GPT-5.4 vs GPT-5.5 Instant

GPT-5.4 (2026) and GPT-5.5 Instant (2026) are frontier reasoning models from OpenAI. GPT-5.4 ships a 1.05m-token context window, while GPT-5.5 Instant ships a 400k-token context window. On MMMU Pro, GPT-5.4 leads by 5.2 pts. On pricing, GPT-5.4 ranges from $2.50 to $5/1M input tokens by tier; GPT-5.5 Instant costs $5/1M input tokens. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.

GPT-5.5 Instant is safer overall; choose GPT-5.4 when coding workflow support matters.

Decision scorecard

Local evidence first
SignalGPT-5.4GPT-5.5 Instant
Best forreasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agentsmultimodal apps and tool-calling agents
Decision fitCoding, RAG, and AgentsCoding, RAG, and Agents
Context window1.05m400k
Cheapest output$15/1M tokens$30/1M tokens
Provider routes4 tracked1 tracked
Shared benchmarksMMMU Pro leader1 shared

Decision tradeoffs

Choose GPT-5.4 when...
  • GPT-5.4 holds a shared-benchmark lead on MMMU Pro, ahead by 5.2 points.
  • GPT-5.4 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
  • GPT-5.4 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $15/1M tokens.
  • GPT-5.4 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and route flexibility.
  • GPT-5.4 uniquely exposes Reasoning in local model data.
Choose GPT-5.5 Instant when...
  • Local decision data tags GPT-5.5 Instant for Coding, RAG, and Agents.

Monthly cost at traffic

Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.

Lower estimate GPT-5.4

GPT-5.4

$5,750

Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenAI API

GPT-5.5 Instant

$11,500

Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenAI API

Estimated monthly gap: $5,750. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.

Switch friction

GPT-5.4 -> GPT-5.5 Instant
  • Provider overlap exists on OpenAI API; start route-level A/B tests there.
  • GPT-5.5 Instant is $15/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
  • Check replacement coverage for Reasoning before moving production traffic.
GPT-5.5 Instant -> GPT-5.4
  • Provider overlap exists on OpenAI API; start route-level A/B tests there.
  • GPT-5.4 is $15/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
  • GPT-5.4 adds Reasoning in local capability data.

Specs

Specification
Released2026-03-052026-05-05
Context window1.05m400k
Parameters——
ArchitectureDecoder OnlyDecoder Only
LicenseProprietaryProprietary
OpennessProprietaryProprietary
WeightsNot releasedNot released
CodeUnknownUnknown
Commercial useCommercial use: conditionalCommercial use: conditional
Knowledge cutoff2025-082025-08

Pricing and availability

Pricing attributeGPT-5.4GPT-5.5 Instant
Input price
0-272,000t
$2.50/1M tokens
272,000t+
$5/1M tokens
$5/1M tokens
Output price
0-272,000t
$15/1M tokens
272,000t+
$22.50/1M tokens
$30/1M tokens
Providers

Capabilities

CapabilityGPT-5.4GPT-5.5 Instant
VisionYesYes
MultimodalYesYes
ReasoningYesNo
JSON / Tool useYesYes
Structured outputsYesYes
Code executionYesYes
IDE integrationNoNo
Computer useNoNo
Parallel agentsNoNo

Benchmarks

BenchmarkGPT-5.4GPT-5.5 Instant
MMMU Pro81.276.0

Continue comparing

Last reviewed: 2026-06-29. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.