GPT-4.1 vs Grok 4.5
Head-to-head comparison across 1benchmark categories. Overall scores shown here use BenchLM's provisional ranking lane.
Verdict
Grok 4.5 leads for most workloads.
Based on BenchLM composite scores, July 2026.
GPT-4.1
58
Grok 4.5
75
Pick Grok 4.5 if you want the stronger benchmark profile. GPT-4.1 only becomes the better choice if you need the larger 1M context window or you would rather avoid the extra latency and token burn of a reasoning model.
Category Radar
Head-to-Head by Category
Category Breakdown
| Benchmark | GPT-4.1 | Δ | Grok 4.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coding | 54.6 | → 10.1 | 64.7 |
| Agentic | — | — | 83.3 |
| Knowledge | 66.3 | — | — |
| Inst. Following | 87.4 | — | — |
Operational Comparison
GPT-4.1
Grok 4.5
$2 / $8
$2 / $6
108 t/s
N/A
1.02s
N/A
1M
500K
Quick Verdict
Pick Grok 4.5 if you want the stronger benchmark profile. GPT-4.1 only becomes the better choice if you need the larger 1M context window or you would rather avoid the extra latency and token burn of a reasoning model.
Grok 4.5 is clearly ahead on the provisional aggregate, 75 to 58. The gap is large enough that you do not need to squint at the spreadsheet to see the difference.
Grok 4.5's sharpest advantage is in coding, where it averages 64.7 against 54.6.
GPT-4.1 is also the more expensive model on tokens at $2.00 input / $8.00 output per 1M tokens, versus $2.00 input / $6.00 output per 1M tokens for Grok 4.5. Grok 4.5 is the reasoning model in the pair, while GPT-4.1 is not. That usually helps on harder chain-of-thought-heavy tests, but it can also mean more latency and more token spend in real use. GPT-4.1 gives you the larger context window at 1M, compared with 500K for Grok 4.5.
Benchmark Deep Dive
Frequently Asked Questions (2)
Which is better, GPT-4.1 or Grok 4.5?
Grok 4.5 is ahead on BenchLM's provisional leaderboard, 75 to 58.
Which is better for coding, GPT-4.1 or Grok 4.5?
Grok 4.5 has the edge for coding in this comparison, averaging 64.7 versus 54.6. GPT-4.1 stays close enough that the answer can still flip depending on your workload.
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