# OpenAI releases GPT-6.1 Sol for Codex users, 20% cheaper with Astra-like performance

Digest AI · Agents & Tools · published 2026-10-02T03:50:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/openai-releases-gpt-6-1-sol-for-codex-users-20-cheaper-with-astra-like

## Summary

OpenAI introduced **GPT-6.1 Sol** as the default model in **Codex** on September 29, positioning it as a cost-effective alternative to **GPT-6 Astra** for professional tasks. Available to **Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu** users (with admin approval for the latter two), the model delivers performance *nearly equivalent* to Astra at **one-fifth the cost**, according to OpenAI’s own benchmarks. Users report **30% fewer tokens** consumed and **20% lower API pricing** for similar tasks, though **flat-rate Plus users** saw no measurable difference in quota depletion for small jobs.

The model handles **1.05M tokens** of context and supports **five reasoning strengths** (low to max), though deeper reasoning increases cost and time. OpenAI warns that while GPT-6.1 Sol is **less error-prone** (7.7% factual errors at low settings vs. 11.4% for GPT-6 Sol), its **persistent task completion rate** (23.5%) raises risks for delegated work—users must explicitly set **permission boundaries** to avoid unintended actions. New features like **cloud execution** (Plus+) and **GitHub integration** for code review are included, but **Security Cloud** remains Pro-tier only.

## Key points

- GPT-6.1 Sol replaces GPT-6 Sol as Codex’s default model, offering Astra-like performance at 20% lower API costs
- Users report 30% fewer tokens used and faster task completion, but Plus quota limits show no measurable difference for small tasks
- OpenAI warns of higher task-completion persistence (23.5% of attempts) and advises strict permission settings for delegated work

## Why it matters

For developers and engineers using Codex, GPT-6.1 Sol cuts costs without sacrificing performance, making it a practical upgrade for routine coding and automation. The model’s balance of speed, accuracy, and affordability could shift how teams deploy AI for professional tasks, though its persistent behavior demands cautious setup.

## Sources

1. [Evaluating Codex's New Model GPT-6.1 Sol for Professional Use: Can Plus Users Access It? Is It Smarter? Does It Use Less Quota? We Tested It](https://note.com/mamagotolabo/n/n2933cfc78c1c?hl=en) (note.com, 2026-10-02)

Part of the developing story: [OpenAI's GPT-6 Expansion and Pricing Overhaul](https://digestai.news/thread/comparing-openai-models-on-aws-for-workload-efficiency) (7 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "OpenAI releases GPT-6.1 Sol for Codex users, 20% cheaper with Astra-like performance", 2 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/openai-releases-gpt-6-1-sol-for-codex-users-20-cheaper-with-astra-like

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