Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 1, 2026
In this head-to-head showdown, GPT-5 delivers higher overall intelligence and human-preferred responses (Elo 1,558 vs 1,488), while GPT-5 leads in SWE-bench software engineering benchmarks (68.4%), while Grok 4 is more budget-friendly at $15/1M per 1M output tokens. Review the complete breakdown below to determine which model best fits your performance and budget requirements.
9 direct benchmark disciplines evaluated across capability, speed, and cost
OpenAI flagship reasoning model for 2025–26. Strong general preference Elo and multimodal coverage.
Currently comparing GPT-5 vs Grok 4. Alternative family tiers available.
Simulate accuracy gains vs added response time & token cost
Reasoning models “think before answering” by generating internal reasoning tokens. Higher effort improves math, coding, and logic accuracy, but increases response delay and token costs.
Δ 70 Arena Elo pts
98 tok/s
$15 / 1M output
Relative percentile scores computed across all active models in the benchmark catalog.
Comparing top Western standard models with China's leading frontier rival across 6 skill dimensions. Tap any spoke or dot to inspect.
Category wins across reasoning intelligence, generation speed, and token cost.
Preference Elo, Coding proficiency, SWE-bench & LiveBench accuracy
Generation throughput and time to first token responsiveness
Cost per million tokens and max context window length
| Benchmark | GPT-5 | Grok 4 | Advantage Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preference Elo | +70 | ||
| Coding Elo | — | — | |
| LiveBench | +5.7% | ||
| SWE-bench | +9.8% | ||
| GPQA Diamond | +6.2% | ||
| Time to first token | +60 ms | ||
| Output speed | 78 tok/s | 98 tok/s | +20 tok/s |
| Input price | +$2/1M | ||
| Output price | +$5/1M | ||
| Context window | +144k |
Simulate monthly production API costs in USD (US Dollar).
Grok 4 is estimated to save $145.00/month ($1,740/year).
Higher SWE-bench (68.4%).
Lower output list price ($15/1M).
Lower TTFT (230 ms).
Larger window (400k).
Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-5).
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | GPT-5 | Higher SWE-bench (68.4%). |
| High-volume chat | Grok 4 | Lower output list price ($15/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | Grok 4 | Lower TTFT (230 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | GPT-5 | Larger window (400k). |
| Screenshots / vision | GPT-5 | Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-5). |
Still a common compare target. 5.6 Sol replaced it as the buy; GPT-5 stays for old URLs.
2025-07 row. 4.6 is the buy. We keep 4 so upgrade pairs and old inbound links resolve.
No comments posted on this matchup yet. Be the first to share an evaluation note!
Dynamic OpenGraph banner generated at /compare/gpt-5-vs-grok-4/opengraph-image
Verified Head-to-Head Telemetry