GPT-6.1 Terra Max vs GPT-6 Luna Max: which scores higher?

GPT-6.1 Terra Max leads the intelligence index 51.3 to 27.9. GPT-6 Luna Max costs 90% less on blended price. Compare price, speed, latency and a clear verdict.

Metric	GPT-6.1 Terra (Max)	GPT-6 Luna (Max)
Intelligence Index	51.3	27.9
Input price (per 1M tokens)	$1.00	$0.10
Output price (per 1M tokens)	$5.00	$0.50
Output speed (tokens/s)	114	121
Time to first token	6.2 min	2.0 min
Release date	2026-10-26	2026-09-22

Metric

GPT-6.1 Terra (Max)

GPT-6 Luna (Max)

Intelligence Index

51.3

27.9

Input price (per 1M tokens)

$1.00

$0.10

Output price (per 1M tokens)

$5.00

$0.50

Output speed (tokens/s)

114

121

Time to first token

6.2 min

2.0 min

Release date

2026-10-26

2026-09-22

Staying with OpenAI still leaves a decision: GPT-6.1 Terra (Max) or GPT-6 Luna (Max). GPT-6.1 Terra Max leads the intelligence index 51.3 to 27.9, a gap of 23.4 points. Everything below is read from the benchmark, price and speed data in Franklin AI's catalogue; nothing here comes from a hands-on test.

How the intelligence index compares

On the intelligence index, GPT-6.1 Terra Max scores 51.3 against 27.9 for GPT-6 Luna Max. A gap this large suggests the two are built for different jobs.

Across the 109 active models with an intelligence score in the catalogue, GPT-6.1 Terra Max ranks 14th and GPT-6 Luna Max ranks 62nd.

For coding or maths work specifically, the catalogue has no dedicated index on either side yet.

Throughput and time to first token

Once a response is under way, GPT-6.1 Terra Max produces roughly 114 tokens per second against 121 tokens per second for GPT-6 Luna Max. There is little to choose between them on raw output speed. The wait for the first token averages 6.2 minutes on GPT-6.1 Terra Max against 2.0 minutes on GPT-6 Luna Max. GPT-6.1 Terra Max waits 3 times as long before its first token. Waits that long are felt on every chat-style request, though they matter less for batch jobs.

Add the two numbers up for a 2,000-token reply and GPT-6 Luna Max finishes first: 6.5 minutes for GPT-6.1 Terra Max, 2.3 minutes for GPT-6 Luna Max.

Running costs

GPT-6.1 Terra Max lists $1.00 per million input tokens and $5.00 per million output tokens; GPT-6 Luna Max lists $0.10 and $0.50. That makes GPT-6 Luna Max's output 90% cheaper.

A reference job of 1 million input tokens and 200,000 output tokens costs $2.00 with GPT-6.1 Terra Max and $0.20 with GPT-6 Luna Max, so GPT-6 Luna Max saves $1.80. For a chat app with 50,000 sessions of 800 input and 300 output tokens, GPT-6 Luna Max would come in 90% lower: $115 for GPT-6.1 Terra Max against $11.50 for GPT-6 Luna Max. Blended at three input tokens per output token, the effective rates are $2.00 for GPT-6.1 Terra Max and $0.20 for GPT-6 Luna Max.

Is the price in proportion?

A blunt value measure, blended price over intelligence score, puts GPT-6.1 Terra Max at $0.039 and GPT-6 Luna Max at $0.0072 per point. GPT-6 Luna Max delivers each index point for 82% less; whether GPT-6.1 Terra Max's extra 23.4 points are worth the premium depends on how often your tasks need them.

Generation gap

GPT-6.1 Terra Max arrived on October 26, 2026, 34 days after GPT-6 Luna Max (September 22, 2026). They are effectively contemporaries.

Common questions about GPT-6.1 Terra Max and GPT-6 Luna Max

Is GPT-6 Luna Max better than GPT-6.1 Terra Max?

Not across the board: GPT-6.1 Terra Max scores higher on the intelligence index, 51.3 to 27.9; GPT-6 Luna Max is 90% cheaper on blended price; and GPT-6 Luna Max reaches its first token sooner.

Is GPT-6 Luna Max cheaper than GPT-6.1 Terra Max?

GPT-6 Luna Max is cheaper on a blended basis. GPT-6.1 Terra Max lists $1.00 per million input tokens and $5.00 per million output tokens; GPT-6 Luna Max lists $0.10 and $0.50. For 1 million input and 200,000 output tokens that is $2.00 against $0.20.

Which is newer, GPT-6.1 Terra Max or GPT-6 Luna Max?

GPT-6.1 Terra Max is newer. It was released on October 26, 2026, 34 days after GPT-6 Luna Max (September 22, 2026).

Was this comparison tested by hand?

The figures are the recorded benchmark, price and speed data in Franklin AI's model catalogue. This page is written from that data automatically; neither model was tested by hand for it.

Which is faster, GPT-6.1 Terra Max or GPT-6 Luna Max?

Their output speeds are close: 114 tokens per second for GPT-6.1 Terra Max and 121 tokens per second for GPT-6 Luna Max. GPT-6 Luna Max reaches its first token sooner (2.0 minutes against 6.2 minutes).

Final whistle

Bottom line: GPT-6.1 Terra Max has more going for it here, but GPT-6 Luna Max is not without an argument. Pick GPT-6.1 Terra Max if you need the higher overall score (51.3 against 27.9) and you want the more recent release. Pick GPT-6 Luna Max if cost matters ($0.50 against $5.00 per million output tokens) and users are waiting on the first word.

Where the numbers come from

The scores, speed and prices in this comparison come from independent third-party model evaluations that Franklin AI syncs each day, and the article was written from a snapshot of them. For the latest results, open the GPT-6.1 Terra (Max) and GPT-6 Luna (Max) pages. The AI Benchmark methodology explains how that data is collected and shown.