OpenAI cuts GPT-5.6 API prices by up to 80%

OpenAI lowered API pricing on its two cheaper GPT-5.6 tiers on July 30, 2026: Luna dropped from $1/$6 to $0.20/$1.20 per million input/output tokens (an 80% cut), and Terra dropped from $2.50/$15 to $2/$12 (a 20% cut). The flagship Sol tier stayed at $5/$30. The new rates apply automatically to standard API usage, no code changes required.

Why it matters

This lands just three weeks after GPT-5.6 launched on July 9, signaling real price pressure on frontier labs from global competition rather than a routine discount. For anyone running high-volume workloads on the cheaper tiers, it's a genuine cost drop with zero migration effort.

Who should care

Developers running high-volume or cost-sensitive workloads on OpenAI's API

What you can do

No action needed. The new rates apply automatically to Luna and Terra tier usage from July 30, 2026 onward.