OpenAI Slashes GPT-5.6 Prices, Luna Down 80%
On July 31, OpenAI announced massive price cuts for its GPT-5.6 series APIs alongside new features. GPT-5.6 Luna dropped by 80% to $0.20 per million input tokens and $1.20 for output. GPT-5.6 Terra was reduced by 20%, while GPT-5.6 Sol introduced a Fast mode that is 2.5x faster and priced at twice the standard rate. Additionally, OpenAI upgraded the underlying model for automated reviews in the ChatGPT App and Codex CLI from GPT-5.4 to GPT-5.6 Luna, cutting operating costs by an estimated 90%.
Confirmed
- Luna's price was cut by 80%, Terra's by 20%, and Sol's price remains unchanged but now offers a Fast mode.
- The automated review model was upgraded to Luna, slashing costs by 90%.
Unconfirmed
- Analysts suggest Luna's price drop targets competition from Chinese manufacturers (@zephyrz9), though OpenAI hasn't officially confirmed this.
- Users claim Luna is currently the most cost-effective model (retweeted by @BenBajarin), but this requires further verification.
Why it matters
This price reduction is a strategic move by OpenAI to navigate corporate cost scrutiny and market competition. @sandersted used this to refute the narrative of rising AI costs, highlighting improved efficiency and lower expenses. However, @XFreeze pointed out that even after the price cut, Terra's output cost is still double that of Grok 4.5, lagging in cost-effectiveness.
2026-07-31 ~ 2026-07-31 · 27 related posts
Primary sources
- OpenAI Slashes Luna Model Prices by 5x, Initiating Price War — TheZachMueller · 2026-07-31
- Leaked GPT-5.6 Luna Pricing Called 'Absurd' and Best Value Model Hands Down — BenBajarin · 2026-07-31
- [source] OpenAI Slashes GPT-5.6 Luna API Price by 80%, Terra by 20% — OpenAI · 2026-07-31
- [source] OpenAI Launches GPT-5.6 Sol Fast Mode: 2.5x Speed at 2x Price — OpenAI · 2026-07-31
- OpenAI Upgrades Auto-review to GPT-5.6 Luna, Cutting Costs 10x — OpenAI · 2026-07-31
- OpenAI Upgrades Coding Tools to GPT-5.6 Luna, Slashing Review Costs 10x — OpenAIDevs · 2026-07-31
- OpenAI Slashes GPT-5.6 Small Model Prices by Up to 80% Amid Business Cost Scrutiny — Polymarket · 2026-07-31
- Countering AI Price Hike Fears, Model Provider Slashes Prices by up to 80% — sandersted · 2026-07-31
- OpenAI Launches GPT-5.6: Luna Costs 80% Less, Terra 20% Less — kiki-le-koala · 2026-07-31
- OpenAI Slashes Model Prices by Up to 5x — Just_Lingonberry_352 · 2026-07-31
- OpenAI Cuts Terra and Luna Model Prices, Luna Down by 80% — bindureddy · 2026-07-31
- OpenAI Holds Sol Prices, Cuts Luna to Counter Chinese Labs and Boost Enterprise Adoption — zephyr_z9 · 2026-07-31
- Luma AI slashes prices by 80% on Luna, speeds up GPT-5.6 Sol, and launches cheaper auto-approve mode — dyett · 2026-07-31
- Despite 20% Price Cut, GPT-5.6 Still Crushed by Grok 4.5 Value — XFreeze · 2026-07-31
13 near-duplicate retellings: OpenAIDevs · himanshustwts · BenBajarin · OpenAIDevs · sama · daniel_mac8 · cto_junior · reach_vb · KlausCodes · pvncher · Training_Wrangler_63 · kimmonismus · shensi