GPT-6 Astra vs gpt-oss-20b
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
GPT-6 Astra (OpenAI) and gpt-oss-20b (OpenAI), compared as you can actually call them on FastMetal. Both are served from the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint and API key; switching is a change to the model string.
Specs and pricing
 GPT-6 Astra | gpt-oss-20b | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥1,787 | ¥5.36 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥8,935 | ¥25.02 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥6,255 | ¥18 |
| Context window | 1,050,000 tokens | 131,072 tokens |
| Release date | 9/4/2026 | 8/5/2025 |
| Input modalities | file, image, text | text |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | #24 · ELO 1,480 | #252 · ELO 1,317 |
| Arena · Japanese | Unranked | #179 · ELO 1,256 |
| Arena · coding | #6 · ELO 1,543 | #232 · ELO 1,369 |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, gpt-oss-20b: ¥25.02 per 1M output tokens, 100% less than GPT-6 Astra.
- On the Overall arena board, GPT-6 Astra ranks higher (#24; gpt-oss-20b is #252).
- On the Coding arena board, GPT-6 Astra ranks higher (#6; gpt-oss-20b is #232).
- For long documents, GPT-6 Astra: a 1,050,000-token context window against 131,072 for gpt-oss-20b.
- If in doubt, try both on the same key. Switching is a change to the model string, and each is billed at its own rate.
Real answers to the same prompts
Exactly what the FastMetal gateway returned, side by side. Not benchmark scores: actual output.
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'. Explain your reasoning step by step.
GPT-6 Astra
“strawberry” is spelled **s-t-r-a-w-b-e-r-r-y**.
The letter **r** appears in positions **3, 8, and 9**, so there are **3 r’s**.
3.8s85 output tokens
gpt-oss-20b
**Count of ‘r’ in “strawberry”: 3**
---
### Step‑by‑step reasoning
1. **Write out the word in individual letters**
```
s t r a w b e r r y
```
2. **Identify each ‘r’**
- The first ‘r’: appears after the “t” → **r**
- The second ‘r’: appears in the part “berry” → **r**
- The third ‘r’: the next letter after that → **r**
3. **Verify there are no more letters left**
The remaining letters are “b”, “e”, “y”, none of which are “r”.
4. **Count the identified ‘r’s**
1 (first) + 1 (second) + 1 (third) = **3**
---
### Quick recap
- Word: **strawberry**
- Letters containing “r”: positions 3, 8, and 9.
- Total count: **3**.
11.6s371 output tokens
Debug This Error
I'm getting the following error in my Node.js application: TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map') at UserList (/app/components/UserList.js:12:25) at renderWithHooks (/app/node_modules/rea…
GPT-6 Astra
The error means **`users` is `undefined` when React renders `UserList`**, so calling `users.map(...)` fails. This commonly happens when the parent doesn’t pass the prop or when data hasn’t finished loading.
### 1. Default `users` to an empty array
If an absent prop should mean “no users,” use a default value:
```jsx
function UserList({ users = [] }) {
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => (
<li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>
))}
</ul>
);
}
```
This handles a missing or `undefined` prop, but **not `null` or other non-array values**.
### 2. Check where the prop comes from
Make sure the parent passes an array. For data loaded asynchronously, initialize state to…
6.7s380 output tokens
gpt-oss-20b
### Why does the error happen?
`users.map(...)` can only run when **`users` is an array**.
The stack trace shows that the crash happens on line 12 of `UserList.js`, which is the
exact spot where the code tries to call `.map`.
The value that is being passed to `UserList` (or the initial value that the parent
creates) is **`undefined`** (or it could be `null`/`{}`). When JavaScript tries to
read `users.map`, it throws:
```
TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')
```
Typical reasons for this are:
1. The parent component **didn’t pass the `users` prop** at all.
2. The parent passed it but the value was **`undefined` / `null`** because data
hasn’t been loaded ye…
11.4s1303 output tokens
Code Review
Please review the following Python function and suggest improvements for readability, performance, and best practices: def get_data(url, retries=3): import requests import time for i in range(retries):…
GPT-6 Astra
The function is compact, but its biggest issue is that **all failures silently become `[]`**, making an unavailable API indistinguishable from a successful response with no active items.
### Suggested improvements
- **Move imports to module scope** for clarity and conventional organization.
- **Avoid bare `except:`.** It catches everything, including `KeyboardInterrupt`, and hides bugs such as missing dictionary keys.
- **Retry only transient failures**, such as connection errors, timeouts, rate limiting, and selected server errors. Retrying a `401` or `404` usually won’t help.
- **Don’t sleep after the final failed attempt.** Use exponential backoff rather than a fixed delay.
- **Use desc…
19.2s965 output tokens
gpt-oss-20b
Below is a quick “code‑review” style list that touches the three axes you asked for – **readability**, **performance**, and **best practices**.
After the bullet‑list I’ll paste a refactored version that incorporates the most common fixes.
---
## 1. Readability
| Issue | Why it hurts | Quick fix |
|-------|--------------|-----------|
| **Imports inside the function** | Every call recompiles the import tables and makes the module’s top‑level slower. | Move `import requests` and `import time` to the module’s global header. |
| **Bare `except:`** | Catches *everything* (KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit, MemoryError, etc.) and swallows useful tracebacks. | Catch only the expected network-relate…
24.6s2267 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GPT-6 Astra or gpt-oss-20b?
- Per 1M output tokens, GPT-6 Astra is ¥8,935 and gpt-oss-20b is ¥25.02 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so gpt-oss-20b is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GPT-6 Astra and gpt-oss-20b compare?
- GPT-6 Astra takes 1,050,000 tokens; gpt-oss-20b takes 131,072.
- Which ranks higher, GPT-6 Astra or gpt-oss-20b?
- GPT-6 Astra ranks higher on the public arena (GPT-6 Astra #24, gpt-oss-20b #179). Ranks move as the leaderboard updates.
- Can I use GPT-6 Astra and gpt-oss-20b with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "gpt-6-astra" or "gpt-oss-20b" as the model. Each is billed at its own rate from the same prepaid balance.
Try both on one API key
Create an account and add credit to call GPT-6 Astra and gpt-oss-20b from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.