.
What each tier is for
GPT-6.1 Sol
The current flagship. Positioned for agentic coding, computer use and professional work that needs several steps and tool calls. At $1 / $5 direct, it is the value pick against Claude Fable 5.1’s $10 / $50.
Read the Sol vs Terra breakdown before choosing.
GPT-6.1 Terra
The cheaper current tier, and the one most teams should test first. It includes precise computer use, which used to be a reason to pick a different vendor. At $0.50 / $2.50 direct, it is the lowest-cost way to run a computer-use agent among the major vendors.
GPT-6 Astra
A premium tier listed at $10 / $50, the same price band as Claude Fable 5.1. OpenAI has not published the benchmark detail we would want for a direct comparison, so treat it as a specialist option rather than a default.
GPT-6 Luna
The high-volume tier at $0.10 / $0.50. It suits classification, extraction, routing and simple replies. Do not use it for judgement-heavy work.
The previous generation
| Model | Context | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5.6 Sol | 1.1M | $5 / $30 | Previous flagship |
| GPT-5.6 Terra | 1.1M | $2.50 / $15 | Previous workhorse |
| GPT-5.6 Luna | 1.1M | $1 / $6 | Previous budget tier |
The June posts are kept as launch records: GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra and Luna.
The price trend
| Tier | June 2026 | November 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagship (Sol) | $5 / $30 | $1 / $5 | About 80% cheaper |
| Workhorse (Terra) | $2.50 / $15 | $0.50 / $2.50 | About 80% cheaper |
| Budget (Luna) | $1 / $6 | $0.10 / $0.50 | About 90% cheaper |
This is the most important fact on the page. The same tier of capability costs roughly one-fifth of what it did five months ago. If you built a cost model in June, it is out of date.
Batch pricing
Batch tiers are roughly half price. GPT-6.1 Sol batch is listed at $1 / $5, and Terra batch at $0.50 / $2.50. Any job that does not need an answer in seconds should use batch.
Which one should you use?
| If you need… | Choose |
|---|---|
| The best OpenAI model for hard work | GPT-6.1 Sol |
| The best value for most work | GPT-6.1 Terra |
| Computer use at low cost | GPT-6.1 Terra |
| A premium specialist model | GPT-6 Astra |
| Very high volume, simple tasks | GPT-6 Luna |
| The absolute lowest price | Batch tiers |
Start with Terra, test Sol on the tasks that fail, and keep a router so you can shift traffic without a rebuild.
What to re-check before you commit
- OpenAI’s direct price, not the marketplace listing.
- The batch rate for offline work.
- The long-context tier; some providers charge more above a prompt threshold.
- The model’s behaviour on your prompts after the 6.1 change.
- Whether your tooling supports the new model name.
FAQ
What is OpenAI’s best model right now?
GPT-6.1 Sol is the flagship for hard work. GPT-6.1 Terra is the better value for most teams.
Is GPT-6.1 cheaper than GPT-5.6?
Yes, substantially. Sol fell from $5 / $30 to $1 / $5 direct, and Terra from $2.50 / $15 to $0.50 / $2.50.
What is GPT-6 Astra?
A premium tier listed at $10 / $50. It sits above Sol on price but lacks the published benchmark detail of the 6.1 models.
Does Terra support computer use?
Yes. Terra includes precise computer use, which makes it the cheapest major-vendor option for browser and desktop automation.
Next step
If you are choosing an OpenAI tier for a product, our AI app development cost guide covers the build side. For a short evaluation, contact 24Bit System.
Related reading: GPT-6.1 vs Claude Fable 5.1 and best AI model for coding.
