GPT-6 Astra vs Grok 4.6
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
GPT-6 Astra (OpenAI) and Grok 4.6 (xAI), 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 |  Grok 4.6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | xAI |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥1,717.72 | ¥357.4 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥8,588.62 | ¥1,072.2 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥6,012 | ¥894 |
| Context window | 1,050,000 tokens | 500,000 tokens |
| Release date | 9/4/2026 | 8/12/2026 |
| Input modalities | file, image, text | text, image, file |
| Arena · overall | Unranked | #49 · ELO 1,461 |
| Arena · Japanese | Unranked | Unranked |
| Arena · coding | Unranked | #45 · ELO 1,511 |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, Grok 4.6: ¥1,072.2 per 1M output tokens, 88% less than GPT-6 Astra.
- For long documents, GPT-6 Astra: a 1,050,000-token context window against 500,000 for Grok 4.6.
- 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
Grok 4.6
The word "strawberry" consists of the following letters in order:
s-t-r-a-w-b-e-r-r-y
Checking each one:
- s: not r
- t: not r
- r: yes (count = 1)
- a: not r
- w: not r
- b: not r
- e: not r
- r: yes (count = 2)
- r: yes (count = 3)
- y: not r
There are exactly 3 r's.
Final answer: 3
3.9s451 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
Grok 4.6
**The error happens because `users` is `undefined` when `.map()` is called.**
`UserList` destructures `{ users }` from its props. If the parent doesn't pass a `users` prop (or passes `undefined`/`null`), `users` is `undefined` and `undefined.map` throws.
This is extremely common when:
- Data is loaded asynchronously (initial render happens before the fetch finishes).
- The parent component forgets to pass the prop or uses a different name.
- The component is rendered before the data is ready (e.g. in a loading state).
### Quick fixes
**1. Default to an empty array (recommended)**
```jsx
function UserList({ users = [] }) {
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => (
<li key={us…
20.3s598 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
Grok 4.6
Here is a focused review of the function, followed by a cleaned-up version.
## Issues
**Imports inside the function**
`requests` and `time` should live at module level. Importing on every call is slower, hides dependencies, and is harder to mock in tests.
**Bare `except:`**
This swallows `KeyboardInterrupt`, `SystemExit`, and programming errors. Catch `requests.RequestException` (network/timeout/HTTP adapter errors) and JSON/`KeyError`/`TypeError` separately.
**Retrying the wrong things**
A 404 or 400 will never succeed on retry. Retry transient failures (timeouts, connection errors, 429, 5xx). Fail fast on most 4xx responses.
**Sleep after the last attempt**
On the final failur…
27.9s1770 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GPT-6 Astra or Grok 4.6?
- Per 1M output tokens, GPT-6 Astra is ¥8,588.62 and Grok 4.6 is ¥1,072.2 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so Grok 4.6 is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GPT-6 Astra and Grok 4.6 compare?
- GPT-6 Astra takes 1,050,000 tokens; Grok 4.6 takes 500,000.
- Can I use GPT-6 Astra and Grok 4.6 with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "gpt-6-astra" or "grok-4.6" 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 Grok 4.6 from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.