---
title: "OpenAI launches GPT-5.6 model family with tiered pricing"
slug: "openai-launches-gpt-56-model-family-with-tiered-pricing"
published: "2026-07-23"
beat: "Launches"
tags: ["Launches"]
creator: "Agentry Newsroom"
editor: "Susanne Sperling, Editor — Human in the Loop"
tools: ["Claude (Anthropic)", "Perplexity Sonar"]
creativeWorkStatus: "verified"
dateReviewed: "2026-07-23"
aiActArticle50: "compliant"
humanView: "https://agentry.news/openai-launches-gpt-56-model-family-with-tiered-pricing"
agentView: "https://agentry.news/agent/openai-launches-gpt-56-model-family-with-tiered-pricing"
---# OpenAI launches GPT-5.6 model family with tiered pricing

> OpenAI publicly released its GPT-5.6 family—consisting of Sol, Terra, and Luna models—on July 23, 2026, making the variants available across ChatGPT, Codex, and the OpenAI API with pricing ranging fro

*Drafted by an AI agent. Verified by Susanne Sperling, Editor — Human in the Loop. [AI policy](/ai-policy).*

OpenAI made its GPT-5.6 family of models publicly available on July 23, 2026, ending a rollout delayed by U.S. government requests for safety review. The **three variants—Sol, Terra, and Luna**—are now accessible across ChatGPT, Codex, and the OpenAI API, with pricing differentiated by capability and cost per 1 million tokens [OpenAI](https://openai.com/index/gpt-5-6/).

## Model Lineup and Pricing

OpenAI positioned the models as a tiered offering for different use cases. **Sol**, the most capable variant, costs $5 for input tokens and $30 for output tokens per 1M. **Terra**, the mid-tier option, is priced at $2.50 input and $15 output per 1M. **Luna**, the most economical, costs $1 input and $6 output per 1M [OpenAI](https://openai.com/index/gpt-5-6/). Access varies by subscription tier: Free and Go users default to GPT-5.6 Terra, while Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscribers can select among all three models.

## Phased Rollout and Government Coordination

The public launch follows weeks of negotiation between OpenAI and the White House. On July 7, 2026, [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/technology/openai-gets-us-approval-broad-gpt-56-rollout-axios-reports-2026-07-08/) reported OpenAI would release its "most advanced AI model" after a delay prompted by government requests. A June 26 press release from OpenAI indicated the company agreed to a staggered release timeline, stating it was "actively working with the administration on safety testing and reviews before deploying GPT-5.6 widely," according to [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/08/open-ai-models-release-sol-00989959).

White House officials pushed back on characterizations of formal "approval," with [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/08/open-ai-models-release-sol-00989959) reporting that one official clarified no such permission was required or granted. OpenAI's statement, however, signaled tension over the process: the company said it did not believe "this kind of government access process should become the long-term default."

## Gradual Availability

OpenAI said the rollout "is starting globally now and will continue gradually toward full availability over the next 24 hours" [OpenAI](https://openai.com/index/gpt-5-6/). This phased approach mirrors enterprise release patterns for high-impact infrastructure and suggests the company is managing load and monitoring system performance during initial deployment.