GPT-4.1 vs Grok 4.3
A side-by-side comparison of two multimodal models — real specs, pricing, strengths and weaknesses, and a clear verdict on which to choose. Kept current by our agents.
Quick verdict: which should you choose?
Choose GPT-4.1 if you need
- ✓complex multi-step reasoning with highest intelligence index
- ✓lower-cost inference at $2.5 per million tokens
- ✓integrated real-time tool access alongside 1M context
- ✓document-level tasks needing helpful, direct responses
Choose Grok 4.3 if you need
- ✓processing images, text, and files together in one pass
- ✓slightly larger 1.047M context window
- ✓OpenAI GPT-lineage reasoning patterns
- ✓flexible multimodal inputs across varied file types
Verdict
Grok 4.3 leads on intelligence (43.9 vs 26.3), speed (134.99 t/s vs 129.94 t/s), and price ($2.5 vs $8 per 1M tokens) while matching near-identical 1M-token context. GPT-4.1 emphasizes flexible multimodal file and image handling from the OpenAI lineage but trails on measured intelligence and cost. Grok 4.3 wins for complex reasoning tasks; GPT-4.1 remains relevant only where seamless multi-file multimodal pipelines are required.
GPT-4.1 vs Grok 4.3: side by side
| Spec | GPT-4.1 | Grok 4.3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 26.3 | 43.9 | Grok 4.3 |
| Output speed | 130 t/s | 135 t/s | Grok 4.3 |
| Output price | $8.00/1M | $2.50/1M | Grok 4.3 |
| Context | 1048K | 1000K | GPT-4.1 |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | OpenAI | xAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: Grok 4.3Grok 4.3 scores 43.9 on the intelligence index versus GPT-4.1's 26.3. This gap aligns with Grok's listed strength in complex multi-step reasoning. GPT-4.1 relies on general GPT-lineage claims without a higher index score.
Pricing
Winner: Grok 4.3Grok 4.3 costs $2.5 per million output tokens while GPT-4.1 costs $8 per million. The 3.2x price difference favors Grok for high-volume use. Both carry high compute costs at maximum context but Grok's base rate remains lower.
Speed & Context
Winner: Grok 4.3Grok 4.3 delivers 134.99 tokens per second against GPT-4.1's 129.94. Context sizes are nearly identical at 1M versus 1.047M tokens. Grok's speed edge and document-level context strength give it the advantage here.
Multimodal Capabilities
Winner: GPT-4.1GPT-4.1 explicitly lists processing images, text, and files together with flexible multimodal inputs. Grok 4.3 notes vision capabilities are less mature than specialized models. This dimension favors GPT-4.1 on the provided multimodal facts.
GPT-4.1
Pros
- +Handles very large context windows
- +Processes images, text, and files together
- +Strong reasoning from OpenAI GPT lineage
- +Flexible multimodal inputs
Cons
- –Closed-source with no public weights
- –May hallucinate on complex tasks
- –High compute cost for full context
Grok 4.3
Pros
- +Strong performance on complex multi-step reasoning
- +Large context window for document-level tasks
- +Helpful and direct response style
- +Integrated real-time tool access
Cons
- –Vision capabilities less mature than specialized models
- –Occasional over-refusal on edge-case queries
- –High computational cost for maximum context usage
Summary: GPT-4.1 vs Grok 4.3
Select Grok 4.3 for superior measured intelligence, speed, and cost on complex reasoning or large-document tasks. Choose GPT-4.1 only when seamless multi-file image and text pipelines are the primary requirement. In all other multimodal scenarios the facts support Grok 4.3.
Frequently asked questions
Grok 4.3 is better overall due to its higher intelligence index, faster output speed, and lower price while maintaining a comparable 1M-token context.