Grok vs ChatGPT: Complete Comparison 2026

xAI vs OpenAI - real-time intelligence vs reasoning dominance

Grok and ChatGPT represent two different approaches to AI. Grok from xAI ranks #1 on LMArena and offers real-time X/Twitter integration. ChatGPT from OpenAI leads on reasoning benchmarks and has the largest user base. Here's how they compare.

Quick Comparison

Feature Grok ChatGPT
Company xAI OpenAI
Top Model Grok 4.1 GPT-5.2
LMArena Ranking #1 (1483 Elo) Top 5
ARC-AGI-1 15.9% (V2) 90%+
Humanity's Last Exam 50% (first ever) Not reported
Context Window 2M tokens 400K tokens
Real-time Data X/Twitter native Web search
Image Generation Aurora DALL-E
Premium Price $22-300/month $20/month
Personality Witty, less filtered Professional

Grok Overview

Grok is xAI's flagship AI, created by Elon Musk's AI company. Grok 4.1 currently holds the #1 position on LMArena's Text Arena with 1483 Elo. It's known for its personality, real-time X integration, and willingness to tackle topics other AIs avoid.

Key Strengths

  • #1 on LMArena - Grok 4.1 leads the public AI leaderboard (1483 Elo)
  • 50% Humanity's Last Exam - First model to score 50% on this benchmark (Grok 4 Heavy)
  • 2M Token Context - Massive context for complex tasks
  • Real-time X Data - Native access to X/Twitter information
  • Aurora Images - Built-in image generation
  • Personality - More witty and less filtered than competitors

Unique Features

  • X/Twitter Search - Advanced semantic search across the X platform
  • Media Understanding - Can view and analyze media from X
  • Native Tool Use - Trained to use tools like code interpreter and web browsing

ChatGPT Overview

ChatGPT is OpenAI's flagship product and the AI that sparked the current AI revolution. GPT-5.2 leads on reasoning benchmarks and offers the most polished user experience.

Key Strengths

  • 90%+ ARC-AGI-1 - First model to break 90% on general reasoning
  • 100% AIME 2025 - Perfect mathematical reasoning
  • 55.6% SWE-Bench Pro - Strong agentic coding
  • Largest User Base - Most widely used AI chatbot
  • Plugin Ecosystem - Extensive third-party integrations
  • Custom GPTs - Create and share specialized assistants

Unique Features

  • Three Modes - Instant (fast), Thinking (reasoning), Pro (accuracy)
  • Custom GPTs - Build specialized assistants
  • Memory - Remembers context across conversations

Head-to-Head Comparison

Human Preference (LMArena)

Winner: Grok

Grok 4.1 holds the #1 position on LMArena's Text Arena with 1483 Elo. This measures which AI humans prefer in blind comparisons. Users consistently choose Grok's responses over competitors.

Reasoning Benchmarks

Winner: ChatGPT

GPT-5.2's 90%+ score on ARC-AGI-1 is unprecedented. Combined with 100% on AIME 2025 math, ChatGPT leads on formal reasoning benchmarks. Grok's ARC-AGI V2 score is 15.9%.

Real-time Information

Winner: Grok

Grok has native integration with X/Twitter, providing access to real-time posts, trends, and discussions. ChatGPT has web search but can't match Grok's X data access.

Context Window

Winner: Grok

Grok's 2M token context is 5x larger than ChatGPT's 400K. For processing large documents or long conversations, Grok can handle significantly more information.

Personality & Style

Winner: Depends on preference

Grok is intentionally more witty, irreverent, and willing to discuss topics other AIs avoid. ChatGPT is more professional and polished. Some prefer Grok's personality; others prefer ChatGPT's consistency.

Ecosystem

Winner: ChatGPT

ChatGPT has the largest user base, most third-party integrations, and Custom GPTs. If ecosystem matters, ChatGPT leads.

Pricing

Monthly Subscriptions

SuperGrok: $22/month - Basic Grok access
SuperGrok Heavy: $300/month - Premium Grok models
ChatGPT Plus: $20/month - GPT-5.2 access
Go Ask Chat Pro: $8/month - Both Grok AND GPT + Claude, Gemini, and more

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Grok if you:

  • Want #1 LMArena-ranked AI (human preference)
  • Need real-time X/Twitter data
  • Prefer a more personality-driven assistant
  • Work with the X platform ecosystem
  • Need massive context (2M tokens)

Choose ChatGPT if you:

  • Need best reasoning capabilities (90%+ ARC-AGI)
  • Want a professional, consistent tone
  • Use plugins and Custom GPTs
  • Prefer the largest AI ecosystem
  • Value mathematical reasoning (100% AIME)

Why Not Both?

Grok and ChatGPT excel at different things. Grok wins human preference tests and has real-time X data. ChatGPT wins reasoning benchmarks and has the largest ecosystem. Use both based on the task.

With Go Ask Chat, you get Grok 4.1 Fast AND GPT-5.2 for $8/month - far less than either subscription alone. Plus Claude, Gemini, and 24 more models.

Get Grok + ChatGPT for $8/month

Access both AI leaders plus Claude, Gemini, and more. No separate subscriptions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grok better than ChatGPT?

Grok ranks #1 on LMArena (human preference). ChatGPT leads on formal reasoning benchmarks (ARC-AGI). They're better at different things. Grok for real-time info and personality, ChatGPT for reasoning and ecosystem.

Why is Grok more expensive?

SuperGrok ($22/mo) and especially SuperGrok Heavy ($300/mo) reflect xAI's positioning as a premium product. ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo is priced for mass-market adoption. Go Ask Chat at $8/mo gives you both.

Can I get X/Twitter data without paying for Grok?

Go Ask Chat includes Grok 4.1 Fast, which provides access to Grok's capabilities. However, the deepest X integration is specific to SuperGrok products.

Which is better for coding?

ChatGPT (GPT-5.2) leads on coding benchmarks (55.6% SWE-Bench Pro). Grok is capable but coding isn't its primary strength.