GPT-5 vs GPT-5.5 Pro
GPT-5 (2025) and GPT-5.5 Pro (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from OpenAI. GPT-5 ships a 400k-token context window, while GPT-5.5 Pro ships a 1.05m-token context window. On Google-Proof Q&A, GPT-5.5 Pro leads by 5.2 pts. On pricing, GPT-5 costs $1.25/1M input tokens; GPT-5.5 Pro ranges from $30 to $60/1M input tokens by tier. 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 Pro is safer overall; choose GPT-5 when coding workflow support matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-5 | GPT-5.5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 400k | 1.05m |
| Cheapest output | $10/1M tokens | $180/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 4 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 1 rows | Google-Proof Q&A leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- GPT-5 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $10/1M tokens.
- GPT-5 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- GPT-5.5 Pro holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 5.2 points.
- GPT-5.5 Pro has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5.5 Pro 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.
GPT-5
$3,500
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Replicate API
GPT-5.5 Pro
$69,000
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenAI API
Estimated monthly gap: $65,500. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenAI API, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GPT-5.5 Pro is $170/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter, OpenAI API, and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GPT-5 is $170/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-08-07 | 2026-04-23 |
| Context window | 400k | 1.05m |
| Parameters | — | — |
| Architecture | decoder only | decoder only |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Openness | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use with conditions | Commercial use with conditions |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-09 | 2025-12 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-5 | GPT-5.5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.25/1M tokens |
|
| Output price | $10/1M tokens |
|
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-5 | GPT-5.5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | GPT-5 | GPT-5.5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Google-Proof Q&A | 88.4 | 93.6 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Google-Proof Q&A has GPT-5 at 88.4 and GPT-5.5 Pro at 93.6, with GPT-5.5 Pro ahead by 5.2 points. The largest visible gap is 5.2 points on Google-Proof Q&A, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint is close: both models cover vision, multimodal input, reasoning mode, function calling, and tool use. That makes context budget, benchmark fit, and provider maturity more important than a simple checklist. If your application depends on one integration detail, verify it against the provider route you plan to use, not just the base model listing.
For cost, GPT-5 lists $1.25/1M input and $10/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while GPT-5.5 Pro lists tiered pricing: 0-272,000t is $30/1M input and $180/1M output; 272,000t+ is $60/1M input and $270/1M output. A 70/30 input-output blend puts GPT-5 lower by about $71.13 per million blended tokens. For tiered rows, this cheapest-track view can understate interactive or fast-lane spend, so compare the tier you will actually use. Availability is 4 providers versus 3, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose GPT-5 when coding workflow support, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose GPT-5.5 Pro when coding workflow support and larger context windows are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, GPT-5 or GPT-5.5 Pro?
GPT-5.5 Pro supports 1.05m tokens, while GPT-5 supports 400k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is cheaper, GPT-5 or GPT-5.5 Pro?
GPT-5 lists $1.25/1M input and $10/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. GPT-5.5 Pro lists tiered pricing: 0-272,000t is $30/1M input and $180/1M output; 272,000t+ is $60/1M input and $270/1M output. Compare the tier you will actually use; cheap async pricing can overstate savings for interactive workflows. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GPT-5 or GPT-5.5 Pro open source?
GPT-5 is listed under Proprietary. GPT-5.5 Pro is listed under Proprietary. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for vision, GPT-5 or GPT-5.5 Pro?
Both GPT-5 and GPT-5.5 Pro expose vision. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, GPT-5 or GPT-5.5 Pro?
Both GPT-5 and GPT-5.5 Pro expose multimodal input. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Where can I run GPT-5 and GPT-5.5 Pro?
GPT-5 is available on Replicate API, OpenRouter, OpenAI API, and Vercel AI Gateway. GPT-5.5 Pro is available on OpenAI API, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-22. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.